Mary Ruth Laabs

Mary Ruth Laabs (formerly Fiorucci), age 71, passed away on May 10, 2024 in Cottonwood, Arizona due to complications resulting from her two-year battle with lung cancer. At the time of her passing she was surrounded by her family.

Mary Ruth LoGatto was born to Ruth M. LoGatto (Blood) on October 5, 1952 in Auburn, New York. Unfortunately, Mary never knew who her father was. She grew up in a very difficult and trying environment. Her family moved frequently to various locations in upstate New York. Mary often lived with relatives, or in foster homes and orphanages, and occasionally at the homes of her classmates. Her mother died in an automobile accident when Mary was 16 years old. She graduated from Altmar Parish Williamstown High School in 1970.

Mary joined the United States Air Force in 1976 and was assigned to the Strategic Air Command Headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. Her next assignment brought her to Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage. She was discharged in 1980 with the rank of sergeant. Mary was very proud of her service in the Air Force.

Mary spent 35 years in Alaska. During this time she worked for the State of Alaska Court System, the City of Anchorage and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1547.

In 1993 she met Steve Laabs. They married in 1998. Together they had 26 great years together. Mary and Steve moved to Arizona in 2015 in preparation for his retirement and for the warmer climate. Steve continued working on the North Slope, commuting weekly to Deadhorse. He retired in 2022 when Mary was diagnosed with lung cancer. They had hoped to do some traveling and enjoy retirement together after Mary’s recovery, but it was not meant to be.

Family was everything to Mary and she was very loyal to them.

She was an excellent cook and enjoyed preparing meals for her family. Mary also enjoyed doing arts and crafts.

Looking back on her life, Mary never complained about the difficult circumstance surrounding her childhood. She tried to look back on it as an adventure and preferred to remember the good times that she had with her brothers and sisters. The fact that Mary grew up to be a decent, caring, honest and hard-working person is a testament to the human spirit.

Mary is predeceased by her mother, Ruth Margaret Shaver in 1968 and sisters Esther A. Blood in 1958 and Emilie D. Burnside in 2009.

She is survived by her Husband Steven M. Laabs of Cottonwood, Arizona, daughter Lucia C. Mobley (Gary) of Eagle River, Alaska and son Sam LoGatto of Anchorage, Alaska, sisters Debbie Sebring (Kerry) of Quemado, New Mexico and Patricia Power (Gary) of Queen Creek, Arizona.

Also surviving her are her grand-children and great grand-child whom she adored and loved very much; granddaughter Peyton A. Mobley-McDaniel (Stafford) and great-granddaughter, Remi McDaniel of Portland, Oregon and grandson Connor Mobley and his partner Rose Velez of Clarkdale Arizona. She will be missed but not forgotten.

Mary also has three brothers, John Logatto, Doug Shaver, and David Shaver. Their whereabouts are unknown.

As per Mary’s wishes, no services are planned. Her ashes will be spread at a time and place yet to be determined.