Maria Finley

Maria O. (Salazar) Finley, 89, of rural Rawlins County, died July 31, 2014 at Citizens Medical Center, in Colby. She was born July 29, 1925 to Perfecto and Aurelia (Mares) Salazar in Watrous, New Mexico.

Maria attended school in Watrous, New Mexico and moved to Las Vegas, New Mexico when she was a teenager. She was working at the local movie theatre where she met her future husband, Fredrick Finley. They married five days later, on June 29, 1945. Maria stayed living in Las Vegas with her family while Fred finished his service with the Army Corp, fighting in World War II. When Fred returned from the war, he brought his bride back to Atwood where they farmed south east of Atwood. Later, Fred and Maria renewed their vows in the Catholic Church. A few years later, they moved to the current homestead, which remained her home for over 65 years. Maria worked for years in Colby at the IGA store, and the old TG&Y store. She also worked at St. Thomas Hospital, starting in the laundry department and eventually moving to the surgical department as a surgical technician, which she truly loved. When Citizen’s Medical Center opened, she worked there briefly before she started working at the Thomas County Care Center in Colby. Later, she worked at Rawlins County Hospital, and retired from there in 1997. After long days at work, she would come home and make a home cooked meal for her family each evening. In the summertime, Maria took pride in canning garden produce such as jams, fruits, pickles, and vegetables. Maria enjoyed her children and grandchildren immensely. She took pleasure in cooking for her family, always remembering to make each their favorite dish. Baking was by far her favorite past time. Tortillas, breads, rolls, cookies and pies. Maria also enjoyed embroidering, taking photos, collecting stamps, astronomy, gardening, beautiful dishes, artwork and treasures from her children and grandchildren. She had a way of making each of her children and grandchildren unique and special. Maria was a devoted Catholic and a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Atwood.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Fred, sisters, Fina Castellano, Julia Reeves, Dora Mueller, Lila Miller, brother, Perry Salazar, and granddaughter, Heather Draper.

She is survived by her children, William (Nikki) Finley, Pat (Betty) Finley all of rural Rawlins County, Stella (Robert) Draper of St. Francis, Mike (Sondra) Finley of Colby, Susan (Kenny) Toebben of Vienna, MO; and Sara Finley of Lawrence; Grandchildren, Shane (Kassandra) Finley, Colby; Marc (Cassidy) Finley, Colby; Stacy (Matt) Horinek, Colby; Matt (Rachel) Finley, Atwood; Lance Finley, Colby; Jackie (Brad) McDougal, San Antonio, TX; Anne (Andy) Willis, Fort Smith, AK; Brooke (Justin) Lohr, St. Francis; Brian Draper and Alex Draper, St. Francis; Jennifer Finley, San Francisco, CA; Justin (Kayla) Finley, Colby; Taylor (Shea) Finley Colby; Emilea, Kyle, Travis, Kory and Kourtney Finley Colby; Katie and Colby Toebben, Vienna MO; Mariah Finley and Michael Harding, Lawrence. Siblings, Frances Lisenbee of Albuquerque, NM; Stella Allen of Las Vegas, NM; Robert Salazar of Las Vegas, NM, Barney and Rey Salazar of Las Vegas, NM; Great grandchildren, Josh and Alexandria Finley, Brock and Brayden Horinek, Conner, Heidi, Leah, & Natalia Finley; Andrew McDougal, Austin Willis, Breck and Pierce Lohr, Brielle Finley, Legend, Noble, Wynter Finley; and many nieces and nephews. She touched the lives and was loved by so many.

Visitation will be from 10:00a.m – 8:00pm on Sunday, Aug 3, 2014 at Baalmann Mortuary, Atwood with a rosary at 6pm. Funeral Mass will be 10:00am on Monday, August 4, 2014 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Atwood, Kansas, with burial to be followed at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Atwood, KS. Memorials are suggested to Maria Finley Memorial Fund Baalmann Mortuary, 109 N 2nd, Atwood, KS 67730. Online condolences: www.baalmannmortuary.com