Mary K. Samel

"Momma Mary," "G-Ma," "Gramma Sam" passed quietly away Monday, Oct. 13, 2014.

Mary was born Dec. 30, 1931, in Great Falls, the third of five children born to Clifford and Elizabeth McBratney. Her family moved to Augusta, where she graduated from high school and enjoyed playing basketball. She was the tallest on the team at 5 feet 6 inches. Mary married her high school sweetheart, Rick Duncan. They were married just 18 months when Rick lost his life serving in the Korean War.

Later, Mary met Roland Guy Samel while he was working construction building a new school in Augusta. They were married Oct. 31, 1954. Sam and Mary lived in Browning, where he taught high school math and science for eight years. It was while they lived in Browning they welcomed their three children, David, Denise and Melanie. Different job opportunities moved the family to the Oregon coast and eventually to Missoula in 1963.

Mary was one of the last generation of genuine homemakers, a job she truly embraced. Homemade bread, cookies, canned fruit and jams were always in the house, much to the enjoyment of family and friends. Mary did child care in her home for several years and formed lifelong friendships with parents and now all the grown children she helped raise.

After 32 years of marriage to her beloved Sam, she became a widow again. Mary then spent time with her children and their children. She enjoyed traveling to all her daughter Denise's Navy duty stations including Florida, Washington, D.C., San Diego and Italy, and became her "Granny Nanny" at her last duty station in Great Lakes, Illinois. Mary loved holiday gatherings with lots of food, family and friends. She decorated for each holiday and the changing seasons.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Cliff and Bob; and husbands, Rick and Sam.

She is survived by her sister, Betty Styren (Lawrence); brother, Don McBratney (Judy); children, Dave Samel, Denise Licata and Melanie Samel; grandchildren, Matt Samel (Brittney), Tiffany Thurston (Ross), Adam Licata, Tynan Lemcke, MacKenzie Lemcke and Danica Lemcke; great-grandchildren, Taylor Samel, Lonnie David Thurston and Corey Thurston; and many nieces and nephews.

We love you, Mom, and say hello to Dad.

Visitation will be held Friday, Oct. 17, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home, where the funeral will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Cemetery.
Read Mary Samel's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.