Mary Anderson Huffman

TO VIEW MARY'S FUNERAL SERVICE LIVE, CLICK HERE

Mary Anderson Huffman passed away on December 6, 2025, surrounded by her family. Mary was born on May 29, 1935, to Elmer Clarence Anderson and Thelma (Chidester) Anderson in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her family moved several times during her childhood due to her father’s job transfers, including brief periods in Oregon and Delta, Utah. Her father was sent to California for a six-month assignment, which was extended and then made permanent when World War II began. The family lived for a short time in Lawndale, California, and then moved to Burbank.

Mary had a happy childhood growing up with two older brothers, Elmer Chidester and John Delmon, and a younger brother, Keith Eric. She graduated from Burbank High School in 1953.

After high school, she dreamed of attending Michigan State University to become a doctor. Unwilling to attend BYU as her parents desired, Mary attended Los Angeles City College for one semester. Her desire to begin the nursing program did not work out, so she pivoted to a short program at Burroughs Business School to learn machine calculating. Her hard work and ability to learn quickly were noticed, and she was asked to stay on as an instructor for calculators, billing, and banking machines. One day, while covering for another employee in the office, Lockheed Aircraft called looking for an employee. The position offered a pay increase and was close to her home, and she jumped at the chance—much to the chagrin of the staff at Burroughs.

Mary worked at Lockheed, first as a calculator operator doing inventory and later as secretary for the head of the aircraft wings, doors, and tubing department. About the time the company began laying off employees, her younger brother Eric graduated from high school. Her parents thought he should attend BYU, and she agreed to go at the same time to encourage him. They both started in Provo in 1958. Though she had originally planned to be a doctor, she found her political science classes fascinating and decided she should go to law school instead. Because she did not date much, she assumed she would never marry and would have a great career as an attorney in California.

Mary’s fondest memories were of her time at BYU. It was there she met her husband, John Henry Huffman of Hawthorne, Nevada. As fortune would have it, Mary roomed with John’s sister, Connie, and a former schoolmate of John’s, who found ways to bring the two together often. They enjoyed many group activities, but Mary was surprised and delighted when John asked her to the homecoming dance. Their relationship solidified into a full romance when they traveled together to her roommate’s wedding. After working in different states all summer to afford school in the fall, John and Mary were married in the Los Angeles Temple on September 1, 1959, and returned to BYU for the fall quarter.

As a newlywed, Mary worked at a small variety store for $0.75 per hour through the Christmas season. Then Provo City called to interview her for a job paying $1.25 per hour. The interviewer asked if she was pregnant, and she honestly answered that she did not know—and she was hired. Within a few weeks she discovered she was pregnant and hid her pregnancy to avoid being dismissed during her six-month probationary period. The increased pay and steady work were just enough for John to finish his bachelor’s degree.

Upon John’s graduation in 1960, the couple moved to Burbank to live in her parents’ home while they worked in England. John took a drafting job with Litten Industries and later with Burbank City. Mary delivered their first two children there, Stephanie and John David. In 1963 they moved into their first home and soon added Michael Craig to the family.

Concerned about supporting a growing family, they determined that John needed more education to advance his career. He returned to BYU in the fall of 1964 to pursue a master’s degree and PhD. John earned a stipend of $200 per month as a teaching and research assistant. In 1967, they added Jeffrey Mark to the family. Fortunately, BYU was short on teachers and hired John to teach classes, doubling his salary. This allowed John and Mary to build a house in Provo. They worked together to complete some of the construction to save money. Mary used her homemaking skills and hard work to manage the growing family and support John through periods of schooling.

The family moved back to California in 1969 for a job with ICN (International Chemical & Nuclear Corp). There, Mary had two more children, Dennis Matthew and Kathleen.

Mary was a woman of strong faith in Jesus Christ and His gospel and often felt the hand of the Lord in her life. After a layoff, John struggled to find work that would meet the needs of their family. The couple prayed and went to the temple seeking direction. When they returned home, they learned that John’s former boss from ICN had called to offer him a position as a virology researcher at Utah State University. The family moved to North Logan, Utah, in 1980—a move that proved good for the entire family and would be their final relocation.

On weekends and holidays, Mary accompanied John to the USU animal facility to help him finish his work faster. When his boss discovered she was helping, he offered her a job. With her oldest sons approaching missionary age, she knew the extra money would be a blessing. She accepted the job on the condition that she would work only during school hours and could leave at any time for her children’s programs, illnesses, or other needs. She began working with research animals, then with cell culture, and eventually moved into the office managing programs, grants, and budgets. John and Mary worked together until they retired in 1999.

Although Mary held a variety of jobs throughout her life, she regarded being a wife and mother as her true calling. She instilled faith in her children through family home evenings, prayer, and regular church attendance. Mary brought unity to the family through service. Once, when John was laid off, she and the children worked together stuffing envelopes to earn money and help the family make it through.

Family fun also figured strongly in Mary’s ability to create unity and love among her family members. She sewed costumes, made decorations, organized activities, and prepared special meals that grew into strong family traditions. As the family expanded to include in-laws and grandchildren, she continued to exemplify these values by helping with moves, cleaning, painting, and attending baptisms and recitals.

Mary was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served faithfully in many callings. Her favorites were Relief Society president in the North Logan 2nd Ward and Stake Extraction Director. As Relief Society president, she loved coordinating with the bishop to serve ward members, organizing events, and leading her friends and neighbors in Christlike love. Mary’s devotion to families—both living and deceased—brought her great joy as she served as extraction director in the North Logan Green Canyon Stake for 18 years. She developed keen skills in interpreting old handwriting, understanding the nuances of historical record types, and teaching these skills to others. She completed extensive genealogical and temple work for her forebears. Thousands have received their temple ordinances through her diligence.

Mary is survived by her husband, John; her children Stephanie Burdett (Eric), David (Jennifer), Michael (Lisa), Mark (Laura), Dennis (Michelle), and Kathleen Higbee (Tom); and her brother, Keith Eric (Marilyn) Anderson. She is also survived by 21 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer Clarence and Thelma (Chidester) Anderson, and her brothers, Elmer Chidester and John Delmon Anderson.

A visitation will be held on Friday December 12 at 10:00-11:30 in the North Logan 2nd Ward at 1105 E. 2100 N. A funeral for family and friends will be held at 12:00 p.m. at the same location.

Memories and condolences may be shared and expressed at www.allenmortuaries.com.