2 I The Lovell Chronicle I October 27, 2011
Ester Sue
Steck
Abraham
July 3, 1943 -
Oct. 23, 2011
Ester Sue Steck Abra-
ham died Oct. 23, 2011. She
is now in a state of happi-
ness where she is no longer
suffering from her trials and
the illness that has slowly
taken her from her friends
and family.
Sue was born in Pow-
ell on July 3, 1943, to Bud
and Bernice Steck. She had
a brother Don and a sister
Nora Lee waiting for her.
The family lived in Powell
until "Daddy" was called to
serve his country in World
War II, at which time Ber-
nice and the three children
moved to Garland to be
close to her grandparents,
Gammy and Gumpy Steck.
When Bud returned from
his tour of duty in the Sea-
bees, they built a home in
Ralston where she lived un-
til she graduated from Pow-
ell High School in May of
1961.
Life was good growing
up. Sue loved exploring and
doing things with her broth-
er and sister. Living in the
country was good for such
adventures. Summers were
spent going fishing and
camping in Yellowstone and
the Tetons with her fami-
ly. When she was in junior
high, her parents purchased
a cabin on Kootney Lake in
Canada. She loved to swim
and staying right by the
lake was just the ticket for
lots of fun. She made many
friends during the summers
she spent there.
Sue was very vivacious
and fun loving. As a child
she took piano lessons but
would rather have been
outside doing other things.
No matter where she was
or who she was with, there
was always adventure. One
could always count on hav-
ing a good time with her.
She met and fell in love
with John M. Abraham and
they were married on June
23, 1961, in the Salt Lake
Temple in Salt Lake City.
Sue and John settled down
on their little farm in By-
ron where they started their
own dairy farm. This re-
quired lots of hard work and
determination from the both
of them and together they
made it work.
John and Sue were the
parents to 10 children, and
lots of "adopted" friends fre-
quented their home on a reg-
ular basis. She was "Mom"
to them all. Sue loved to
cook and it was nothing for
her to cook for a crowd often.
Her homemade bread was
the best. Her children didn't
know what store bought
bread even tasted like and
she always shared a loaf
with others.
She also loved to sew
and two years ago for
Christmas, she spent hours
making each of her grand-
children a rag quilt out of all
the flannel she had used and
saved from making pajamas
for them over the years. Her
home was a haven to many
who called her "friend." Sue
loved being a wife, mother
and grandmother. Her fam-
ily was her life.
She studied homeopa-
thy for years and helped
her children and grand-
children with their illness-
es. Even though she knew
this subject well, she never
stopped wanting to learn
more and trying to do what
she thought would help her
family.
The family eventually
moved to their present home
on Whistle Creek where
John got into the chicken
business. After his passing,
Sue did her very best to keep
it going for him. It became
too difficult for her to keep
up so she sold everything
and started taking care of
herself. She was not a quit-
ter and it was hard for her to
give it up.
She was a member of
the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints and
had many callings over the
years where she served well.
Her last calling was the
Achievement Day leader for
a group of young girls. She
loved these girls and be-
ing with them and teach-
ing them a variety of things.
Because of her illness, she
had to give up this calling,
which saddened her greatly.
She was continually taking
meals into those who were
struggling in any way and
she was there when anyone
needed her for anything.
She was an amazing person.
Sue is survived by her
10 children: Craig (Kim)
of Gillette, Curtis (Jen) of
Byron, Jill (Bret) Baine of
Ketchikan, Alaska, Brook
(Holly) of Minn., Trent (Ko-
lete) of Green River, Miria
(Chris) Good of Powell, Tif-
-ffahy (Gary) Phister of Pow-
ell, Amber (Ryan) Messick
of Atlanta, Melissa (Mike)
Sigurdson of Billings, Kara
(Tommy) Jones of Ketchikan
and 50 grandchildren. She is
also survived by her brother
Don (Judy) Steck of Mel-.
bourne, Australia, and sister
Nora Lee (Ralph) Onstine,
of McCammon, Idaho, and
many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death
by her husband, John, two
grandchildren, Taylor and
Lawrence, her parents Bud
and Bernice Steck and Fluff,
her faithful pet and compan-
ion for many years.
Our beloved Sue, Morn,
Sister, Grandma, Aunt and
friend, you are gone from us
now but you will always be
in our hearts. The example
you have set of your testimo-
ny, and your strength and
courage through the years
has been a lesson none of us
will ever forget. We love you
more.
Funeral services will be
held on Saturday, Oct. 29,
2011, at 10 a.m. at the By-
ron LDS Church. Viewing/
visitation will be held one
hour prior to services at the
church. Burial will be in the
Byron Cemetery. Haskell
Funeral Home in Lovell is
in charge of arrangements.
Condolences may be sent to
the family online at www.
haskellfuneralhome.com.
APPLICATIONS REQUESTED
Big Horn County Solid Waste Board
Letters of Application are requested from residents of the
Big Horn County Solid Waste District who are interested in
serving on the Big Horn County Solid Waste Board.
Mail your application to
Big Horn County Commissioners
P.O. Box 31
Basin, WY 82410
by 5:00 PM, November 14, 2011.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
iiiilililiiiiii!ii!iiiii
Mary Kath ryn
(Viox)
Schwope
July 21, 1917 -
Oct. 18, 2011
Mary Kathryn (Viox)
Schwope passed to eter- :
nal life on Oct. 18, 2011, in
Wheatland.
Mary Kay was born
July 21, 1917, in Rock
Springs. The daughter of
Charles A. and Mary F.
(Moriarty) Viox, she was
raised in Green River,
graduating from Green
River High School in 1935.
She was the granddaugh-
ter of Green River pioneers
Leo and Josephine Viox
and James and Julia Mo-
riarty. She was proud of
her Irish-German heritage.
She lived in Cheyenne for
64 years, Sheridan for five
years, and Wheatland for
six years.
She worked for the
Union Pacific Railroad as
a timekeeper in Cheyenne
from 1936 to 1945. Dur-
ing that time, she met E.
Lawson Schwope and they
married in 1940. World
War II shaped the rest of
their volunteer lives. They
had four children: Michael
(Linda) Schwope of Cow-
ley, Fachon (Roger) Wilson
of Sheridan, Camille Lione
of Glenwood Springs, Colo.,
and Murel (Steve) Connol-
ly of Wheatland.
Mary Kay was ex-
tremely active in the Chey-
enne community, serving
as a leader in Girl Scouts
and Boy Scouts, 4-H and
Parent Teachers Associa-
tion. As a member of the
American Legion Auxilia-
ry, she served in all offices
including Unit and State
President, VA Hospital
volunteer, Rehabilitation
chairman coordinating vol-
unteers at both Wyoming
VA hospitals, and Nation-
al Executive Committee-
woman. She was recognized
for her dedication to Legion
and Auxiliary programs, re-
ceiving the National Four
Chaplain's Legion of Honor
Certificate.
She served on the Wy-
oming Girls State staff for
14 years, was Girls State
Director three years and
served on the Girls Nation
staff three years. She was
both a Boys State and Girls
State instructor.
Other community ac-
tivities include the Chey-
enne Civil Defense Council,
Democratic Party precinct
and county offices, Lara-
mie County Fair Board,
Cheyenne Toastmistress
Club, DePaul Hospital
Guild Board, the Red Cross
Board, Heart Fund Drive
chair and the Laramie
County and Wyoming Bi-
centennial Committees.
She was always known
as Kay to family and friends
until she threw her hat
(and she had a lot of great
hats) into the political ring
and had to register with
her legal name of Mary K.
Schwope. She was elect-
ed to 16 years in the Wyo-
ming House of Representa-
tives, serving on the Labor,
Health and Social Services
Committee, Travel, Wildlife
and Recreation Commit-
tee, the Rules Committee,
the (Legislative) Journal
and the National Council of
State Legislatures. Among
othe]: legislation, she spon-
sored bills concerning
hunter safety, snowmobile
registration fees for trail
grooming, charity pull tabs,
bills requested by law en-
forcement, veteran license
plates and Vietnam Vet
UW tuition, and the estab-
lishment of the Wyoming
Veterans' Oregon Trail
Cemetery.
Mary Kay was a Legis-
lative Advisor to the Silver
Haired, Jaycees and 4-H
Legislatures and to Boys
State and Girls State.
She was appointed by
then Gov. Ed Herschler to
the State Advisory Coun-
cil for Vocational Educa-
tion. She held memberships
in AARP, Cheyenne Senior
Citizens, Zonta Interna-
tional, Wyoming Historical
Society, Wyoming Wildlife
Federation, Union Pacif-
ic Old Timers and Retired
Railroad Employees Associ-
ation, the Cheyenne Wom-
an's Club and Saint Mary's
Parish.
In 2000, Mary Kay was
named Wyoming Woman of
Distinction by the Wyoming
Women's Council. She epit-
omized the ideal Wyoming
woman: she was informed,
articulate, caring effective
and always a lady. She took
pleasure in our natural
beauty, enjoying hunting,
fishing, hiking and camp-
ing. She cared passionate-
Faith Southern Boptist
@ Church
340 E. 3rd St., Lovell
Pastor Mi::a:51EMcKnight
Services: Sunday School 9:46 am
Morn. Worship 11 am. Eve. Worship 6 pm
Wed. Bible Study 7 pm
St. Joseph's
Catholic Church
1141 Shoshone Ave,. LovelL WY
Sacrifice of the Mass
Sunday at 11:30 am
Reverend Glen Szczechowski
5th & Montana, 548-7127
Rev. Christopher Brandt
9:15 am Bible Study
10:30 am Worship Service
Wednesday Service 7:30 pm
The Lutheran Church'Miss°uri Synod
Loueli
flssembly
of God
Church
310 Idaho floe., tooell
Services
Sunday School - 9:45 am
Morning Worship -- 10:50 am
Sunday Night -- 6:30 pm
Wed. Bible Study -- 7 pm
Rev. Dan Jarvis
548-7105
00ARNEY "Youdogetwhatyoupay
for. Especially when it comes
CLI00jI00N CJI00R to carpet cleaning and Vamey
Clean Care.
Our carpets at the Chamber were used and sta/ned when
we got them. We've had several companies clean them. Each
has said some of the stains may come back and they did...
every single stain. When Vamey's showed up, they too said
some stains may come back. Some did but most didn't.
Our carpet has never looked better. When Vamey says
you'll get the most thorough cleaning ever....its true.
They cost a little more but it is worth it."
TESTIMONIAL BY: BARBARA ANNE GREENE
BASIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
CALL TODAY AT 800-660-6181
WWW.VARN EYCLEANcARE.COM
VARNEY CLEAN CARE IN WORLAND, POWELL AND CODY.
ly about education, youth,
veterans, the environment,
senior concerns and the
quality of everyday life in
Wyoming. Our world is a
better place because of her.
While listing her many
civic activities, it must be
remembered her great-
est accomplishments came
through her family. She
was a loving wife and moth-
er, a master gardener, a
versatile seamstress, an
adventuress cook (how can
anybody make three meat-
less meals a day for 40 days
of Lent? but oh, the des-
serts), a raconteur of com-
plex tongue twisters, with
a storehouse of memorized
poetry and song. She and
Lawson's marriage of 61
years was a permanent
commitment that resulted
in an admirable partner-
ship based upon love and
respect. Their living lega-
cy to their children, grand-
children and great-grand-
children and all who knew
them is their underlying
philosophy of service to oth-
ers.
Mary Kay Schwope is
survived by four children,
who each in their own way
have served their respec-
tive communities, due in
part, to the example set by
their mother. She is also
survived by 10 grandchil-
dren: Chelle and Lance
Schwope, Christopher and
Brian Wilson, Julie Dillon,
Chris Braudis and Luke
Murphy, Laine Moore,
Jami Maves and Ben Con-
nolly, and 15 great-grand
children: Lacy, Ben, Car-
son, Tanner, Mary, Alex,
Jeffrey, Andrew, Ryan,
Hailey, Emily, Kelly,
Kevin, Grace, and Mad-
die. She is also survived
by a sister Rosalie (Bob)
Neville of Salt Lake City
and numerous nieces and
nephews.
Mary Kay was preced-
ed in death by her parents,
husband Lawson, sisters
Helen Moerke and Jose-
phine (Jo) Sturholm, broth-
er Charles A. Viox, Jr. and
grandson Shawn Schwope.
In lieu of flowers, me-
[Worship Service
[9:00 am k Rev. Kurt McNabb|
[Sunday School
110:30 urn 56 E. Main l
lBible Lesson
Lovell J
. L6 pm
. Serving Northern
Big Horn County
it,d A
Methodist [ ]
years
at the corner of
Park & Shoshone, Lovell
Pastor Paula Morse
Church: 548-7478
8:30 Dearer Worship
10:30 Lovell Worship
morials may be made to the
Mary Kay and E. Lawson
Schwope Heritage Schol-
arship at Laramie County
Community College, 1400
East College Drive, Chey-
enne, WY 82007, or charity
of the donor's choice.
A rosary and wake were
held at St Patrick's Catho-
lic Church in Wheatland on
Sunday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m.
with Deacon Terry Arch-
bold leading. Funeral ser-
vices were held on Monday,
Oct. 24, at 10 a.m. at Saint
Patrick's Catholic Church
in Wheatland with Father
Rob Spaulding officiating.
Burial took place after in
the Veterans' Cemetery in
Casper. Gorman's Funeral
Home - Platte Chapel was
entrusted with arrange-
ments.
Condolences may be left
for the family at gormanfh.
com.
She was a remarkable
woman with an amazing
ability to remember peo-
ple's names and a wonder-
ful sense of humor. She was
a fierce patriot, a die-hard
Democrat and proud Wyo-
mingite. She never passed
up a chance to recite a poem
from her uncounted reper-
toire, but her favorite by
far was (author unknown)
"Wyoming':
Have you ever seen the
sun rise on the high and
rolling plain?
Have you ever smelled
wet sagebrush after a sud-
den springtime rain?
Did you ever feel the
sting and smart of gravel in
your face?
Then you've never
known the glamour of that
god forsaken place,
Wyoming.
Have you ever seen the
clear cut skyline when the
evening shadows fall?
When the mountains
look like cardboard and you
hear the coyotes call?
Have you seen the
painted badlands with their
yellow, red and blue?
You'll never know how
lonesome life ean be until
you do in .....
Wyoming.
Have you seen the sand
and sagebrush stretch for
miles and miles away,
While down the hill and
along the draws the cooling
shadows lay.
It's lonesome, it's des-
olate, it's off the beaten
track.
But onee you've caught
the lure of it you're lone-
some until you're back in
Wyoming.
We will miss her.
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