Obituary – Maria del Carmen Mansfield
Maria del Carmen Mansfield, age 86, daughter of Jesus Perez Romo and Teofila Montoya Gonzalez, was born on March 26, 1940, in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. She passed away on May 20, 2026, at Oak Pointe Memory Care in Rolla, Missouri.
Maria was preceded in death by her parents; her three sisters and one brother; her husband, Thurman Howard Mansfield, with whom she shared 36 years of marriage; and a newborn daughter.
She is survived by her daughter, Angie Dell Foster (Mike Foster); her grandchildren, Tyler Zane Floyd and Hayden Luke Foster (Jacy); and her great-grandson, Cade Michael Foster.
Maria grew up in Mexico and worked for 20 years at Banco del Centro. She was deeply devoted to her family and, as the youngest unmarried child, lovingly cared for her mother for many years. Her life changed when a recently married sister passed along a pen pal letter from Thurman Mansfield. As fate would have it, Thurman’s neighbor had married a Mexican woman who knew Maria’s family, and from there the rest was history.
Maria came to the United States for the first time in 1974 to meet Thurman. Upon meeting her, he quickly proposed. She returned home to resign from her job and put her affairs in order before coming back to the United States, where she and Thurman were married on July 20, 1974.
Maria found lasting friendships at St. John’s Catholic Church, where she faithfully attended until 2018. She found great joy in helping raise money for the church through her famous tacos. She also loved supporting exchange students by serving as an interpreter at school and assisting with Spanish classes.
Most of all, Maria cherished being a homemaker. She loved canning, gardening, and tending the many flower beds she and Thurman created together. Her mother-in-law taught her how to can, and Maria became well known for it over the years. She canned many things, but she was especially famous for her jalapeño peppers and beets. The flowers she grew adorned the church altar every Sunday, and the food they raised together lovingly fed their family. During Christmas, Maria carefully arranged the manger and church decorations for Christmas, and she loved searching for wildflowers and making Mary a crown for her crowning. At Easter, she delighted in hiding Easter eggs for the children and even taught CCD classes on Sundays.
Maria especially loved roses and African violets. A large picture window in her home was always filled with them.
Maria was a beautiful soul whose kindness could be felt by everyone around her. She was instantly loved by those who met her. She carried herself with grace, class, and precision in everything she did, and her warmth and love will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
A visitation for Maria will take place Friday, May 22, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Fox Funeral Home. A funeral mass will take place Saturday, May 23, 2026, at 11 a.m. at St. John Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Hutchason Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or St. John Catholic Church, in loving memory of Maria. Arrangements are entrusted to Fox Funeral Home.
