Mary lsabel McClurg, 90, of Sheridan, formerly of Hudson, Wyoming, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at Green House Living for Sheridan.

Mary was born in Fort Bridger, Wyoming on June 24, 1932 to William Joseph Kennah and Lucille Elizabeth Watson Kennah. She and her older brother Joe were raised in Fort Bridger. Mary's mother Lucille passed away when Mary was only three years old. Mary spoke fondly of Edgar and Lillian Donohoo of Lonetree, who helped care for her for a time after her Mother's passing. Mary attended the University of Wyoming where she graduated in 1954 with a degree in Home Economics and Education. She had many fond memories of college; attending football games in the newly built War Memorial Stadium, and living and working at Knight Hall. She worked summers, both at Little America and Flagg Ranch in Yellowstone, where she made lifelong friends.

After graduation she began teaching at Morton high school. During this time she participated in the lnternational Farm Youth Exchange program, traveling to Finland where she lived with a Finnish farm family for five months.

Mary met Robert "Bob" McClurg while teaching in Morton. Bob had recently been discharged from the Navy and moved to the Morton area where his parents ranched. They were married in June of 1956. Bob and Mary leased a ranch outside of Morton for a year, before purchasing their ranch in Lyons Valley where they ranched for over 50 years. They transformed a ramshackle place into a productive cattle and sheep ranch as well as a comfortable and loving home where they worked together and raised their three sons. Mary worked as a home economics teacher at Lander Valley High School for many years before retiring to help Bob full time on the ranch.

Mary stayed busy raising their three active boys and supporting them throughout their school years with all their activities as well as many 4-H livestock projects. She loved all the animals and wildlife on the ranch, especially the ranch dogs and the sheep. She spent many days and nights in the lambing barn taking care of lambs and she always had a group of orphan lambs she would take under her wing and raise.

ln their later years, Bob became very involved with the National Rural Electric System and Mary held down the fort while Bob traveled to meetings. She also accompanied him on many of these trips throughout the US and internationally, including South America and Central America, acting as an ambassador for agriculture and Wyoming. They loved to travel and had many exciting trips all over the world to places like New Zealand, China, Spain, Morocco and the British lsles. They also loved traveling to see their three grandkids which they were so proud of. But Mary was always the happiest when she was home on her beloved ranch.

She was an active member for many years of the Fremont County Cattlewomen (Cowbelles) and the Catholic Church of the Ascension in Hudson. She enjoyed working in her yard and flower garden and going to the mountains for picnics and camping with her family.

After Robert's death in 2007, Mary moved to Sheridan WY to be closer to family. Her family would like to thank the staff at both Sugarland Ridge of Sheridan and Green House Living for Sheridan for their loving, kind and devoted care for Mary.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband Robert, her oldest son William, her brother Joe Kennah, her parents, and her step-mother, Elizabeth Kennah. She is survived by her son Terry (Marjorie) of Bridger MT, two granddaughters, Kimberly McClurg of Port Townsend ,WA; and Kaitlin (Daniel) Stapleton of Billings, MT; son Kevin (Tracy) McClurg of Big Horn, WY, and grandson Patrick McClurg of Burlington, VT.

Funeral Mass will take place at the Church of the Ascension in Hudson, WY on May 13th at 9:00 a.m. with inurnment in the Mt. Hope Cemetery in Lander WY. ln lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Church of the Ascension in Hudson, WY c/o Holy Rosary Church, P.O. Box 1047, Lander, WY 82520; or to your local dog and cat shelter.

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Kane Funeral Home has been entrusted with local arrangements.

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