Mary Pounds

Mary Pounds, longtime resident of Roswell, NM and most recently of Artesia, NM, passed from this earthly life May 27, 2016 at her home in Artesia, NM at age 92. Services were held Wednesday, June 1 at LaGrone Funeral Chapel, with burial following at Memory Lawn Memorial Park, all in Roswell, NM.

Mary was born June 16, 1923 to her parents, Leo Strub and Catherine Corrigan Strub, at home in Lansing Township on Gruber Ridge in Allamakee County. She was the oldest of six children: Mary, Dolores Damon of LaCrescent, WI, Theresa Grzecka of Buena Park, CA, Leeanette Whalen of Elkader, and twins James Strub and John Strub of Lansing.

Mary grew up on a farm in Iowa and was no stranger to hard work up until very recently. She attended “sister school” (a convent) through eighth grade, and stayed at the convent with the sisters through the winter. Her parents paid for her boarding by providing food for the school that they raised on their home farm. During her teenage years, Mary worked on the farm, cleaned for local people and worked in the button factory in Lansing.

She met Edward Knopf in 1941, and they married in 1942. To this union six daughters were born: Margaret Christianson, Catherine Zahn, Cecilia Gray, Ruth Wall, Agnes Garin and Joan Yeager. To these six daughters and their husbands were born 15 grandchildren and numerous great- and great-great-grandchildren.

Mary grew acres of gardens and helped build a motel where she worked as an owner/operator until 1973. She loved to ride horses and mules, sew, crochet, cook and bake for relaxation. She was famous for her amazing Christmas cookies.

Mary moved to Roswell, NM in 1973. She married L.C. “Buck” Pounds in 1975 and they were together for 25 years until his passing in 2000. She loved and was loved by Buck’s family: Doyle Pounds and his wife, Dixie, and Verna Owens and her late husband, Ray, all of Artesia, NM, as well as their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She attended Assumption Catholic Church and First Baptist Church in Roswell, NM and, most recently, First Baptist Church in Artesia, NM, where she particularly loved her Sunday School class.

Mary was preceded in death by her brother, John Strub; her mother, Catherine Strub; her father, Leo Strub; her first husband, Ed Knopf; and her second husband, L.C. “Buck” Pounds.

Mary was one of the most thankful people we have ever known, even for small things, and very often expressed this to others with phrases we will we always remember: “Many thanks!” and “Thanks, thanks, thanks!” She consistently expressed thankfulness for her Heavenly Father’s loving care and blessings.

Pallbearers were Dwayne Pounds, Donnie Pounds, Jason Starnes, Cooper Rickman, Justin Cabe, Matt Bennett and Brooke Owens. Honorary pallbearer, and one of Mary’s biggest fans, was Dylan Baker.

Obituary was lovingly written by the family. Arrangements were under the personal care of LaGrone Funeral Chapel. Online condolences may be made at www.lagronefuneralchapels.com.