Mary Sue Wooten

MarySue Wooten, almost 96, passed away peacefully Sunday, July 21, 2024. She was born Friday, August 10, 1928, in Holdenville, Oklahoma, to Maurice and Marion Mullens. MarySue grew up with her sister Kathryn (Kay) and graduated from Will Rogers High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She attended Tulsa University on scholarship and while studying at TU, she met the love of her life, John Knox Wooten. John and MarySue were married in 1948. They lived in Endicott, NY and Wichita, KS before settling in Los Alamos, NM, where they were employed at the National Laboratory, and where they raised their children, Jay, Kathy and Karol.

MarySue was active in Los Alamos Little Theater and Light Opera and Don Juan Playhouse, as well as being a Cub Scout and Girl Scout leader. MarySue was a longtime Zoo Parent at the Albuquerque Biopark. After retiring from the Lab, MarySue and John relocated to White Rock and then to Albuquerque. They traveled the world together and went to England several times to visit MarySue's high school pen pal from World War II. MarySue and John especially enjoyed visiting Las Vegas, beginning in the 1950's, and they were early investors in the Strat Tower, where they celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary 100 floors up, with a family gathering, just a year before John passed. They enjoyed their 24th and final cruise in February 2009.

Since 2016, MarySue resided at Carefree Living facility in Albuquerque, where she felt very well cared for. In addition to her husband, MarySue was predeceased by her parents and her son Jay. She is survived by her sister Kay, of Albuquerque, her daughters Kathy Boone (husband Ed) of Poughkeepsie, NY and Karol Martinez (husband Leland) of La Jara, Co, along with her grandchildren (Jack, Amanda, Matthew) and great grandchildren (Preston, Sean, James, Nora) and many nieces and nephews. For many years, MarySue has been a member of Asbury Methodist Church in Albuquerque. MarySue was a bright spirit and touched many lives. She will be missed and fondly remembered!