A new light is twinkling in the Heavens; a new angel has received her wings. Mary Hischier Reed of Billings passed away peacefully due to natural causes on Nov. 16. She had 85 precious years of life and 60 wonderful years of marriage.
Mary began her life's wonderful journey on Nov. 3, 1927, in Provo, Utah, the daughter of Fred and Pauline (French) Hischier. She lived in Montana most of her life, but she also resided with her family in Williston, N.D., and Bellevue, Wash. Although she adored Montana, she also loved to travel, and was fortunate to have visited Hawaii several times, Australia, New Zealand, China, England and Scotland.
She graduated from Billings Senior High in 1946. She then went on to attend Colorado Women's College, graduating in 1948. An avid learner, Mary continued her education at the University of Nebraska, where she graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Business and Merchandising in 1950.
Mary utilized her educational skills to become an Assistant Manager at Aileen's Clothing in Billings, where she also became a frequent and favorite customer as well! She was an accomplished artist, and thoroughly enjoyed volunteering at the Castle Art Gallery, helping to showcase the work of other artists. She was also active working in the Billings Studio Theater, loved being a member of her P.E.O. society, and was especially fond of her bridge clubs! Another one of her passions was crossword puzzles, and she was true wizard at completing them. While raising a family of four children, Mary used her charisma and marketing training to establish a successful home-based business, distributing Shaklee products.
Mary is survived by her husband, Henry E. (Hank) Reed; her son John Reed of Billings and his son Jacob Morrow of Portland, Ore.; her daughter Polly Kovash (Bryan) and their children Mikayla, Kelly and Hunter of Billings; her son Jim Reed (Sue) and their children Rebecca, Nicole and Sean of Bellevue, Wash.; her daughter-in-law Margaret Reed and her son Blake of Bellevue; her sister Miriam Simpson (Jack) of Harlowton; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Margaret Heath and her eldest son, Tom.
Special thanks, to mention a very few, go out to the doctors and staff at Billings Hospital, Rocky Mountain Hospice, Valley Healthcare, Kerri Henan, Judy Hamilton, Mary's dear sister Miriam, and precious niece and nephew Berte and Jim Heath!
The family will be receiving friends for visitation on Friday, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary. Funeral Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary.
Interment will follow at Yellowstone Valley Memorial Park. A reception will be held at the Yellowstone Country Club after the burial (at 3 p.m.) (findagrave.com)