Mary Lou Wilkerson

Mary Lou Wilkerson, age 76, was born Sunday, February 21, 1943 and passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 23, 2019 after an unexpected bout with appendix cancer.

Mary Lou was a wonderful mother who was fun-loving, kind, and caring. She was not one to accept external expectations at face value. Her own clear moral compass and fiercely independent spirit guided her throughout her life and deeply influenced each of her children. At the age of 40, Mary Lou began a new career path; she attended the University of New Mexico in order to obtain a bachelor's degree. She began working in a college advisement department as a student and found that she really enjoyed the work. Once she received her degree, she accepted a position as an advisor. Assisting students to make it to the finish line and graduate with a college degree, just as she did, brought her great satisfaction. She had a fulfilling career as a student advisor at UNM from 1988 to 2014, when she retired.

Mary Lou's kindness and sense of humor was enjoyed in all of her relationships, personal and professional. She was "MOM" to so many kids over the years, whether to friends of her children or students she counseled. She enjoyed spending time with her family whenever possible. Her love for animals was known to all, and she had many pets throughout her life that brought her great joy. She had an encyclopedic knowledge of the things and people she loved, and served as the heart of her family, keeping them connected with detailed updates across state lines and changing lives.

She is survived by son and daughter-in-law, Frank and Eden Wilkerson; son, Steve Wilkerson; daughter-in-law, Janet Greenberg; daughter and son-in-law, Debbie and Brent Ecton; son and daughter-in-law, Rob and Jodie Wilkerson; grandchildren, Jeremy and Brittany St.Cyr, Walt Wilkerson, Valerie and Seve Quinn, Frank A Wilkerson, Joe Wilkerson, Patrick Ecton, Elaine and Barrett Montgomery, Sarah Ecton, Paige Wilkerson, Tim Ecton, Simon Ecton, and Caleb Ecton; great-grandchildren, Dakota Vigil, Samantha St.Cyr, Charlotte St.Cyr, Michael Quinn, Jordan Quinn, Nathan Montgomery, and Lily Montgomery.

Memorial donations may be made in Mary Lou's name to Animal Humane New Mexico https://animalhumanenm.org/donate/ or Appendix Cancer Research https://acpmp.org/donate