Tucumcari's first female mayor dies

Mary B. Mayfield, who became Tucumcari's first female mayor nearly 20 years ago, died on Dec. 1 at her home in Tucumcari. She was 85.

Mayfield, a District 4 commissioner, was elected mayor by her fellow commissioners in 2004, stating that the biggest challenge facing the city at that time was economic development.

Mayfield succeeded Antonio Apodaca, who declined to run for mayor again after a new commission was seated.

She resigned as mayor and city commissioner in 2007 after being advised by doctors to step down, according to her resignation letter. Mayfield stated that serving in city government was a "highlight of my life."

Known for her wit, Mayfield joked she would miss the orange construction barrels as a major First Street project was nearing completion.

Robert Lumpkin succeeded Mayfield on the commission.

In addition to being mayor, she also worked as a school bus driver, cafeteria worker, social worker and city commissioner. At one point in her life, she returned to college to earn her degree.

Veteran city commissioner Ralph Moya said Mayfield and her friend regularly attended city commission meetings before she decided to run for office.

"Mary Mayfield was a very kind person," Moya recalled. "She did her job. She cared for a lot of her (social work) clients and the constituents in her community. She was a very dedicated person, always trying to be a positive influence on the community. She always wanted to do the right thing."

Christopher Maestas, who served on the commission the same time as Mayfield, said he had heard Mayfield had been ill.

"She was fair. She was one of us," he said of her time on the commission and as mayor. "We had our differences, like everybody. But she was a good person."

The daughter of Barnard and Alta Austa Graham Bonds in Tucumcari, she married Clifton C. Mayfield in Tucumcari in 1956. They were married for 60 years until his death in 2016.

Ann Street, Mayfield's sister, said Mary was the ninth of 11 children in her family. Street also said that Bettie Ditto, a longtime businesswoman known as "Mrs. Tucumcari," served on the city commission the same time as her sister.

Mayfield was a member of the First Baptist Church in Tucumcari.

Survivors include two children, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, siblings, sisters-in-law, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Mayfield was cremated, and services in her memory will be scheduled at a later date. Muffley Funeral Home in Clovis was in charge of arrangements.