Mary Celeste Friday

On Monday, July 26th of 2021, Mary Celeste Friday went on to her next journey.

Although devastated to leave her loved ones, she was at peace.  She was preceded in death by her Daddy, Larry Friday; Uncle Lynd Mische, Uncle Lee Galles, Grandfather, H.L. Galles Jr., Grandmother, Fern Livingston Galles, Grandmother, Dorothy Gregston, special Great Aunt, Dorothy Mae Campbell and special friend Patricia Elgin Barajas.

She is survived by her mother, Judi G Friday; Eddie Joe Abeyta, who she proudly called, “her better half”; her son, “special blessing”, AJ Abeyta; her “bonus” daughter Leah Parraz Abeyta (Joaquin), proud GiGi to granddaughter, Noelle Anaya (Ell-E), sister, Debbie Friday-Jagers (Marty), nephew, Joseph Jagers (Karissa), special Goddaughter and niece, Jaqueline (Jackie) Jagers, sister, Elizabeth(Betsy) Friday-Skoda (Marc),  godmother, Stephanie B. Smith, special in-laws, Eddie & Anna Abeyta, sister-in-law Lisa Abeyta Valerio (Gil), Analise Valerio (Elias), Cristobal Valerio,(Ashley), Estevan Valerio and Feliz Valerio.  We could never leave out Gregory Rael, who was like her adopted son, even though he was a primo.

Mary, also known as Cissy or Mary Celeste when she was in trouble, was born in Albuquerque on March 23,1965 to Larry and Judi Friday. They moved to Taos when she was 5, and she loved it immediately. She loved the people and all her teachers from first grade to graduation. She was the more outdoorsy of the three sisters, fishing with her Daddy, camping, horseback riding, raising a steer for 4-H (which she didn’t want to sell) and even tried her hand at welding.

Mary loved to dance and was a member of the Taos Drill team from 7th grade to graduation. Even being part of the first Taos Drill Team that represented Taos High in the State Championship. She would dance and practice in her upstairs room, and her dad would complain about the music and the noise. As the illness got the best of her, she learned a few Tik Tok dances, but then just watched as others would dance. She missed the good old days. Mary loved watching AJ play any sport. Starting with YAFL, club wrestling, elementary basketball, t-ball, Little League, Middle School, JV and Varsity baseball, and bowling. She enjoyed going to the casino and although not very lucky, was lucky enough to meet Eddie Joe there.

Mary liked sports but could hardly wait for the NFL season to start. She loved the Cowboys (learned that from PaPa Galles) and eventually fell in love with Fantasy Football. She loved playing with the Kacklers and would start thinking about her next year’s fantasy draft/team immediately.

Mary loved to hug! The hardest part of COVID was not having the physical touch. She always said if she was going to hug, you had to know she truly meant it and wanted it to make the other person feel as special as they were to her. Saying I love you was something else very important to her. People should always know how much they mean to you. Sometimes that can happen immediately, just with the kindness a soul exudes.

Memorial Service will be held on Saturday July 31, 2021 at 10am in the Evergreen Chapel of DeVargas Funeral Home of Taos. A Celebration of Mary’s life and meal will follow at the Sagebrush Hotel at 11:30am.

The family of Mary Celeste Friday has entrusted the care of their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home of Taos. www.devargastaos.com 1-866-657-4019