Mary E. Clover

Mary E. Clover passed away Friday, Aug. 8, 2014, at the Village Health Care Center following a decline in her health that resulted from a recent fall at her home. She was born Mary Ellen McRae on Nov. 23, 1927, in Jordan to Mary and Jack McRae. She was a twin to her brother John. Her earliest years, like those of her other siblings, were spent living in a sheep wagon or wherever else her parents could find pasturage and hay for their sheep.

She began and completed her elementary schooling at the Van Norman country school on the Big Dry Creek approximately one mile east of where her parents settled permanently. She attended Garfield County High School in Jordan, graduating in 1946. Following high school, she entered the nurse's training program at Holy Rosary Hospital in Miles City, earning her nursing degree in 1948. She worked briefly as a nurse at Holy Rosary before joining her mother and the other younger children in moving to Missoula in the fall of 1949.

Upon arrival in Missoula, she began a long nursing career at St. Patrick Hospital. For many years, she was the head nurse in the obstetrics unit of this hospital. With the death of her mother in 1950, she and her brother John were appointed guardians for the four youngest McRae children. Because John left the family home shortly after this to pursue his career in pharmacy and then as a Naval officer, Mary served as the primary care provider for her younger siblings while they were completing their elementary and secondary schooling. This included caring for them for several years after her marriage in 1955 before following her husband to various locations in the Northwest as he pursued a career as an air traffic controller with the Federal Aviation Administration.

In the late '60s, her husband resigned from the FAA and the family, which now included two children, returned to Missoula. Upon their return, Mary resumed her career as a nurse. This time, however, rather than returning to obstetrics she joined the oncology unit at St. Patrick's. She had moved from assisting at birth to assisting at life's senescence. She retired from St. Patrick's in the late '80s after approximately 40 years of active service in nursing. Because she and her husband had divorced by this time, she continued working part time following retirement, initially as a home health care specialist assisting patients undergoing renal dialysis, and then as a nurse for the University of Montana Student Health Service.

Throughout her life, Mary devoted her energies to caring for others including her daughter Joette, who she nursed for many years while she was succumbing to multiple sclerosis. She was a source of strength and support to all the members of her family in their times of need. Throughout all of the tragedy and difficulty she faced, she never lost her buoyancy and good humor. Her stamina and activity persisted until the very end even though her arthritis had become quite disabling. In fact, she did not relinquish her nurses license until age 85.

Amongst her favorite pastimes were gardening, cooking and crocheting. Her back yard with its fruit trees, flower beds, grape arbor and vegetable garden was a source of pride to her. No weed was ever allowed to survive in this space. She loved to entertain family and friends here with good wine and her wonderful meal creations. The beautiful afghans that she crocheted are treasured possessions by those fortunate enough to receive one.

She was preceded in death by parents, brothers Charles and John, sister Catherine Johnson and daughter Joette Beckwith. She is survived by her son Marvin of Frenchtown; grandson Charles Beckwith of Anchorage, Alaska; sister Jackcee Anderson of Missoula; brothers Bob of Billings, George (Neva) of Missoula and Bruce (Jackie) of Athens, Georgia; and numerous nephews and nieces.

Garden City Funeral Home is in charge of final arrangements. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15, at Orchard Homes with a reception following. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Missoula County Cancer Association, 3005 Queen St., Missoula, MT 59801.

Condolences and memories may be left for the family at www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.
Read Mary Clover's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.