Cynthia M Mayo

The world lost an amazing Wife, mom, grandma, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend on April 23, 2020. 

Cyndie Mayo was born on Wednesday, January 22, 1947, in Los Angeles at the Queen of the Angels Hospital. She was the first of four children born to Don (William Donald Matthews, deceased) and Char (Charlene Shear Matthews, deceased). Cyndie’s siblings are Candy (Terry) Brady of San Clemente, California; Scott (Debbie) Matthews of Riverside, California; and Cathi (Tim) O’Neill of Dewey-Humboldt, Arizona.

Don and Char raised their kids in the picturesque post-war Westlawn neighborhood of Westchester, California. When the City of Los Angeles expanded the adjacent Los Angeles International Airport the neighborhood was claimed by the City and the close-knit suburban community of young families dispersed to various areas of Southern California. The Matthews clan chose a new development, Suburban Heights, in Buena Park, California. This decision was serendipitous as Cyndie’s future husband had recently relocated to this part of Orange County.

Cyndie met her soulmate, Bill (William James Mayo) in Buena Park’s neighboring town of La Habra in 1966. The two were engaged on St. Valentine’s Day, 1967. Cyndie and Bill married on March 30, 1968, and spent fifty-two years together as husband and wife.

Cyndie and Bill raised a family of three sons in their long-time home in Fullerton, California. Cyndie was a devoted, loving mom to Jeff (Jeffrey William Mayo) of Surprise, Arizona; Chuck (Charles DeWitt Mayo) also of Surprise, Arizona; and Mike (Michael Lawrence Mayo) of Peyton, Colorado. Bill and their boys were Cyndie’s most cherished loves. She always had a station wagon to haul around these kids to school, Cub Scouts, Indian Guides, Little League, swim lessons, paper routes, soccer, football, and DeMolay. The various wagons proudly displayed Cyndie and Bill’s famous ‘R 3 Boys’ license plate.

Cyndie always volunteered for whatever activity her sons participated in. She was a Den Mother and Team Mom for many years, leading, teaching, guiding, and loving not only her own boys but a whole slew of others’ kids as well. This service was where Cyndie met many of her life-long friends.
 

Once all three sons were in elementary school, Cyndie went back to work. Being a loyal and enduring employee, she only had three employers over the next three decades. Fullerton’s local newspaper, the Daily News Tribune was her first job after motherhood. She met new friends that would stay in touch for decades. Cyndie saw an opportunity for advancement at the nearby J. C. Penney Regional Office in Buena Park. Working at J. C. Penney also brought Cyndie several long-standing friends. When the company consolidated all the regional offices to a central location in Texas, she found her next and last employer, California State University, Fullerton. Like always, Cyndie’s sweetness and personality attracted friends that would remain on her birthday card list for the rest of her life.

The Hallmark Cards Company owes much of its success to Cyndie. She was a diligent observer of celebrating birthdays and anniversaries with a card sent in the mail, whether you lived across the globe or across the street for most of her adulthood. There was always a gold crown sticker sealing the envelopes. Her world-renowned saying of ‘I love you most’ was written in each and every card. Cyndie gained a special place in hundreds of hearts because of her thoughtfulness and caring concern that everyone would feel cared about on special occasions.

Cyndie’s sons all grew up and married. Jeff married Jenai (Jenai Estelle Mayo). Jeff and Jenai gave Cyndie and Bill two grandchildren; Taelor (Taelor Irene Filler) of Goodyear, Arizona and Riley (Riley William Mayo) of Surprise, Arizona. Chuck married Nicole (Nicole Marie Mayo) and together gave another two grandkids; Samantha (Samantha Marie Mayo) and Tyler (Tyler James Mayo), both of Surprise, Arizona. Mike married Christian (Christian Rennahan-Mayo). Mike and Christian added two more grandchildren; Bree (Breanne Rennahan Mayo) and Aidan (Aidan Rennahan Mayo), both of Peyton, Colorado. Grandma Cyndie became known to these six grandbabies for her Barnes & Noble gift cards. She was so proud of her expanded family. Cyndie worked very hard to make sure each grandkid felt unique and most importantly, intelligent.

Cyndie was an advocate for pets; both her own and those that were neglected. She and Bill had multiple dogs, cats, birds, hamsters, and fish over the course of their marriage. When signing her thousands of greeting cards, Cyndie would always include the current pets’ names. The most recent four-legged/finned babies were Torii Hunter (dog), Tia (dog), Smokey (cat), and ‘all the fishies.’ Cyndie was a faithful supporter of the Humane Society.

Christmases with Cyndie were always a beautiful and happy season. While working at Bullock’s Fashion Square in La Habra, she spent time at the gift-wrap department. It was there that Cyndie learned how to create remarkably wrapped presents. The family referred to her huge incomparable bows as ‘Cyndie bows.’ The Christmas tree looked like something off the cover of Better Homes & Gardens with the meticulously wrapped gifts carefully layered underneath.

After retirement, Cyndie and Bill relocated to Prescott Valley, Arizona. This move put them in between their sons’ families that lived in Arizona and Colorado. Just before moving to Arizona, Cyndie found out she needed open-heart surgery. A double bypass was performed at St. Jude Hospital in Fullerton. As she recovered, stones were found in Cyndie’s pancreas. Over the next two years, it was discovered that these stones and subsequent blockages were related to severe kidney issues. Cyndie was hospitalized multiple times with significant pancreas and kidney function problems.

On Monday, April 6, 2020, Cyndie received an initial diagnosis of breast cancer. After testing, her oncologist revealed that she had Stage IV Inflammatory Breast Cancer. The cancer had spread into bone and soft tissue from her pelvis to her upper spine. Cyndie’s condition deteriorated quite quickly and she was admitted to the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at Yavapai Regional Medical Center West, in Prescott on Tuesday, April 21. At about noon on Thursday, April 23, Cyndie succumbed to the effects of the disease and took her last breath.

Cyndie’s legacy is broad and multi-faceted. It includes a passion for making others fell loved, special, and unique. The spreading of Cyndie’s values will make the world a better place.

Cyndie lived a full life filled with unforgettable moments with beloved family and friends. As we grieve our loss of this irreplaceable, sweet, and classy lady, we remember the magnificent years that we were blessed to spend with her.

Cyndie, Mom, Grandma Cyndie, Auntie Cyndie, we love you most!  

A celebration of life will be held (TBD).

In lieu of flowers, Bill and the boys would be honored by donations to the Humane Society or the Salvation Army.