Mary "Sue" Baker Stanley

Mary "Sue" Baker Stanley, formerly of Lordsburg, New Mexico, went to be with Jesus March 10, 2026. She was 86 years old.

Funeral services will be held at Delta United Methodist Church 03/28/2026 at 2:30pm officiated by Reverend Alane Currier Griggs. A private interment will be at Cedaredge Cemetery.

Sue was born January 26, 1940, at Lordsburg, Hidalgo County, New Mexico to Carl David and Florence Cureton Baker. She married Robert “Bob” M Stanley on March 25, 1959. They were blessed with two children, Kathryn and Geoff. Bob preceded Sue in death, April 10, 2024.

Her maternal grandparents were Dick and Agnes Cureton. She spent a lot of her time on their cattle ranch in southwest New Mexico when she was growing up. It was there her love of camping, the outdoors, and rock hunting developed, and she would go Indian arrowhead hunting also finding pottery, baskets, and other artifacts.

Sue was a capable, creative, and independent woman who from the age of 10 made her own skirts on a treadle sewing machine, including her favorite multi-tiered squaw skirt. After Kathy came into her life, she often made matching dresses for Kathy and her dolls and passed on her love of sewing to her.

Sue held a variety of jobs before settling into computer programming in the mid 1960’s. She was an IT manager for Boulder County for 29 years where she helped elected officials and department heads. Her managerial skills spread to all walks of her life.

Sue’s favorite plants were roses and she cultivated all kinds of them throughout her life. Her great love for all plants was fostered by her mother and grandmother. She passed her vast knowledge and love onto her daughter, Kathy. She also learned to make cuttings of other favorite plants, including potho. Her grandmother gave her the first cutting of potho when she was 10 and Sue has had a plant from this cutting in every office and home she lived in, including her last home.

In later years, she enjoyed being connected with others through The Red Hat Society, Blooms and Friends Garden Club. She was proud to hold a general ham radio license for more than 20 years, call sign WA0KRB and was very active. Her favorite personal hobby was researching family history, back to many 30th great grandparents. The Baker family from England in 1626 was her first American immigrant connection.

Sue is survived by her sister Sally Severance and her brother David (Diane) Baker and both of her children, Geoff (Karie) Stanley and Kathryn Jones. She is also survived by three granddaughters Leann Distel, Megan Quinn, and Sarah Jobes. Along with 3 great grandchildren, Hannah, Molly, and Wesley.

In Lieu of flowers, please donate to Hope West Hospice or charity of your choice.