Surrounded by her loving daughters, Mary Lou Shupe returned to the arms of her Lord on Jan. 3 from complications following a stroke. She was 75.
She was born Maria Louisa Estopellan on July 19, 1943, in Encarnación de Díaz, Jalisco, Mexico. She was one of 12 children born to Jose Estopellan Guerra and Juanita Munoz Reyes. She migrated to the U.S. at the age of 13.
While living in Alamogordo, New Mexico, she met Gary Shupe, who was stationed there while serving in the U.S. Army. They were married on Sept. 6, 1969.
They moved to Gary’s hometown, Moab, in 1973. Together they had three daughters, Maria (Bob) Murchison, of Denver, Colorado; Laura (Chris) Simonds, of Bullhead City, Arizona; and Ima (Chad) Muhutga, of Lacrosse, Wisconsin.
Shupe is also survived by a son, Sergio (Elodia) Estopellan, Odessa, Texas; 11 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; her brothers and sisters, Porfirio, Guadalupe, Jose, Juan, Salvador, Antonio, Maria, Rosa, Jaime and Camerina; many nieces and nephews, in-laws and friends who will miss her dearly. She was preceded in death by Gary and her parents.
Shupe was well-known around town as she cooked in more restaurants than not. She loved camping, playing Bingo, an occasional trip to Ute Mountain and spending time with family and friends.
Cremation has taken place and a celebration of Shupe’s life will be held on Friday, Feb. 8, at 1 p.m. at the Grand Center, 182 N. 500 West.
