Mary Catherine Pogue was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She passed away on December 31, 2023 at age 74 in Modesto, California, after a 16 year battle with interstitial lung disease.

Mary was born on August 26, 1949 to Cleopatra and Roy V. Williams in San Antonio, Texas.

Mary attended San Domenico School where she first learned to sing and perform. She graduated from Napa High School in 1967, where she met her first husband, and was married to Ed Giamboni. They had two daughters together, Stephanie and Gianna.

Mary met her current husband, Billy Pogue in the early part of 1980 at a jam session in Modesto, California. Music was a shared passion of Mary and Billy and they married in Carson City, Nevada on October 3, 1980. They had two daughters together, Loretta and Elizabeth.

Mary loved music. She was an incredible singer, and enjoyed playing music in several local country-western and rock ‘n’ roll bands. Mary worked as a bookkeeper for many years at a radio station, CPA office, and later retired from a vitamin formulation company in Oakdale, California.

She will always be remembered by her funny, cute, and witty personality, as well as for her trademark curly-haired stick-figure people illustrations. Mary always had the best sense of humor and could get anyone to laugh out loud. She had an engaging personality that attracted everyone to her.

Her daughters recollect how hard Mary worked to give them a chance at something better. Mary’s work ethic, diligence, honesty and perseverance are characteristics that will always be remembered and admired. Mary never let her daughters settle for second-best, but encouraged them to be spectacular at anything they set out to accomplish. Mary was always fully invested in the lives of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was our first phone call whenever we needed anything. She was a guiding light, and matriarch for our ever-growing family.

Mary is survived by her husband Billy Pogue, and former spouse Ed Giamboni; daughter Stephanie and her husband Richard Wiley; daughter Gianna and her husband Stephen Smith; daughter Loretta and her husband Robert Anders; daughter Elizabeth and her husband Bryan Decker; grandchildren Allen Wiley, Kaitlyn Bearinger, Ryker Smith, Dayne Decker, Alexis Anders, Dylan Decker, Raegan Anders, and Kaylie Smith; great-grandchildren Mallory Wiley, Hunter Wiley, and Leah Wiley; brother Mike Williams and his wife Susie, brother Matthew Williams and his wife Kathy.

Mary is predeceased by her sister Elizabeth Ten-Eyck; her father and mother, her brothers Richard Williams and Jacob Williams, and her grandson Lance Smith.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Mary’s name to the American Lung Association. Details regarding the memorial service as well as a place to share memories of Mary can be found at https://everloved.com/life-of….

Mom, you will always be in our hearts and we will never forget you. We love you so much. Rest in peace.

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