Mary was born to Raymond and Margaret Rodgers in Red Bluff California. At age six she moved with the family Washington State where they homesteaded a farm, before moving to Modesto. She graduated from Grace Davis High school, and then attended UC Berkeley and UC Davis where she graduated. After graduation she lived in San Francisco and worked in shipping for TriValley Growers, where she met her husband. Following his early death she decided to return to school for her teaching credential. She relocated to Hughson to be near her family and taught at Caswell Elementary School in Ceres where she taught for many years.

Mary was an avid reader and was never without a book. She was a lifelong learner and enjoyed traveling. She already had her next trip planned. In recent years she enjoyed playing chimes at Hughson Methodist Church.

Mary left us after a short but difficult struggle with cancer. She was preceded in death by her husband Greg Gonzales and her father. She is survived by her mother Margaret Rodgers, older sister Mindi (Ray) Lassman, younger brothers David (Sheree) Rodgers, Peter (Charlie) Rodgers, nieces and nephews Jordan (Aaron) Giberson, Jack Rodgers, Skyler Lassman, Daniel (Dawn) Rodgers and Micki Rodgers. 

Celebration of Life for Mary’s friends and family will be held at Samaritan Village Activity Center, 7700 Fox Rd Hughson on Saturday, October 8 at 11 am. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Ceres Unified School District Foundation designated for Caswell School (PO Box 307, Ceres, CA  95307) or to Hughson United Methodist Church - Memorial Fund (PO Box 129, Hughson, CA 95326).