Mary C Hastings

Mary C. Hasting, a long time resident of Aztec, NM, died Saturday, June 12, 2010 at her home. She was 99. Mrs. Hastings was born to Robert E. and Mamie Casey on January 6, 1911 in Durango, CO. she spent her childhood and school years in Durango, graduating from Durango High School. She then attended Ft. Lewis College, at the original Hesperus location, earning her teaching certificate. While attending college she met Homer F. Hastings, fell in love and they married on April 5, 1931. After graduating college Mary taught at the Orr school near Falfa, on the Florida Mesa, outside of Durango, CO. She was also frequently called on as a substitute teacher for grades 1-12 while living in Montezuma Castle National Monument. In 1932 they, along with their 6 month old daughter Mary Joanne, moved to Kline where her husband had found a teaching position. In 1934 they moved to Bayfield, CO where their second daughter Anita (nicknamed Nida) was born. Because of Homers position with the National Parks Service the couple moved 36 times during their married life and lived in such places as Chaco Canyon National Monument, Carlsbad Cavern National Monument, Walnut Canyon National Monument, Aztec Ruins and Fort Union National Monument. While at Fort Union, Mary was used as a model during a photo shoot for National Geographic. Homer and Mary retired to Santa Fe, NM in 1971 and finally moved to Aztec in 1983. Mary was a life long member of the Methodist church and also loved to camp and fish. She made many beloved friends at the Senior Center in Aztec. Mary will always be remembered as a “feisty woman” with a lot of spunk. Mrs. Hasting is preceded in death by Homer, her husband of 67 years and her great-granddaughter Michaela Dawn Rambo. She is survived by her two daughters, Mary J. Harris of Durango, CO and Anita F. Lewis of Aztec, NM; twelve grand-children, twenty-five great-grandchildren and thirty-our great-great-grandchildren.