Ann B. Marks

MARKS Yeta Ann B. Marks passed away in her sleep on Monday, March 1, 2021 at the age of 93. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend who will be greatly missed. Ann grew up in Kern Place in El Paso at 711 Cincinnati and spent most days riding her bicycle up to her beloved cousins Jeannie and Betty Oppenheimer’s house a few blocks up the street near Madeline Park. She attended Radford School for Girls for many years but switched over to El Paso High School where she played tennis and graduated valedictorian. After studying briefly at the University of Wisconsin, she returned to the University of Texas where she met Alvin Marks from Corsicana, TX. They danced, dated, fell in love and were married on October 14, 1947. After living in Corsicana for 5 years which included the birth of their first child, Alan, they moved in 1953 to El Paso where Alvin joined the family business, the American Furniture Company. Shortly thereafter their daughter Jan was born and two years later they moved to a home they built in Mission Hills where Ann lived until her death. Ann was very successful at everything she took on. She planted her yard and flower beds meticulously and began entering her flowers in the city and regional flower shows. After numerous blue ribbons, she turned her hand to flower arranging and three years in a row won the Tri-Color award for the best arrangement at the Regional show. While she stopped the formal competition, she always had a flower arrangement for someone’s birthday or other occasion. She never stopped taking pride in her yard. People across the city used to drive by the see what the Flower Lady was growing. Her dear caregiver Lupita first heard about her as the “Flower Lady.” Then she turned her hand to art, drawing and painting, and had some inspiring success. And for years she served as a docent at the El Paso Museum of Art. Along the way she participated in Jewish civic organizations as her children went through the Temple Sunday School program. After her father and husband died, starting in 1971 she served as President of the JB and Margaret Blaugrund Foundation where she supported multiple non-profit organizations in El Paso as well as some national organizations. She had a huge heart and helped her friends and their children in every way she could. One particularly impressive project was the Impact Lecture Series where famous thinkers and artists and politicians would be brought to speak in El Paso. With guidance from Sally Gilbert and Norma Geller, thoughtful speakers and artists and leaders from around the world came to El Paso to speak. Ann subsidized the series for many, many years. When she traveled to Israel in the 1970’s, she saw the need for education in some of the poorer areas, so she donated a kindergarten in Beersheva which operates to this day. As she grew older and could no longer participate in the yard, she more and more valued her interactions with friends and family. As her close cousins lost their husbands, Ann and Jeannie (Moye) and Paquita (Frances Litt) would speak every evening at 7 PM about their lives, their observations and mostly about the latest that Jeannie experienced as she drove her grandchildren around the city and remained active in the community. Ann never lost her concern for those in need, most recently making multiple donations to food banks as the refugee and Covid crises accelerated. She loved her visits from her children and grandchildren. Alan who lived closer in Albuquerque would visit frequently and Jan would check in often by phone. As recently as 3 weeks ago Ann carried on a long conversation with her elder granddaughter Anila about her life and aspirations. She always asked pertinent questions and showed deep appreciation. As her abilities waned, she tried to stay mentally active by doing the daily jumble, for years with her son Alan but more recently she would call her granddaughter Sydney’s cellphone to puzzle the words out together. And as her ability to walk grew less and less, she relied on her physical therapist to do what she could-- walk as she could, exercise her arms, exercise her legs. None of her journey to transition would have been possible without the help of amazing caregivers. (Lupita Lopez for the last 30 years, Erica for almost 10, and Linda her nurse upon whom she relied heavily through infirmity). She was blessed with loving caregivers. Ann is preceded in death by her beloved parents; Joseph Behr (JB) Blaugrund and Margaret Amstater, her husband; Alvin J. Marks, and her brother; Maurice (Don) Blaugrund. She is survived by her adoring children; James Alan Marks(Josie Lopez) and Jan Marks(Cindy Humphreys), and grandchilden Anila Lopez Marks and Sydney Abigail Lopez Marks. She is also survived by many extended friends and family to cherish and honor her memory. A Graveside Service will be held for immediate family at Temple Mount Sinai Cemetery. Comments about Ann may be entered for the family on the Sunset website below. Anyone who would like to make a donation in her memory might choose a local food bank as Ann was so acutely aware of suffering through the refugee and Covid crises or if you would like to take a more global perspective, then to Doctors Without Borders. www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net