Mary Ellen Baxter Castoria

Mary Ellen Castoria, a resident of Albuquerque since 1947, died at Kaseman Hospice on December 7, 2013. She was born in 1924, near the small town of Crescent, OK on a farm her grandfather staked a claim to during the run of 1889. She left Oklahoma during World War II for employment with the government in Newark, NJ. It is here she met her husband, Steve, who was in the Army stationed at Camp Kilmer, NJ. He preceded her in death in 1987. She is survived by seven daughters: MaryAnn Gerst of Albuquerque; Angela Margaret and husband Larry Ramirez of Albuquerque; Pat and husband Mark Eisenhauer of San Antonio, TX; Bette Castoria of Albuquerque; Barbara and Paul Cote of Albuquerque; Laura Green of Webb City, MO; and Caroline and husband Dermot Hayes of Ames, IA. She is also survived by twelve grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; and one brother, Francis Baxter and his wife Jean, of Edmond, OK. Cremation has taken place. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Mary's name to the David Westphall Veterans Foundation, P.O. Box 608, Angel Fire, NM 87710 (vietnamveteransmemorial.org). FRENCH - Wyoming 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE (505) 823-9400