Mary Ellen Depee

On Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015, Mary Ellen Depee, 86, lost her battle with cancer. Mary Ellen was a tiny person, but what she lacked in stature she made up for with honesty, integrity, character and grit. She possessed an inner strength that few can match, a strength that carried her and her family through this difficult time. Cancer does not play by the rules or come with instructions, however Mary Ellen faced each challenge with courage and took every step of her journey without complaint. Cancer did not dim her brilliant smile and unwavering spirit.

Mary Ellen's life was devoted to her family and each day was spent enriching their lives. Her home was always clean and her table set with nutritious meals prepared with love. She spent countless hours at her sewing machine and with her knitting needles, creating everything from Barbie doll clothes to wedding dresses. The perfect seams, stitches and matched patterns reflected the love and pride with which each item was made. Hours were spent pouring over pattern books, skeins of yarn and bolts of fabric in search of the perfect match for her loved one. She loved sharing her gifts.

Mary Ellen was a voracious reader from the time she was a small child. The road between her home and the library was a well-traveled one. Stacks and stacks of books were devoured regularly and returned for more. She had a brilliant mind that she liked to keep sharp by reading, but also with puzzles. Her Dell Variety puzzle books were often completed cover to cover and a newspaper crossword never went undone.

Mary Ellen worked for several years as a bank teller at Bitterroot Valley Bank in Lolo. She loved her job and her customers. She took pride in her position and missed it and the people very much after retiring.

Whether she knew it or not, Mary Ellen set an excellent example of what a person should be. She was caring, compassionate, hard-working and loyal. She tried hard to "put herself in others shoes" and to always do the best she could. She only spoke the truth and when she made a promise, she kept it. She was never wasteful and believed in reusing and recycling. She was kind always and tough when necessary. She was as close to perfect as any human can get and she will be sorely missed.

Mary Ellen was preceded in death by her parents and her son Ronald Miller. She is survived by her husband Lloyd "Tuffy" Depee; daughter Cheryl Orbe (Dave); son Mark Depee (Tiffany); son Brett Depee; daughter Joy Ellen Weed (Tim); 13 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.

No services are planned at this time.
Read Mary Depee's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.