MOUNTAIN VIEW — Mary was born in Bridger Valley, Wyoming, the sixth child of James and Beulah (Taylor) Widdop.
She had four sisters: Edna (Claire) Harvey, Elva (Nels) Dalquist, Billie Mae (Roy) Eklund and Beulah F (Pat) (Glade) Richardson; three brothers: Albert Widdop who died as an infant, James T. (Shirley) Widdop and Charles T. (Florence) Widdop.
Her family resided in Bridger Valley where her father worked as a cattle buyer and ran a butcher shop. Her mother operated a café out of the family home in Mountain View. She attended school in Mountain View graduating from high school in 1939. She was baptized and was a faithful member of the First Presbyterian Church of Mountain her entire life.
She married her sweetheart Leslie L Hysell on Oct. 10, 1939, by the Justice of the Peace in Coalville, Utah. On their 70th wedding anniversary, they renewed their wedding vows in the First Presbyterian Church in Mountain View.
The first few years of their marriage, they lived in various locations of southwestern Wyoming where Les worked for the railroad and other jobs. They lived a short time in Rock Springs, where Les worked in the coal mines. Their first child, Leonard Craig, was born in 1943 while living there. They later moved back to Mountain View and timbered in the Uinta mountains during the summers until winter forced them back to town. Les cut and hauled mine props for the coal mines and silver mines in Park City. Their first daughter Linda was born in 1948. Two more daughters followed, Kathy and Gayle.
Mary’s life was dedicated to her husband and family. She worked side-by-side with her husband in the logging business, swinging an axe to trim branches, peeling the bark off mine props, loading the props and logs on the trucks by hand with Les and later driving one of the two haul trucks they had purchased. During the school year she washed dishtowels for the school lunchroom for extra income or to pay for her children’s school lunches. In the 1950’s, she got the contract to deliver the U.S. Mail from Mountain View to Lonetree and back. This occurred every Monday Wednesday and Friday for the next 50 years. The first many years was prior to the highway being built and her road was a combination of cobble rocks on each end of the route and many times very deep gumbo-mud in between. True to the postal tradition, she always got the mail delivered.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, all of her siblings and their spouses; all of her in-laws and their spouses; granddaughter, Mary Margaret Hysell; grandson, John Clayton (Clay) Walker; and two infant great-granddaughters, Cheryl and Roxie Bail.
Mary is survived by her husband Les; son, Leonard (Renee’) Hysell; daughters: Linda (John) Walker, Kathy (Ted) Porter and Gayle Eyre all of Mountain View; 15 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, 10 great-great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her church, Mary was a life member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 36 of Fort Bridger.
Mary Hysell, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend to so many passed away peacefully at her home Sunday morning after returning home from the hospital to be with her family. Most of her family was able to visit with her a short while Saturday evening.
As per her wish’s, cremation will occur and a celebration of her life will be conducted on Jan. 11, 2020, at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Mountain View followed by a luncheon giving opportunity for visiting with family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to the First Presbyterian Church of Mountain View, or the Fort Bridger American Legion Auxiliary Unit 36 in her name or any charity of your choice.
Condolences maybe made at www.crandallfhevanston.com.
