Mary Susan Triplett Ayers
7th Generation Californian, cowgirl, beloved school teacher, coyoté, bibliophile, translator of many early history works, cunning linguist, adventurist, decendant of Charlemagne.
Mary Susan Triplett Ayers entered this world in San Francisco on October 17, 1936. She exited peacefully in the early hours of March 15, 2023 in Ventura County. She was 86.
Mary and her younger brother Thomas, were born to Marguerita Goux and Eldon Triplett both of Santa Barbara. The family lived in different cities along the West coast due to Eldon’s job in Fire insurance. Throughout her life, it was Santa Barbara that felt most like home.
A gifted student and voracious reader, naturally led to Mary’s acceptance to prestigious Pomona College. She finished her medieval History degree and teaching credentials at UC Santa Barbara. Upon completion, she went to work for the U.S. military in France for 5 years. She met her first husband David, a French-Moroccan matador and they she had a son named Michael.
Deciding that life for her and her young son would be better back in California, they returned to Santa Barbara. Mary found a teaching job in sleepy Ventura county- first in Ojai, then found what would be her joy in life, teaching at Briggs Elementary school in Santa Paula. Through a couple of colleagues, Mary was introduced to a local rancher, Loren Ayers who she married and had a daughter, Mary “Muffin”.
Ranch life was a great fit . Mary had an exceptional green thumb for growing colossal pumpkins, squash, roses, fuchsia’s, and many other garden delights. Many ribbons and accolades were awarded to her for her many entries at the Ventura County Fair .
Teaching proved to be her ultimate gift and she endlessly gave forward. Fun fact: Mary had the foresight to understand that computers would become a part of daily life , so when Apple Inc. announced they were going to give California schools enough computers for a classroom ‘computer lab’ , she quickly absconded with the required paperwork, forged all documents with the Principal’s signature , making the computer lab a reality!
Mary’s son Michael Dahan Preceded her in death.
Mary is survived by her brother Thomas Triplett of San Francisco, daughter Mary Price of Augusta, Georgia and four grandchildren . William Price , Emily Price , Lauren Dahan, and Lindsay Dahan.
“Some trails are happy ones , others are blue
It’s the way you rode the trail that counts, here’s a happy one for you
Happy trails to you
Until we meet again,
Happy trails to you
Keep smiling until then”