Marla K. Anaya

Marla Kay Lowery Anaya passed away on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, in Roswell, NM. Please share a kind thought or memory with Marla’s family at www.andersonbethany.com. A Memorial Service in her honor will be at Calvary Baptist Church, 1009 West Alameda at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, August 16, 2024, followed by a luncheon. Marla was born in Roswell, NM on May 2, 1972. As a student Marla was involved in gymnastics, dance, acrobatics, cheerleading, track, and volleyball. As a senior at Goddard High School, she was selected as the NM Volleyball Player of the Year which was reported in "Sports Illustrated" magazine. As an adult she still enjoyed playing volleyball, scuba diving, traveling, roller coasters, and her ladies' weekend getaway. She completed the Leadership Roswell program and served on the Hispano Chamber of Commerce. Her greatest enjoyment was watching her boys play football, basketball, power lifting, and baseball. She was very active in fundraising activities to support those sports. Marla was clinical director at The Peak Treatment Foster Care and a partner in Anaya Counseling and Consulting Services. She earned her Bachelors in Psychology at the University of New Mexico and a Masters in Counseling at University of Phoenix. She attained many specialties but was most proud of the LADAC and LPCC. Marla spent the beginning of her career in Hawaii as a gymnastics instructor. She returned to Roswell to spend a short time working at RISD and the Academy as a math teacher. She moved to Colorado to utilize her degrees by working for the Colorado CYFD. When she returned to Roswell, she worked at Counseling Associates before joining the staff at The Peak and establishing the ACCS partnership. Marla is survived by her boys Gabriel Mason and Jacob Dylan whom she loved more than can be expressed in words; husband, Melvin Anaya of 20 years; beloved German Shepard Kona; her sister, Shannon Sue and husband Jimmy of Newnan; Georgia; and her parents Bob and Kay Lowery; three cousins: Dennis, Gary, and Keith Hutchens; uncle: Gene Lowery and wife Bonnie and their son Sean and daughter Kimberly; mother-in-law, Gloria Anaya; Melvin's sister, Andriana Anaya and partner Rick and sons Andres and Christian; Melvin's aunt Virginia Miranda; cousin, Valerie Cobos and husband Richard, and son Richard; Ana Alicia Miranda and partner Jeremy Boles and son Joaquin Boles; uncle, Orlando Carrillo and wife Gloria; and numerous friends and acquaintances. Contributions in her memory can be made to The Peak to fund foster children activities such as back-to-school, Halloween, Christmas, Easter, etc. or to a nonprofit of your choice. Marla’s tribute was lovingly written by her family.

Marla K. Anaya

May 2, 1972 - August 7, 2024