Mary Sutcliffe

Mary Ogden Sutcliffe, 86, died Tuesday, August 19, 2014 at home in Durango, Colorado. A celebration of Mary’s life will be Saturday, August 23, 2014 at 1:00 p.m.
Mrs. Sutcliffe was born June 9, 1928 in Winnetka, Illinois the daughter of Dana and Vera Ogden. She grew up in Winnetka and graduated from New Trier High School in Winnetka. She attended Colby Junior College (now Colby Sawyer) in New London, New Hampshire. Mary then obtained her bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University in Syracuse, N.Y. and was member of the Pi Beta Phi Sorority.
It was during this time that Mary met and married her first husband, Bob Schreiner, and three sons were born to that union. Their marriage later ended in a divorce.
Mary met Herb Sutcliffe while working together at Herb’s newspaper, the East Meadow Courier. They were married on October 30, 1963.
Mary attended Howard University in Washington, D.C. earning a master’s degree in social work. Mary completed her degree while pregnant with their daughter, Penney. She practiced for many years as a licensed clinical social worker and also practiced as a therapist
Mary and Herb moved to Durango in 2000 to be closer to family and especially their grandchildren.
Mary loved boating, swimming, and skiing (water and downhill). She was an intellect and student of maps and photojournalism. Travel was a passion that she enjoyed throughout her life with multiple R.V. trips. Mary was also a lifelong athlete. Triathlons and participation in the Senior Olympics were among the events she embraced.
Mrs. Sutcliffe volunteered in Durango with Alternative Horizons and Meals-on-Wheels. More important than her many accomplishments, she was a loving and involved mother and grandmother.
She is survived by her husband Herbert Sutcliffe of Durango, children: Stephen Schreiner of Relay, Md., Timothy Schreiner of Windham, N.H., James Schreiner of Alamogordo, N.M., and Penney Sutcliffe-Stahl of Durango; Step-children: Barbara Sutcliffe of College Park, Md., Herbert Sutcliffe, Jr. of Olney Md., 9 grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Dana Ogden.
In lieu of flowers, in light of her lifelong work in the mental health field, donations may be made to Medicine Horse (an equine therapy non-profit to provide therapy for underprivileged children), 40700 County Road J, Mancos, CO 81328.