Mary Kathryn Hudspeth

Mary Kathryn Hudspeth, 80, of Billings, left this world with her children by her side on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015, after a long and courageous battle with colon cancer.

Mary was born on Oct. 5, 1935, to Donald and Mary (Lynch) Jackson in Marshalltown, Iowa. Mary graduated from St. Mary's High School in 1953. In 1957, she earned a degree in English with a minor in Library Science from St. Catherine's in St. Paul, Minn. Mary graduated from the University of Montana with her MA in English in 1969. She taught high school English in Iowa and Montana.

Mary married Jerald H. Hudspeth on Aug. 9, 1958, in Marshalltown. They first met in the third grade. They were married for 55-plus years before Jerry's passing in 2013.

In 1967, Mom and Dad were taking summer classes at the University of Montana when they fell in love with the Big Sky Country. After one more year of teaching in Iowa, they made the move to Missoula and never looked back.

Mary was appointed by Gov. Ted Schwinden to chair the State Library Commission from 1985 to 1991. Mary completed her career in education as the County Superintendent of Schools for Lincoln County, Libby, Montana, in 1997.

Prior to moving to Libby in 1988, Mary and Jerry lived in Glendive. They left the classroom for a few years, first buying the Yellowstone Cleaners, and then building a chain of convenience stores across Eastern Montana.

Politics was a special interest of Mary and Jerry. They dedicated their time and energy in support of the Democratic Party at the city, county, state and national levels. This explains how Mom came to know almost everybody in Montana.

In their later years, Mary and Jerry traveled with their RV to visit friends and family. In the winter they often stayed at La Posa South on BLM land at Quartzite, Ariz., to "boon-dock" with their Montana friends. Mom and Dad were both incredibly well read, which turned into a retirement hobby, buying and trading first edition books, signed by the authors.

Mary was all you could ask for as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, teacher, employer, administrator and friend. She never passed up a good yard/estate sale or an empty box that someone could surely use.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Donald and Mary Jackson; her older brother, Dick; husband Jerry; and son Steven.

Mary is survived by her oldest brother, Bob Jackson of Johnston, Iowa; three sisters-in-law, Delores Barker of Mesa, Ariz., Joyce Hudspeth of Waterloo, Iowa, and Kay Winn of Marshalltown; children, Douglas (Jill) of Tempe, Ariz., Jeff (Jeannie) of Billings, Greg (Brandy) of Billings and Julie (Mike) Derbyshire of Billings. Also eight grandchildren: Alex and Abby Derbyshire, Scott Hudspeth, Grant Hudspeth, and numerous nieces and nephews, especially, Sue (Jackson) Eppenaur and husband Tom. We must also include our parents' lifelong friends, Tom and Millie Sullivan and Greta and Harry Chapman.

Mom and Dad were partners through it all, making the most of their great adventure. Together, they made a good life, leaving this world a better place for having been here.

Cremation has taken place. Memorial services are planned for the summer of 2016. Mary will be laid to rest with Jerry at Yellowstone National Cemetery in Laurel.

Thank you to the staff at Billings Clinic and Advanced Care Hospital for your wonderful care.

Goodbye, Mom, we love you and miss you very much.