MARY LOUISE HAVELY

Mary L. Havely, 84, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 3, 2021. Mary was born to Melvin and Muriel (Modrall) Woodman in Denver, Colorado. After her parents’ divorce Mary, along with her sisters Virginia and Maxine, relocated with their mother to Hotchkiss, Colorado. Muriel later married William Carpenter there.  The family lived on a farm/ranch operation where the sisters learned the workings of rural life.

Brother William Carpenter, Jr. arrived and completed the family. Mary met and fell in love with Lyman Joe Reich in that beautiful mountain community. They were married in 1955 and were blessed with the birth of their first child, Thomas Joe, that same year.  Mary and Joe moved to Wyoming in 1960 where Joe was employed as a ranch hand and Mary was a devoted ranch wife and homemaker. Mary’s second child, Jody, was born that same year.  Mary was an accomplished seamstress and made a good majority of the clothing for her family. Being the wife of a ranch hand, she adapted to all manner of surprises, including abandoned newborn calves being brought into the living room to be warmed and fed. She found odd jobs, when necessary, but found her calling when the family landed in Teton County, Wyoming where she gained employment as a dispatcher for the police, sheriff’s office, and highway patrol.  She was awarded an honorary sheriff’s deputy badge while working there.  Mary divorced in 1973 and moved to Wheatland, Wyoming where she met and married Garland Havely of Slater, Wyoming. She was introduced to large scale grain farming and the need to provide meals to Garland and his brothers in the field during harvest. Having been a ranch wife accustomed to feeding large meals during brandings, she took to the mobile meal deliveries like a pro. She made her new home her own by planting a beautiful array of bulb flowers – gladiolus being her favorite. During this time, Mary also gained employment as the assistant to the sheriff of Platte County as well as driving a rural school bus route. Mary and Garland later purchased a small farm in Wellington, Colorado where they grew corn and beans. She took a position at the local Poudre Valley Farmer’s Co-Op until she retired to take care of Garland due to his ill health. After Garland passed, she decided to move into the “city” of Berthoud, Colorado. She enjoyed a lively social life and made many friends through the community center there. Mary had a sharp wit and endeared everyone to her with it. She was a loving mother to her children and devoted grandmother to her grandchildren. Mary is survived by sisters, Virginia Durfee and Maxine O’Connell; brother, Billy Carpenter; children, Tom (Kim) Reich and Jody (Rick) Paessler; and grandchildren, Marlaina (Chris) Reich McAfee, Cody Stover, Christopher (Suzanne) Sorensen, and Stephan & Michael Paessler.

A family service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Mary’s name to Pathways Hospice. www.pathways-care.org

The Gorman Funeral Homes – Platte Chapel of Wheatland are in charge of the arrangements.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.gormanfh.com

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