Mary K. Ray
Mary Biggs was born in Maryland, adopted by Llewellyn and Lillian Biggs and grew up in Silver Springs. Mary was outgoing and optimistic from an early age. She loved to dance and had fond memories of the all the boys in line at the local “Teen Club” waiting for a chance to dance with her.
Mary studied Early Childhood Education in college and was among the first group of graduates to answer JFK’s call to action for Head Start Programs. After she moved to Santa Barbara, Mary was a part of an active cadre of mothers and educators who through their enthusiasm and energy, developed programs in Santa Barbara that several generations of parents and children benefited from and that still continue — Starr King, where her own children went, and the other SBCC Parent Child Workshops; and the former Preschool at Marymount. Mary lived her life as an advocate of young children.
She married Jib Ray and moved to Santa Barbara in 1970. Their daughter Angela, son David and stepdaughter Koren made up their family. Being a mother brought joy to Mary and her children remember her as a joyful, supportive and loving mother. When her marriage split up, Mary returned to school at UCSB and received her Master’s degree in Early Child Development, eventually becoming Director of the UCSB Childcare Center (now called The Orfalea Family Children’s Center) for twenty years. Mary transformed the center from a remote older, West Campus building into a state-of-the-art facility. Because of her passionate care for children, she was responsible for garnering significant donations from the community and especially the Orfalea Foundation.
One of Mary’s enduring legacies was her deep friendships that lasted a lifetime. Lynda Van Pater and “The Camping Ladies” had dinner together every month for over 50 years and supported each other through thick and thin. Mort and Liz, Mike and Kristin, Kenny and Denise, Tim Healey, and many more were loved by Mary, benefitted, and are forever grateful for her friendship.
Most of all, Mary loved her family — children Angela, David, and Koren; grandchildren Sierra, Trevor and Mary; brother Bob and wife, Cathy. A great sorrow in Mary’s life was the death of her son, David, who after suffering for several months, passed away in 2009; Mary and his partner, Marshall were with him every step of his last journey.
Well, Mary, that’s the best I can do to remember and say goodbye. Now you get to hang out with your mom, Lillian, son David, and BFF, Marie Miller. Have a good time, laugh and dance a lot and we will see you down the road.
Special thanks to Susan Dickerson with “Age in Place Santa Barbara,” “Assisted Hospice” and “Sarah House” (Paloma, you are a force of nature!) These organizations and their wonderful staffs helped Mary die with respect and dignity — you are true heroes.
— Don Ermini
