Mary Ann Skare
Mary Ann Skare entered eternal rest with our Lord on September 5, 2024, surrounded by family and friends.
She was born on November 15, 1945, in Minneapolis, MN to Clement and Lucretia Savage. Mary was the third in the birth order and the eldest daughter of their seven children. When Mary was 5 years old, the Savage family moved to Santa Barbara, CA where she attended San Roque Catholic Elementary School and graduated from Bishop Garcia Diego High School in 1963.
She worked at the Woolworth’s Soda Fountain before joining the Santa Barbara County Marshal’s Office among the first female Deputy Marshals in Santa Barbara County. She often shared stories of the grit and determination it took working within the court house to escort accused individuals for court appearances, often twice her size, not once getting resistance from them in the process.
She met and married Daryl Skare and they built a life together in Santa Barbara. She took a career break to focus on family after Erin, her daughter was born. Three years later Luke was born followed by the premature arrival of little John, who lived 4 short months. Her children brought her immense joy with the memory of John remaining a constant in all aspects of their family life. Mary had fond memories of volunteering at Our Lady of Sorrows & Holy Cross Catholic churches as well as Notre Dame Elementary School.
When the children were older, Mary worked at Lou Rose of Santa Barbara and Pando & Riggs CPA firm before retiring and eventually moving to Redding, CA to be closer to her daughter and her family. She then followed them to Benton, Arkansas.
Mary was an avid reader of history, particularly Revolutionary and Civil War history, geography as well as a good western novel. She staunchly supported the local men and women in the military who defend our great country and law enforcement in each community where she lived. She was proud to be an American! Saturdays in the fall included football cheering for the University of Notre Dame – Go Irish! and the University of Alabama – Roll Tide!
She was preceded in death by her son, John Daryl Skare, her parents; Clement & Lucretia Savage; her brother Tom and sister-in-law Michele and brother John.
Mary, is survived by her husband, Dary Skare, children, Erin (Jerry) Gillespie of Little Rock AR, and Luke Skare of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; her grandchildren; Bob (Katie), Jack and John Gillespie, and Isabella and Catalina Dalessio-Skare and a great-granddaughter; Harper Gillespie all of whom will never forget the love she brought to their lives.
The family wishes to extend their profound gratitude to the caring and compassionate staff at The Manor in Benton for providing Mary with the highest quality of love and care during her battle with lung cancer.
A private Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, consider a donation in Mary’s honor to Tunnel to Towers (www.t2t.org) or your local pregnancy support center.