The family of Mary Ann Fawcett of Fillmore, California, announces that, on April 29, 2023, at the age of 90, a special daughter went home to be with her Heavenly Father. On January 3, 1933, a gift from God was born to Helen Anita Brown Weddell and Ian Strathallen Weddell in Jamaica Long Island, New York. The family moved to Glendale, California, soon after her birth.
Mary Ann went to Mark Keppel Elementary School, Toll Middle School, attended acting classes, appeared in a Hollywood movie, and graduated from Herbert Hoover High School in Glendale. She then attended Occidental College in the Eagle Rock area of Los Angeles, where in June of 1955, she graduated with a degree in Education and a Lifetime Teaching Credential.
In her junior year of college, on a blind date, she met Herbert Roy Fawcett. He had recently been discharged from his Naval service in the Korean War. This started a 70 year romance including 68 years of marriage. Herbert married Mary Ann on June 25, 1955. After their honeymoon that included San Francisco and Lake Tahoe, they moved to Inglewood, California. Mary Ann taught Kindergarten in Inglewood while putting her husband through UCLA undergrad then USC dental school. The couple moved to Fillmore, California, in July 1961, where she spent the rest of her blessed life.
Soon after moving to Fillmore, two children were born—Diane Elizabeth in 1962 and Herbert Brian in 1964.Mary Ann was a homemaker who continued her teaching career part time. She helped set up San Cayetano’s school library, was a substitute teacher for different grade levels, worked in the kindergarten classes at Sespe school as a scheduled substitute for a specialized program, helped kindergarten students in a pull out program, and taught and tested English language learners. She retired from the Fillmore Unified School District in June of 2000.
Mary Ann was raised in and became a member of St. Marks Episcopal Church in Glendale and then became a member and raised her family at Trinity Episcopal Church in Fillmore. She taught Sunday school, vacation Bible school, and was a lay reader for 20 years. Her Christian faith was evident in her love of family and kindness to others.
Mary Ann was a member of the Ebell Club, P.E.O., and a women’s bridge club. She was a talented public speaker who did many programs of memorized recitations for different local organizations. Throughout her life she enjoyed reading, travel trailering—with a special summer trip to Canada, flying model airplanes with her husband, antique shopping, entertaining, belonging to a couples bridge group, going to movies and plays, and dining out.
Mary Ann was preceded in death by her parents, her brother—Robert Brown Weddell, and her niece—Sally Ann Weddell. She is survived by her husband, two children, daughter in law—Rashidi Fawcett, and three grandchildren—Herbert Hudson Fawcett, Shelby Ann Oatis, and George Andrew Oatis.
Her family wishes to thank all those who helped make her life such a joy. We are especially thankful for the loving care she received from Fillmore Country Club Assisted Living, Angels of God Hospice, and the Perez Family Funeral Home.
“We thought of you today but that is nothing new.
We thought about you yesterday and the days before that too.
We think of you in silence, we often speak you name.
All we have are memories and your picture in a frame.
Your memory is a keepsake from which we’ll never part.
God has you in His arms, we have you in our heart.”