Mary Ann Byron McGhee
1963 - 2026
Mary Ann Byron McGhee passed away peacefully on April 11, 2026, at the age of 62.
Mary Ann Byron was born in 1963, the seventh of eight children born to parents Maurice and Patricia Byron of Red Lake Falls, Minnesota. Mary was raised in Moorhead, Minnesota. She attended Shanley High School in Fargo, North Dakota for two years. Mary later moved with the family to Red Lake Falls, Minnesota where she graduated from Lafayette High School in 1981. Mary then attended college at North Dakota State University in combination with Moorhead State University, where she obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Advertising and Public Relations in 1985. After graduating from college, Mary took a summer job at Voyager’s View resort in Red Lake Falls, assisting in marketing and public relations for their onsite operations – an experience she dearly loved! Mary then moved to Minneapolis to work in the hospitality industry for Carlson Companies and was later promoted to Public Relations Director in the Washington DC area, working there until 1992.
Mary married Patrick Dean McGhee in 1992, and they promptly moved to Cape Town, South Africa to begin her first diplomatic assignments as an A.I.D. Project Coordinator and Community Liaison Officer, assignments that lasted for two years. Mary worked at the U.S. Embassy/Consul General in Cape Town during the historic end of Apartheid and the birth of democracy in South Africa - that ushered in the Presidency of Nelson Mandela. While in Cape Town, Mary worked with, and rubbed elbows with President Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Muhammad Ali, Bo Derek, Robert Mitchum, Jeff Fahey, Danny Glover, Jesse Jackson, the family of murdered Fulbright Scholar Amy Biehl, many township women with start-up businesses, and many, many more important people. Mary always felt that this assignment was a highlight of her life.
After departing South Africa, the couple moved over time to several overseas and domestic Foreign Service assignments while Mary continued to work in public relations – from San Francisco, Denver, Washington, DC, Switzerland, Malta, and back to Denver.
In her work with public relations and event planning, Mary traveled world-wide producing major events for corporate and philanthropic clients alike. Wherever Mary went in her life, she made new friends – making friends was in her DNA. Mary was also an author of books based on her diplomatic assignments and envisioned her writings making it to screen production someday. Mary volunteered and enjoyed her time with film festivals, animal rescue, garden club, book club, and wine club. Mary loved nature and outdoor activities such as gardening, wildlife viewing, hiking, boating, biking, and paragliding. Mary also had a life-long passion for music and dancing; including dancing with her local Zumba group. Mary was adventurous and especially enjoyed traveling and discovering new cultures. Mary loved the sea, nature and wildlife; adopting rescue pets Tayla, Shaylah, Miss Kitty, and Boosmah. Mary enjoyed creating and writing on websites for social media promotions, and for animal rescue organizations. Mary served on the boards of Protocol Professionals, Tourism, Sister Cities, Best Friends Sanctuary and other organizations throughout her life.
During the past two years Mary has battled Stage IV Ovarian Cancer, but she did not let that journey interfere with her travels to see family, old friends, and new friends across the United States. Last year in Denver, Mary raised a team called the Maryposas (a play on the Spanish word for butterflies) and raised a large amount of money for Jodi’s Race for Awareness, which is the number one fundraiser for emotional and financial support programs for women affected by ovarian cancer in Colorado.
Mary is survived by her husband Patrick McGhee. She is also survived by her siblings: Marcy (Steven) Schroder, Reno, NV; Kevin (Maria) Byron, Cape Coral, FL; Michael (Cindy) Byron, Grand Forks, ND; Danny Byron, Winger MN; Carrie (Richard) Roy, Reno, NV; and Kathy (Robert) Huot, Thief River Falls, MN. Mary has several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Mary was preceded in death by her parents Maurice and Patricia Byron, and her oldest brother Maury Byron.
A private service will be held at a later date.
Donations
In lieu of flowers, donations in Memory of Mary
may be sent to her favorite, or your favorite charities.
Some of Mary’s favorite charities include:
Ovarian Cancer Research led by Dr. Juan R. Cubillos-Ruiz at Weill Cornell Medicine
After navigating to the link, under “Gift Options” select
“This gift is a tribute” and then indicate “in memory of Mary Byron”
