Maryanne Smith Clancy, 82 of Manzanola passed away on July 22, 2008. A Mass of Christian burial will took place Saturday, July 26 at 10:00 am at St. Peters Catholic Church in Rocky Ford with Father Mario Murillo officiating. A horse drawn carriage was used to escort Maryanne from her residence on Catalpa Street to her place of interment at Mountainview cemetery in Manzanola, Co.

Maryanne was born December 10, 1925 in Golden, Colorado, the fourth child of Birge Barton and Catherine Irene (Verellen) Smith. She grew up in Fort Collins, Denver and in the mountains of Colorado. Her favorite memories were when the family lived in Fall River and later had a cabin near Nederland. On June 20, 1943 she met Wellington Joseph Clancy who was in the Army-Air Corp stationed at Fitzsimmons Medical Center in Denver. They were married on August 2nd, of that same year. Until 1945 when her husband was discharged from the military, she traveled the country where ever he was stationed. She lived in San Francisco, California, Louisville, Kentucky, West Palm Beach, Florida, at Sadila Air Base, in Missouri, and also San Antonio, Texas. After the war they settled in Royal Oak, Michigan.

Prior to having children Maryanne worked for Michigan Bell as a telephone operator. She had many stories to tell about the beginnings of rural telephone service and switch board operations. In 1955 they started their family which would grow to include eight children being born, all within nine years. In 1960 the family re-located back to Lakewood, Colorado to be close to her family. In 1961 her husband was shot by two teenage boys while he was working for Denver Tramway Corporation (now RTD). This led to a life time of medical issues and physical disabilities so therefore Maryanne would become the primary wage earner for the family. She returned to school in 1965 to earn a nursing degree and later became a licensed Nursing Home Administrator. In 1971 the family moved to Manzanola, Colorado where she resided until her death.

Maryanne gave her children a life long love of learning and the enjoyment of reading. She believed that an open mind and acceptance of others should be a way of life. The home was always filled with books, friends, family, and lively discussions. Her own quest for knowledge continued until the day of her death. She was a role model in perseverance and accomplishment. She always saw the bright side of every situation and had an absolute faith in God’s will, which sustained her through many trials during her life.

Over the years other extended family members stayed with the family creating a special bond with Maryanne. In Michigan and later in Manzanola, her nephew Michael Clancy lived with them. In Lakewood her nieces Patricia (Wackley) Alex and Marybeth (Chismar) Thompson both stayed with the family for an extended amount of time thus developing a very special relationship with their aunt.

Besides raising her children and enjoying her many grand and great grandchildren she loved to travel. During the 1970’s and 80’s she traveled extensively in Europe including Germany, France, Austria, England Switzerland, Bavaria, and All Saints Lorraine. Her first trip to Germany was with her dear friend Mildred Davis when they went to visit their sons who were station there with the military. She spent three weeks traveling in the Soviet Union while it was still a “blocked” nation. While enroute to the Soviet Union she was also able to stop in Helsinki, Finland, Amerstdam, Holland, and Warsaw, Poland. After attending a National Business and Professional Women’s conference in Purto Rico she was able to visit her dream island of Martinique in the Caribbean (via the island of Guadalupe where an emergency landing was required to fix the plane). While there are many stories to tell of her travels she was especially proud of having driven a car in Paris and of the conch shell that the little children on Martinique presented to her while walking on the beach. She has traveled to 44 of the 50 United States, most of the providences of Canada and also Mexico.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Barney and John, and her late husband, W.J. Clancy, her nephew Michael Clancy and her great-granddaughter, Ryann Thompson.

She is survived by her sister Elizabeth Wackley of Aurora, Co; her brothers Bill (Mary) Smith of Lakewood, Co; James (Evelyn) Smith of Louviers, Co and Robert (Janine) Smith of Littleton, Co. and sister-in-law Dorothy Smith of Scotsdale, AZ. All of her children, John (Stephanie) Clancy of Northglenn, Co; Jani (Angelo) Bell-Volpi of Fowler, Co; Kathleen (Gregg) Schmidtke of Fort Collins, Co.; Barbara (Gary) Zilk of Littleton, Co.; Patricia (Dennis) Woodward of Centennial, Co.; Barney (Donna) Clancy of Monument, Co.; Joseph (Dawn) Clancy of Denver, Co.; and Lorraine (Albert) Melgosa  of Manzanola, Co. and 14 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Manzanola Fire Department & EMS in c/o Halouska Funeral Home. The family would also like to thank Dr. Archuleta, Lousia and her staff, Vicky, Cheryl and Christina with Ark Valley Home Health and staff at Arkansas Valley Medical Center for her exceptional care the last few years.  Most important, a very special thanks to Beverly Jimenez for her care and dedication as her daily companion. Online condolences or tributes may be made at www.halouskafuneralhome.com. Halouska Funeral Home in Fowler is in charge of the arrangments.