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Mary Ann Wixon Cruzen, 87, of Fredericksburg, Va., passed away peacefully April 12, 2024.
Celebration of Life took place on Saturday, April 20, at Harmony at Falls Run in Fredericksburg, Va.
Mary Ann was born Nov. 25, 1936, to Edward and Helen Wixon in Alta. She attended Hayes Consolidated School, ultimately graduating from Storm Lake High School in 1954. She enrolled at Buena Vista University, graduating in 1958 with a degree in elementary education. Following graduation Mary Ann taught second grade at Sunset Heights in Webster City.
While a student at BVU, she met Laird Cruzen. They were married in June 1959 at Lakeside Presbyterian Church, where the family remained active members. Laird and Mary Ann raised four daughters in the Storm Lake area: Marnie (Steve), Trudi (Dana), Paige (David) and Alyssa (Eddie).
Mary Ann and Laird spent the fall of 1959 in Canada at Laird’s family home. They returned to the states, living and working in Ames, from 1959 to 1962. The family moved to Storm Lake where Mary Ann was alumni coordinator at BVU. In 1969, she and Laird opened The House of Lairds in downtown Storm Lake. The store closed in 1984.
While living in Storm Lake, Mary Ann was active serving P.E.O., Rainbow Girls, Eastern Star, Witter Gallery, Storm Lake Area Arts Council, Questers, 37 Club, BVU and as a Deacon at Lakeside Presbyterian Church.
Mary Ann was always sewing, hanging wallpaper, refinishing furniture, knitting, needlepointing, cross stitching and painting. Mary Ann believed her greatest accomplishment was raising her four daughters and caring for her family.
Upon retirement, the Cruzens moved from Storm Lake to Sun Lakes, Ariz., where they lived until 2007, when they relocated to Canton, Ga. In 2016, they made one more move to Fredericksburg, Va. During all of Mary Ann’s moves, she remained active in many community organizations.
Mary Ann loved to bring people together over food, fun and fellowship. She was a fantastic organizer and enjoyed introducing newcomers to the joys of her community.
Mary Ann is survived by her sister Jo Wixon Fitzsimmons; her four daughters; 11 grandchildren: Graham, Maya, Hamilton and Reid Schattgen; Joice and Kali Cruzen; Helen, Jack and Clay Jones; and Sarah Jane, Margaret Taylor; several nieces and nephews; and companion Harry Charlesen.
Mary Ann summed her life up as, live well, laugh often and love much. She truly believed that she was blessed because she was supported by good friends and family.
We thank you for celebrating Mary Ann with us. Her generous spirit lives on in each of you. We ask you to remember Mary Ann as we do, thinking of others, filled with love and always a smile. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Presbyterian Women Scholarship Fund via Fredericksburg Presbyterian Church or Buena Vista University in Storm Lake.
