Mary Frances Belew

Mary Frances Belew, age 87 of Gilbert, Arizona, died Saturday, September 29, 2017, at the Brookdale Senior Living facility in Gilbert Arizona. She was born March 17, 1930 in Arroya, Colorado, the daughter of Jack and Gladys Rose (Copley) Main. Unfortunately, her father Jack Main died that same year and her mother took Mary to Thalia,Texas to live with her husband’s parents, Doctor and Mrs. Robert Main. Five years later Gladys met Paul Everett. She and her daughter Mary returned to Colorado where Gladys and Paul Everett were married. Mary enjoyed ranch life with her parents and her sister Margaret. She also spent a great deal of time with her grandfather Doctor Main, who instilled in her the love of reading and travel. Mary attended high school at Saint Mary’s College Women’s Preparatory Academy in Oklahoma City and Colorado State College in Fort Collins. Mary had an unusual life for a woman; she often said she was a “woman in a man’s world.” She was a land holder, a hotel owner, a mother to five children. There are many stories in Mary’s life; she always found ways to use her creativity and business acumen to create new chapters. She became a top buyer for Federated Department Stores. This job provided access to a great deal of international travel. Later she founded Belew International and made her living as a product developer and designer, her motto was “Surround yourself with Beauty.” Her company was a vehicle for world travel, especially in Asia. Wherever her projects took her, Mary always contributed to the communities, donating to orphanages, hospitals, and leper colonies. In later years, Mary became an award winning painter. She was inspired by her love for Native American design and love of nature. Mary is preceded in death by her parents, daughter Susan Belew and son John Belew. Survivors include her daughter: Patricia Orshan and husband Peter Orshan of Glen Cove, New York; two sons: Maurice Belew and wife Lynette of Chandler, Arizona and Shawn Belew and wife Carole of Eureka Springs Arkansas; sister: Margaret (Everett) Davis and her husband Arthur of Boyero, Colorado; seven grandchildren: Eden, Reuben, and Renee Rose Orshan, of Glen Cove, New York, Starr Belew of Brooklyn, New York, Houston Belew and wife Kristin of Houston Texas, Blair Belew of San Francisco, California, and Jacy Belew of Tucson, Arizona; three great-grandchildren: Alex Belew of Connecticut, Madison J. and Houston M. Belew Jr. of Texas. Also surviving her are numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Memorial donations may be given to Doctors Without Borders and/or the Humane Society.