Lillian Martha Zachary

Our Mama was an extraordinary woman with great strength of character that was evident in the choices and the guidelines she chose by which to live her life in faith unto Jesus Christ.

She, with her husband (Zach) of over fifty-six years raised their family, ran their business, and befriended many people around the world and in their own neighborhood and community.

Lillian Martha Zachary passed away surrounded by her family on Friday, September 1, 2023. She was born in Denver Colorado to Lazar and Gizella Tari Medveson who immigrated from Austro/Hungary in the early 1900's. She was the sixth of eight children. (Annie, Mary, Larry, Elenore, David, Lillian, Velma, and Ruby).

Mother was two years old when her family moved to Albuquerque and bought a home on 3rd St. where she was raised.

One afternoon while sharing memories, she laughed and said, "I was 10 years old and I loved reading the comics; I couldn't wait to get the paper so I could read about Dick Tracy; she chuckled again, "he wore a hat all the time."
Animated, she said, "My biggest joy was reading; I would walk to the library every week to check out five books at a time."

At age sixteen, she was a carhop at Katson's Drug Store out by Nob Hill. Later she worked for Mountain Bell as a telephone operator.

Mom met our Dad, Zach, at Albuquerque High School and after graduation, they got married on December 15, 1943. It was a short honeymoon as dad was drafted in January. Mom followed him to Denver to Lowry Air Force Base, where she lived in a hotel and worked in the drugstore downstairs as a clerk. Then followed him to Las Vegas Airforce Training where Dad was trained as a Gunner and then to Shreveport La. She moved back to Albuquerque when dad was shipped off to Europe to serve in World War II.

Mom and Dad stayed in Albuquerque to live, work, and raise us three children, Katy, Bobby, and Patty. While dad was the breadwinner, mom was the homemaker and together they made a home filled with love and music including lots of gospel singing with mom at the piano and dad singing lead, "to keep us all on key."

An avid reader she was a wealth of information; she could also play classical piano, and we can still hear dad encouraging her, "Come on Lil, play the "Blue Danube" again.
Among her many hobbies were crochet, embroidery, and a love for painting. She liked painting landscapes and still life.

Looking back on our childhood, we realize what a gift it was that our mom and dad stood as one. Mom was Dad's greatest supporter as Dad pursued his family's tradition of turquoise cutting. She worked beside her family in Zachary Turquoise and helped make it a success; all the while, she was a wife, mother, and babysitter to her grandchildren.

Their turquoise passion opened avenues for mom and dad to travel the world. Their hospitality afforded them a good life in the pursuit of happiness with many friends and clients.

Mom was blessed beyond measure as she not only got to raise her children but got to see and participate in the lives of her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Among many other memories, each generation got to participate in water fights that she would initiate as she turned on the hose and let them have it.

Her signature statement is something we'll never forget, "Your mind is not like a blackboard that you can erase. Be careful what you watch and see."

Our mom lived a no non-sense practical life with Bible principles at her core which inspires us with appreciation and thankfulness so that we can rise up to fulfil the scripture in Proverbs 31:28.

Mom will be remembered by her children: Katy, Bobby (Jeanne), and Patty (Bob); and her grandchildren: Ellen (Chris), Joe Dan (Davonna,) Kathleen (Vojko), Austin, Zachary (Melanie), Cassidy (Shaun), Audrey (Brian), and Haley (James); great-grandchildren: Joseph (Brittany), Danielle, Kristi, Jacob (Brittany), Laura (William), Amanda (Zach), Joaquin, Javier, Liv and Leo; and great-great-grandchildren: Jonathan, Sarah, Hannah, and Marian.

She was preceded in death by her husband, J.C. Zachary on November 20, 1999, and her son-in-law, Joe P. Lowry on November 24, 2022.

She loved and served us well and may her life and stories and Godly values remain alive for generations to come.
We Love you mother!
Funerals services will be held Saturday, September 16, 2023, at 10:30 a.m., FRENCH - Westside.