Mary Estelle Schneider Avila

Dec 2, 1922 -

Jun 27, 2022

Mary Avila, 99, passed on June 27, 2022, at the Anchorage Pioneer Home of natural causes. She was born in Louisville, Ky. An only child, she grew up on a small farm and had fond memories of her pony, Petey. Mary graduated from Jefferson County High School, received a bachelor's degree in nursing during World War II and was a certified midwife. As a young nurse she worked in the rural areas of Kentucky and New Mexico.

Mary came to the Territory of Alaska as a BIA nurse in 1952. She worked in Sitka, Wrangell, Bethel and Anchorage, Alaska. During her career she delivered many babies, was an emergency room nurse and provided essential nursing skills. In Anchorage she worked for the Alaska Native Hospital and Providence Hospital. She was an instrumental nurse during the nights following the 1964 earthquake. After years of nursing, she worked as a medical transcriptionist.

Mary was active and adventurous. She liked hiking, berry picking and camping with her young girls. She loved horseracing, tennis, reading, jazz, knitting, needlepoint and crossword puzzles. She always had a well-developed "sweet tooth."

Mary is survived by her three daughters, Karen Avila-Lederhos (Donald), Roberta Avila and Liz Hartshorn (Thomas); seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

She was a loving mother and a true pioneer treasure with amazing stories which will be missed by her family and friends.