"Mary and my mom working on a Johnny Cakes class at quilt retreat. They both were having a lot of fun"
In loving memory of
Mary Elizabeth Fisher
December 13, 1943 - September 11, 2021
Mary Elizabeth Fisher (nee Gerstenberger), aged 77, passed away on 11 September 2021, following a short illness. Mary was born on 13 December 1943 to Marion (nee Oudinott) and Alvin Gerstenberger (both predeceased) in West Bend, Wisconsin. Growing up on a farm, she developed a life-long love for companion animals, the natural world, gourmet cooking and family. Mary called Phoenix and All Saints' Episcopal Church home from a young age.
She met her husband of 57 years, Archie, at Northern Arizona University. After earning her degree, Mary started her career as a primary school teacher, then ran the offices of Archie's businesses while taking pride preparing nightly family meals. The Fishers traveled extensively while raising their children. Mary later managed a beauty salon, before discovering that her passion for crafts, fabric art, and quilting offered her more rewarding employment. In between craft shows and quilting camps, Mary enjoyed traveling with her children, and river barge holidays with her husband. Mary's creation adorn homes on all continents.
She left the world a more beautiful place than she found it. Mary is survived by Archie, her children Kimberly and Brian, Brian's wife Shirley, granddaughters Zoe and Maya, dog Oscar and many adoring friends and extended family.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests charitable donations in Mary's name to the Audubon Society (https://action.audubon.org/donate/make-tribute-gift) or the Desert Botanical Garden (https://dbg.org/support/tributes/).