She attended grade school in Provo, Utah, high school in Orem, Utah, and graduated from Mary’s Beauty College in Provo. She worked various jobs in Orem from 1960 to 1967 at the Scera, the drive-in movie theater, the Hi-Spot, Naomi’s Beauty Salon and Grants department store as a cook.
In Moab, she babysat children from 1979 to 1987, then worked a short period at Taco Bender until about 1990. She was a full-time housewife and mother.
She loved her husband, family, reading, family history, and the Gospel. She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served various positions in the Relief Society, Primary, and a Spanish-speaking mission in the Atlanta, Ga., and Mexico Oaxaca temples from May 2006 to May 2008.
Mary is survived by her husband, Delano Backus; five children: Jon Backus, LaMont Backus, Kathryn (Shaun) Christensen, Brian (Kelsie) Backus, and Elizabeth (Jared) Shumway; 28 grandchildren; and four siblings: Anita (Michael) Thorpe, Joyce (Edward) Short, Ken Bishop, and Paul (Pamela) Bishop.
Funeral services were held Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012 at 10 a.m. at Moab Stake Center, 701 Locust Lane, Moab, Utah.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.SpanishValleyMortuary.com.