Mary Katherine Delong

Long-time Taoseña artist and writer, Mary Katherine DeLong slipped the bonds of this mortal coil on Easter Sunday at 10:30 am. She died at the age of 95 with her loving daughter, Susan Parma, at her side. Mary Katherine DeLong first visited Taos at the age of five in the early nineteen-twenties. Her parents bought a ranch in the canyon where the family spend their summers and then moved permanently. Mary Katherine wrote material for the Taos newspaper at the age of 11. In her teen years she wrote radio plays for the program Pioneer Days, which broadcast from Omaha, Nebraska.

Mary Katherine went to Denver where she met Frank Haylock, who pursued a career in technology publishing with Mary Katherines strong partnership. In addition to her work as the anchor of the family advertising and publishing business, Mary Katherine acted on stage for local theater in the San Francisco bay area and worked in childrens education with a network of like-minded friends and parents.

Mr. Haylock died in 1979 in California. Mary Katherine returned to Taos in 1995 and wrote a seniors column for the Taos News. She became a friend to many in Taos and continued pursuits in art. Mary Katherine had extensive skills and talents in many of the arts. She sang alto in the Taos Community Chorus and the St. James Episcopal Church Choir.

Mary Katherine vibrantly lived the last 20 months of her life in the Taos Retirement Village where she shared a room with Jenny Vincent. Mary Katherine and Jenny shared a love of world folk music and often joined one another in song.

Mary Katherine is survived by sons, David, Douglas, and Jonathan, as well as daughter Susan. Mary Katherine is also survived by grandchildren Andrea, Christopher, Gregory and Lesley.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, April 21, 2013 at 2 PM at the St. James Episcopal Church in Taos. Mary Katherines remains will be interred in the Columbarium at Grace Episcopal Cathedral in San Francisco, California. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the St. James Episcopal Church Food Pantry in Mary Katherines name.