Mary Ardis Poindexter
Mary Ardis Poindexter, age 86, of Ventura, CA, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Mary was born on July 12, 1939, in Santa Ana, CA. She graduated from Mater Dei High School in 1956. Not long after graduating, she met her future husband at a church young adult dance. They married on April 23, 1960, at Saint Columban’s Church in Garden Grove, CA.
They began their family in 1961 while living in Arleta and moved to Ventura in 1968. Ventura remained Mary’s home for the next 58 years, with periods spent in Colorado Springs, Visalia, and Fresno.
Mary raised six children while also working in a variety of roles, including as a medical assistant, bus driver, law clerk, office manager at the Ventura County Fair, and at Buenaventura Medical Clinic. She was an active parishioner at Sacred Heart Church in Ventura for more than 45 years, where she also served as a Eucharistic minister. Mary was an avid seamstress and loved to travel. She was in regular attendance at her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren’s sporting events, awards ceremonies and school programs. In the words of her husband, she was humble, patient, loving, and compassionate. Mary will be remembered for her deep faith, unwavering devotion to her family, and the warmth and generosity she showed to everyone she met. Her strong faith guided her life and was a constant source of strength.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, John H. Poindexter (2012); her sisters, Blanche Cavaness and Anne Duffy; and her daughter-in-law, Maria Poindexter.
Mary is survived by her six children: John A. Poindexter (Marianne), Mark A. Poindexter (Bambie), Curtis E. Poindexter, Stephen J. Poindexter (Jayne), Keith E. Poindexter (Kathy), and Mary E. Savard (Scott); and her sister, Denise Rupp (Jay).
Grandma Mary is also survived by her grandchildren and their spouses: Jeremy Poindexter (Sovanchan), Jessica Poindexter (Saalik), Trevor Poindexter, Cody Poindexter, Jason Rodarte (Rockie), Tylor Rodarte (Amber), Wendy Rodarte, Curtis Poindexter, Laura Che (Guillermo), Lisette Poling (Dason), Megan Dorais (Brian), Kellie McGrath (Garrett), Nikki Hanson (Tyler), Jacob Poindexter, Kaitlyn Marquez (Esteban), Kevin Poindexter (Mishaila), Kori Poindexter, Taryn Savard (her fiancé, Lukas Steward), Jordyn Savard, and Kaelyn Savard.
She is further survived by her great-grandchildren: Syler Lindsey, Eli Altizer; Jacob Rodarte-Nicoll, Melissa Rodarte, Kacey LeBlanc, Phoebe Rodarte, Hunter Lannom, Sophia Watson, Keely, Haisley, and Isla Poindexter; Draven and Declan Poling; Knox and Dax Dorais, Delilah and Everly McGrath, Wade and Tate Hanson; Malachi and Selah Marquez, Kylan Poindexter, and Ruston Poindexter.
The family extends a special thank you to all of the staff at Community Memorial Hospital (Ventura), Aster Hospice (Tina, Joann and Stefanie) and Encanto Living (Yenny) for the compassionate care they provided in Mary’s final days.
A Rosary will be held at 11:00 a.m., followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:30 a.m., on Friday, June 26, at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church in Ventura. Burial will be private at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Catholic Charities of Ventura County, reflecting Mary’s deep faith and lifelong commitment to her community.
Arrangements are under the direction of the JOSEPH P. REARDON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE, Ventura.