With deep sorrow and enduring love, the family announces the passing of Mary R. Muñoz, 93, beloved mother and grandmother, on February 10, 2026. A proud coal miner’s daughter, she was born on May 17, 1932, and raised in Dawson, New Mexico.

When Dawson closed its town doors in 1950, Mary began a new chapter with her husband, Fred, who enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1949. With New Mexico as their home base, their growing family lived in Texas, Japan, New Jersey, and New Hampshire before finally settling back home in Albuquerque. In her early 40s, Mary learned to drive—an accomplishment that opened new opportunities for her. She had several jobs as her children grew and later retired from the Kirtland Air Force Base Commissary to care for her brother Johnny.

Above all else, Mary was a devoted mother and the heart of her family. As part of a military family, she navigated frequent moves and unpredictable changes with remarkable steadiness, always making each new place feel like home and ensuring her children adapted with confidence and comfort. She raised her nine children with patience, gentleness, and a steady, comforting presence. She guided with quiet strength, understanding, and unconditional love. Her home—wherever it happened to be—was a place where everyone felt safe, welcomed, and cared for. She always had a snack ready, just in case someone needed a little something to brighten their day.

With her children grown, Mary continued to pour her heart into her family, becoming an extraordinary grandmother. She embraced her role as “Grandma” and later “Gram-Cracker,” a nickname that captured her sweetness and sense of humor. She raised her granddaughter Christina, with whom she shared countless adventures. Christina lovingly cared for Mary in her later years, completing a beautiful circle of devotion. She was not only her caregiver and advocate, but her constant companion and best friend. Christina extended her quality of life because of the commitment to her long-term care and daily love with her unseen wings. 

Cherished were life’s simple pleasures—chicken wings, a crisp Granny Smith apple, a full moon, a warm cup of tea, and a PayDay tucked away for a sweet moment. Bingo nights, camping trips, and the occasional tequila shot shared in good company brought laughter and light. Yellow roses brightened her days, long Scrabble games stretched into the evening, and good books carried her away, always with Rascal curled faithfully at her side. Music threaded through every season of her life: the French horn in her school years, LPs spinning beside her siblings, Spanish melodies drifting through the house on Saturday mornings. Whenever a rhythm found her, she answered—dancing, humming, whistling, or singing softly to herself, a quiet soundtrack of joy.

Mary also had a playful side that made her unforgettable. Over the years, she collected a cheerful assortment of frog trinkets—a tradition sparked by the few times she joked about wanting to “kiss a frog so he could turn into a handsome prince.” She said it playfully, but her family never forgot, and soon frogs of every shape and size found their way to her. These small, silly joys became part of her charm, the kind of memories that make you smile even through tears.

Mary is survived by her sister, Angie Quintana; and her eight children: Dolores (Frank) Sanchez, Steven (Becky) Muñoz, Becky (Randy) Garcia, Lisa (Roy †) Arellano, John Muñoz, Elena (David & Henry †) Torrez-Chavez, Robert Muñoz, and Debbie (Fred †) Padilla. She also leaves behind numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren, each of whom she adored in her own meaningful and special way.

She is preceded in death by Frederico Muñoz; her parents, Pedro Campos Reyes and Elena Andazola Reyes; her daughter, Paula Garcia; grandson Christopher Pitts; and her siblings Connie Garza, Joseph Reyes, Carmen Aguero, Manuel Reyes, Johnny Reyes, Julio Reyes, Lorrie Glenn, Rosita Reyes, Antonio Reyes, and Julian Reyes.

Mary will be remembered for her delicious meals, her warmth, generosity, gentle humor, thoughtfulness, and her calming presence that brought comfort to anyone near her. She carried a welcoming spirit throughout her life—one that only grew stronger with age. She brought light into every room she entered and embraced every gathering with joy, laughter, and a sense of belonging. Everyone knew her name, and everyone felt her gentle soul.

While her passing leaves a space that cannot be filled, Mary’s spirit lives on in all who knew her—her children, grandchildren, extended family, and the many lives she touched. Rest peacefully, Mom… Grandma… our sweet Gram-Cracker. Your light continues to shine in the memories we carry and the stories we share.

Funeral Mass, will be on March 12, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Therese with grave side burial to follow the mass at Mt. Calvary.  A catered reception will follow at St. Therese Hall and appetizers and desserts are welcome.