Born in Dulce, N.M., on April 17, 1938, Mary Francis Polanco went peacefully home to the Lord on March 7, 2025. Mary resided in Dulce, the headquarters of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, which she was a member of.
Mary, who also attended McCurdy Mission, graduated from Cuba High School in 1956 and was also a survivor of the Indian boarding school in Santa Fe. She attended Fort Lewis College.
A lifelong journalist, Mary was the editor in chief of The Jicarilla Chieftain, which she founded in 1962. Mary was present when more than 30 Native American journalists gathered at Pennsylvania State University to form the Native American Journalist Association in 1983. She was elected as its first treasurer. As an outspoken female journalist, she was featured in many Native and non-Native American publications and magazines.
She served as president of the Dulce Independent Schools Board and the Northern New Mexico Community College Board of Regents. Mary also served on the advisory councils of the New Mexico State Parks and Recreation Division and Words of Hope, and the Jicarilla Apache Reformed Church consistory.
Mary was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Tata Lewis and Mela Lynch; maternal grandparents, Emmette Wirt and Tonita Chino; and parents Fred Albert Lynch and Rose (Ladd-Vicenti) Lynch. Her brothers include Emmette and Lloyd Lynch, and her sisters include Leslie Lynch and Frieda Wabmun. Her nieces and nephews: Jody Lynch, Mario Valdez, Lewis Lynch, Nadine Vigil, Marshall Wabmun, Randell Vigil, Gover Vigil and Racheal Lynch.
Mary is survived by her sister, Nancy Vigil; daughter Monica Carrasco; son Fredrick Lucero and his partner, Berta Bones; daughter Sabrina Baca and her husband, Jr. Lopez; and grandchildren: Carlos Carrasco and his wife, Patricia; Sedric Melcher; Nicholas Lucero and his wife, Kasey; Booker and Chantel Lucero; Amalia Armendarez Barber and her husband, Kamren; Guillermo Armendarez; and her great-grandchildren: Thiago Carrasco, Kennedy Griggs, Jose Lucero, Juan Lucero, Thaylia Carrasco, Jesse Lucero, Kamari Rose Lucero; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Her final resting place will be at Parro, west of Dulce in the Carson National Forest, where her beloved grandfather, Mr. Lynch, resided and she grew up.
