Maria Ann Hodkins (formerly Mary Ann Herrick, née Mary Ann Kline), age 77, passed away peacefully in Paonia, Colorado on her birthday, October 23, 2026. Born on October 23, 1949, Maria spent her childhood in Chicago, Illinois, where her early love for the written word, art, and nature took root.

Maria majored in journalism at the University of Iowa and devoted her early adult years to raising her three sons Dan, Joe, and Connor with her first husband, Rupert "Jupe" Herrick. After relocating to Colorado, she continued her education and ultimately earned her degree at Colorado State University in Fort Collins.

A natural communicator, artist, and observer, Maria enjoyed a career spanning over three decades as a freelance professional journalist, graphic designer, author, and ghostwriter through her business, WindWord Writing Services. She authored guides including Guide to Getting Trees Planted and The Storyteller: Guide to Writing Your Life’s Stories, and wrote feature articles for publications such as The Herb Companion and Art Revue. Maria made her home across Colorado over the years, including Fort Collins, Clark, Longmont, and Walden, before ultimately settling in Paonia with her husband Evan Hodkins. She blended her love of writing and nature by serving as a naturalist for Colorado State Parks while living in Walden. Traveling and living among the wilderness she loved, she wrote trail guides, developed interpretive materials, and led public education programs on local wildlife and ecology.

Beyond her artistry with the written word and visual mediums, preparing and cooking food was a central passion of Maria’s life. Greatly admired as a talented and brilliant cook, she described herself as an “itinerant chef” and styled herself as "The Jazz Cook," a title gifted by a friend who was inspired by her bold, improvisational culinary style. Fascinated by the historical and cultural evolution of food, her work encompassed everything from traditional foods, fermentation, and personal chef services to teaching Eco-Cooking, cooking for local cafes, and culinary instruction at farm-to-table retreats. In Paonia, she brought this vision to life through Butter & Love: Real Food Nourishment, her holistic nutrition and traditional foods practice where she guided others as a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner.

A lifelong artist whose early training began as a young student at the Art Institute of Chicago, Maria was a gifted fine artist, writer, bookbinder, poet, and botanical illustrator. Specializing in field journaling, sketching, and watercolor, she taught field journaling workshops across Colorado and beyond, including the Denver Botanic Gardens and the Yellowstone Institute at Lamar Buffalo Ranch. As a self-described "citizen scientist," Maria viewed nature journaling as a way to bridge art, science, and spirit, teaching her students to view the natural world with curiosity, reverence, and gratitude.

Music was also a constant source of joy throughout Maria's life. While she did not play professionally, music enriched her daily life as an avid listener, singer, guitarist, pianist, and percussionist.

Though dementia separated Maria from many of her dear friends and broader community over her last several years, including the past three years spent in memory care, her family holds deep gratitude for the vibrant, inspired, and loving life she lived. Her friends and loved ones will forever remember her as the Jazz Cook, an observant naturalist, and the generous teacher who saw beauty and magic in every detail of the world.

Maria is survived by her loving husband, Evan Hodkins; her sister, Joan Lipiec; her step-children, Emily and Chris; and her three sons and their families: Dan Herrick and his wife Staci; Joe Herrick and his wife Angel; Connor Herrick and his wife Billie.

She is cherished as a grandmother by Rebecca Herrick, Jade Herrick, and Aaron Graham (children of Dan & Staci); Morgan Herrick and Thea Herrick (children of Joe & Angel); and Kassandra Herrick (daughter of Connor & Billie). Her legacy also continues through her great-grandchildren, William and Arya.

A public celebration of life will be held at a future date in Fort Collins, Colorado. To receive updates as plans are finalized, please register your interest here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdy-aBoUa-4BcVDbMXvXX9G4kUQiWSs6t4AqmkoQoDx-eBmsQ/viewform

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Maria's honor may be made to HopeWest Hospice (hopewestco.org).