Community mourns passing of Mary Mack, once crowned Barstow’s 'Woman of the Decade'

This story has been updated to reflect the new memorial service time for Mary Grace Mack.

Friends and loved ones are mourning the death of longtime community leader Mary Grace Mack, who was once crowned “Hospital Hero” and Barstow’s “Woman of the Decade.”

Barstow lost another one of its “pillars,” said Barstow Community Hospital spokesman John Rader, about Mack, who died on Tuesday at “93 years young.”

Among her many accomplishments, Mary Mack began volunteering at BCH in 1964, and she remained an active status Auxiliary member for the past 58 years, Rader said.

Rader asked that loved ones keep Mack’s daughters, Kathy and Judy, in their thoughts and prayers.

Mary Grace Mack

Mary Mack’s daughters shared a bit of their mother’s life with the Daily Press, including her birth on July 2, 1928, to Jack and Grace Kastner of Tucson, Arizona.

Mary was the youngest of six children and later attended and graduated from Tucson High School.

At the age of 11, Mary met Kenneth “Kenny” Mack, the love of her life, and would eventually marry him in 1947.

In 1957, Kenny and Mary Mack moved from Ajo, Arizona — where he taught music — to Barstow, where he taught music at Barstow High School. He later worked at Barstow Community College’s Music Department.

During that time, Mary was a homemaker and wife and was an active helper in the many activities of the BHS Riffian Band.

Kenny and Mary Mack were married for 58 years before his death in 2005. He was 83-years-old when he died in Escondido. His ashes were committed at South Lawn Memorial Park in Tucson.

BHS band directors and Mary organized a college scholarship fund in Kenneth’s name for music students during that time.

Mary Mack was preceded in death by her husband. Also, grandson Kyle and brother Roy; sisters Barbra, Betty, and Nancy.

She is survived by her daughters, Judy and Kathy; adopted sons, Doug Kruse and John Rader. Also, nephews, Richard, Jesse, and Randy; nieces, Lynda, Sharon, and Jan, and many great-nephews and nieces.

Mary Mack truly believed that everyone in the community ought to volunteer somewhere to make that community better, Mack’s daughters told the Daily Press.

'Hospital Hero' and 'Woman of the Decade'

More than 40 years ago, as part of her BCH Auxiliary commitment, Mack took on the responsibility of chairing the Barstow area blood drives for the Blood Bank of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, renamed LifeStream in 2008, Rader said.

“During her tenure, the blood bank collected more than 41,500 units of blood – enough to benefit more than 125,000 patients,” Rader said. “Humbly, Mary would say that the credit for the blood bank’s massive success should go to the many Barstow residents who have donated blood over the years.”

Mary was honored by the Barstow Area Chamber of Commerce as Barstow’s “Woman of the Decade” in 1994 and “Woman of the Year” in 2005.

In 2012, Mary Mack was named a “Hospital Hero” by the California Hospital Association, representing more than 400 hospitals throughout California.

Rader said Mary’s life is a shining example of the impact one person can have on a community, and she embodied the concept of service above self.

“She was a very close friend to me since I arrived in Barstow nearly 25 years ago,” Rader said. “I will surely miss her presence at the hospital and in the community — and most importantly, her friendship.”

Condolences

Judy Mack said longtime Barstow resident Mary Benson and her mother were “partners in crime doing good works” since the 1980s.

“Mary was always there if somebody needed something,” Benson said. “She was the one who talked me into becoming an auxiliary member so many years ago. She was a wonderful lady who will be greatly missed.”

Barstow resident Elaine Carpenter recalled 1964, back when Mack’s husband, Kenneth, was her high school band instructor,

“Mary made all of the girls in the band handmade earrings,” Carpenter said. “I still have mine. Truly sweet lady.”

Kris Okamuro, a Barstow Unified School District Board Trustee and owner-operator at Fitness MD said Mack's passing is another huge loss for our community.

“What an example she was, and boy did she set the bar high for those left behind,” Okamuro said. “Much love and prayers to family and friends.”

Services for Mary Mack will be held at 1 p.m. on March 2 at First Baptist Church, 1320 Barstow Road in Barstow.

The Highlands Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Memories and remembrances can be posted online at www.HighlandsBarstow.com.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Instagram @RenegadeReporter and Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Barstow Community mourns passing of 'Woman of the Decade' Mary Mack