Mary Sue Warner

Mary Sue Warner, also known as Mary Sue Warner-Smith, age 79 died on Wednesday, February 23, 2022. She was born in Lincoln, Nebraska to John Frederick Warner and Edna Cooke Warner. Her family moved to Roswell when she was 16, and she graduated from Roswell High School. She also graduated from McMurry College, now McMurry University, in Abilene, Texas, with a degree in Spanish and attended graduate school at the Universidad Internacional in Saltillo, Mexico, and also attended UNM.

Mary Sue began her professional career as a Spanish, English, and history teacher in Texas, Michigan, and New Mexico. She spent the majority of her working life as a paralegal, having worked for several firms in Albuquerque, including Atkinson & Kelsey, The Rodey Law Firm, Sandia National Laboratories, and Sutin Thayer & Browne. She became a Certified Paralegal in 1985 after passing a two-day national exam. Always active in her professional association, Mary Sue served in many leadership roles, including as President of Legal Assistants of New Mexico and Education Director of the New Mexico Association of Professional Paralegals. She was honored to have been a guest lecturer at the UNM Law School and also to have been a speaker at State Bar of New Mexico annual conventions.

Probably her greatest love in life was music, mainly classical music and opera. Especially after retiring, Mary Sue was active in the New Mexico Symphony Guild, later known as the Music Guild of New Mexico. She was also active with Opera Southwest. When her health allowed, Mary Sue enjoyed traveling, visiting museums, and swimming. She especially loved her trips to Italy, Spain, and Turkey. She also enjoyed playing bridge, reading, and watching movies and television. Mary Sue's friends often said she had a real talent for knowing which people would make an amicable and stimulating gathering, and her luncheons and dinner parties were usually great fun. In her later years, Mary Sue didn't care whether her house was in perfect order, she felt that having her friends nearby was more important. In earlier years Mary Sue had also been an active member of A.A.U.W. and P.E.O., Chapter L.

Family was important to Mary Sue. For most of her adult life, she enjoyed the company of a toy or miniature poodle, who was always considered family. Those little critters, Charlie, Jean Louis, Justin, and Andre, were dearly loved, also.

Mary Sue was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Carolyn Jean Warner Myers; and her second husband, Roy D. Smith. She is survived by her brothers, John F. Warner and his wife, Kathleen Froese, of Silver City; and William A. Warner and his wife Julie, of San Diego, CA, and by her brother-in-law, Duane Myers, of Albuquerque. She is also survived by her nephews, Andrew S. Warner and his wife, Gloria Vasquez-Warner, of Los Angeles, CA, Kell S. Warner and his wife, Diana Orozco-Warner, of Albuquerque, and Paul W. Warner and his wife, Brooke Salstrom Warner, of San Diego, CA; and by nieces, Lorena Elena Warner-Lara and her husband, Ebert Lara, of San Diego, CA; and Adrienne S. Warner of Albuquerque; and by great-nephews and nieces, and by many wonderful friends and her step-sons Matthew M. Smith, of Oakland, CA and Andrew A. Smith, M.D., of San Mateo, CA.

Cremation has taken place.

Anyone wishing to make a memorial contribution may do so to: Opera Southwest, the Music Guild of New Mexico, Lap Dog Rescue, or a charity of one's choosing.