Tribute to Mary E. (Burton) Carty AHS 1931
April 1, 1913 - February 6, 2007
To AHS Alumni
Letter from:
Tracey A. Stoll
AHS 1974 Alumna
Claremont, CA 91711
Mon Feb 12, 2007
Dear AHS Alumni Association,
I am writing to report the death of AHS graduate Mary Carty, on Tuesday, Feb. 6th, 2007, in Pomona, CA.
I believe she graduated from AHS in 1931.
Sincerely,
Tracey A. Stoll AHS 1974 Alumna
Claremont, CA 91711
CLAREMONT WEATHER
Mary E. (Burton) Carty
April 1, 1913 - February 6, 2007
I want to share something about Mary, because she was a remarkable person. I only knew her during the last of her
nine-plus decades. Mary was a delight; she always had a smile for everyone, no matter who she saw. I called her "Merry
Sunshine" because of her sunny disposition. I met Mary when I came to work at the retirement community where she had
already lived for many years. After discovering that she was also an Ames High grad, we would joke that we went to the
same high school; just not at the same time. (In fact, there were at least 40 years between our graduating classes.)
She was very proud of our motto and would recite it to others nearby by saying, "Guess what our Ames High motto is?
Ames Hi Aims High!" Mary may not have remembered my name, but she clearly remembered her alma mater! She told me years
ago that she grew up on Duff Avenue in a house across the street from Bandshell Park. As an adult, she was a peace
activist and a Quaker, living with her husband and family for many years in Whittier, California. Mary lived the last
decade of her life in the assisted living center at the retirement community. She picked fresh flowers and kept them
on display every day. She was a wonderful role model for all of us who knew her in recent years.
Web editors note: AHSAA records show that Mary E. (Burton) Carty graduated from AHS in 1931.
Thank you, Tracey, for letting the AHSAA know more about Mary.
Mary Carty Obituary
Mary Burton Carty Obituary
1913 - 2007
Mary Burton Carty, died on February 6, 2007 at Mount San Antonio Gardens in Claremont, CA where she had been a
resident since 1990. Mary was born on April 1, 1913, the daughter of Caroline Hurst and Eugene Burton. She had one
sister, Bernieta, who predeceased her. She grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, and graduated from Iowa State University in
Ames. She married Merwin Merrill Carty in 1937, and they moved to Whittier, California in 1941. Mary taught elementary
school for years in the Whittier City School district, and took early retirement from teaching in 1975. Mary was
always the minority in the family with three sons but enjoyed outdoor activities with her boys such as camping and
hiking. Every time we talked to Mary, she told us about one other place she and her husband visited during their
traveling years. No continent untouched, no food untasted, no scenery unappreciated! She loved to watch for birds and
was a long-time member of the Audubon Society. During the years she had a little place in Desert Hot Springs, she was
always on the lookout for roadrunners and other desert birds. She was a longtime member of the Whittier Historical
Society and a docent for the Bailey House, home of the first Whittier resident.
Mary is survived by her three sons, Phil (Diane), Bob (Susan), and Don (Barbara); six grandchildren, David, Christine,
Peter, Mitch, CJ, and Wes; and seven great-grandchildren. Above all else, she loved her family and friends . During
the last few years, her April Fool's birthday was the occasion for a family gathering of her immediate family, with
assorted cousins and friends from near and far. This year, she will be greatly missed, and it just won't seem the
same.
A celebration of her life will be held on Tuesday, February 13th, at 11am at the First Friends Church, 13205
Philadelphia, in Whittier.
Donations to UNICEF or the Mt. San Antonio Gardens Homeship Fund in Mary's name would be
greatly appreciated by her family. Mt. San Antonio Gardens Homeship Fund 900 Harrison Pomona, CA 91767
UNICEF 333 East 38th Street New York, NY 100161 800-4UNICEF www.unicefusa.org