Mary Ann Gheen

Mary Ann Gheen

1936 – 2022

Mary Ann’s story began in Granger, Iowa, a small town just outside of Des Moines on April 17, 1936. She was the second child of Thomas and Marie Sweeney. She attended Assumption High School and then attended Marquette University, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She got her dental hygienist degree and moved to Colorado in the 1960’s and although not originally from Colorado she considered it her home. 

She worked for Dr. Court Boxwell and Dr. Cynthia Parkinson for over 50 years as a dental hygienist. She also worked for Dr. Steven Riley and Dr. John Ahern over the years. She loved her job. Her patients and coworkers were her family. She knew everything about them and remembered everything they ever told her. She truly cared deeply for each of them. 

She was a member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church, in Centennial, Colorado since 1975. A devout Catholic, the Church meant everything to her. It brought her peace, comfort, and joy her entire life. She was an avid golfer and tennis player. She also loved gardening, reading, and bridge. She played with bridge groups and friends her entire life, often hosting fabulous bridge parties in her home for years. Mary Ann loved to travel. Visiting so many countries all over Europe, the Caribbean, and Mexico, and traveled to over 35 states. She was very proud of her Irish heritage, celebrating the fact that she was 94% Irish as often as possible. One of the highlights of her life was traveling to Ireland with her daughter Jill and family. She told everyone how much Ireland felt like home. She moved to Salt Lake City, Utah in 2014 to live with her daughter, Stacey and her family. She enjoyed every minute of being with her grandchildren every day. They lit up her world. Nothing gave her greater joy in her last few years than doing puzzles with her grandchildren. 

She will be remembered as being kind, Christ-like, giving, helpful, loving, classy, and a friend to all. She had a beautiful quality of making everyone she met feel loved and special.  

She is survived by her two daughters, Jill Price (Adam) of Castle Rock, Colorado and Stacey James (Mark) of Eagle Mountain, Utah. 8 grandchildren, Jordan Price, Sarah Foote (Kanon), Hannah Gubbay (Jonathan), Stephen James (Bridger), Alexander Price, (Aiste), Daniel James, Michael James, and Rebekah James. She also leaves behind 3 great-grandsons, Caleb Adam Burnett, James and Jesse Foote, and one great granddaughter, Adelaide Gubbay, 1 sister, 6 nieces and nephews, and many great nieces and nephews. She was proceeded in death by her parents Thomas and Marie Sweeney, her sister-in-law Kathy Sweeney, and her beloved brothers Edward and Michael Sweeney.

Funeral Mass will be held Friday, July 8, 2022 at 11:00 am at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 8035 South Quebec Street, Centennial, Colorado. Graveside service will be Monday, July 11, 2022 at 11:00 am at Spanish Fork City Cemetery 420 South 400 East Spanish Fork, Utah.

Donations can be made in Mary Ann’s name as a dedicated gift to Catholic Charities of Denver.  https://ccdenver.org/ways-to-give/