Mary B. Baber

Mary Bertha Baber

December 31, 1962 – September 14, 2026

Mary Bertha Baber, 63, of Robbinsdale, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on September 14th, 2026. Mary was born on December 31st, 1962, in California to William and Donna Baber. When she was a baby, her family moved to Minnesota, where she grew up on Forest Lake.

She graduated from Forest Lake Senior High School. Mary worked for many years at the Minnesota Zoo and also spent many years as an artist. Her love of animals was one of the defining features of her life. She volunteered at the Animal Humane Society of Golden Valley, where her compassion for animals touched those around her. That love also inspired her artwork. Mary became a talented artist, with wolves being her specialty. She especially enjoyed drawing wolves and was thrilled when she had the opportunity to visit the Wolf Lodge in northern Minnesota. Her art reflected the beauty and spirit of the animals she loved so much.

Mary will be remembered for her gentle spirit, her creativity, and her deep love for animals. She loved reposting cat videos on TikTok and had over 4300 followers. She will also be greatly missed by the community at LivingWell, where she lived and was a cherished member. Mary is survived by her mother, Donna Baber; her dear aunts, Sharon Abbott and Sandy Pew; and many, many cousins. She was preceded in death by her father, William Baber, to whom she was very close.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at Mattson Funeral Home, 343 North Shore Drive, Forest Lake, Minnesota. The family will greet friends beginning at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Animal Humane Society of Golden Valley in Mary’s name. Mary’s love for animals, her artistic gifts, and her gentle presence will remain in the hearts of all who knew her