Mass of Christian Burial: Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City.
Rite of Committal: Calvary Cemetery with full military honors.
Long time Custer county resident, Mary Faye Cotter, died Wednesday, May 11, 2011 in Billings, Montana at age 90 with her immediate family by her side.
She was born December 24, 1920, in Miles City Montana to the late John M. and Kathryn Mary (Donohue) Cotter. She grew up in Miles City and graduated from Custer County High School in 1939. She attended the Columbus School of Nursing at Great Falls graduating in 1942 with a Nursing degree. As did so many of her generation, she answered the call of her country, Mary Faye enlisted in the United States Army Nurse Corps, received her commission and shipped to Europe, where she served in the European Theater of Operations. She first stepped foot in Normandy in June, 1944. She served in a mobile field hospital which moved regularly as the Allied Forces advanced across Normandy, France and into Germany, providing nursing services to injured and wounded soldiers. She was honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant in August, 1946.
Mary Faye, or Sis, as she was known to family and friends, returned to Miles City following brief periods in Wisconsin, Wyoming and California.and began her nursing career with the Garberson Clinic at Miles City. She retired from nursing after 42 years of service.
Mary Faye was fiercely independent throughout her life. She was generous and kind to all. She traveled extensively to visit family and attend reunions and the births, baptism, graduations and weddings of her nieces and nephews. She enjoyed a good book, conversation, colorful stories of her adventures or misadventures and, always a good joke. Mary Fayes interests did not include cooking or shopping. She most enjoyed taking care of people and visiting with her family and Miles City friends, occasionally over a child-sized martini.
Mary Faye was an active member of Sacred Heart Parish and in her later years volunteered at St. Vincents. She was a past member of the Miles City Town and Country Golf Club, the Sage Riders, a member of the Marines Memorial and the first female member of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars.
She was particularly proud of her service to her country and that of her brother Bill, her nephew and in-laws, all of whom served their country in uniform.
Mary Faye was preceded in death by her father, John Michael Cotter; her mother, Kathryn Mary Cotter; brothers, William John Cotter and Jack Leroy Cotter.
She is survived by her nieces and nephews, Michele Tuchscherer, Plover, WI and Mary Cotter, Tumwater, WA and Michael Cotter, Helena, MT, as well as numerous great nieces and nephews. The family wishes to thank all Mary Fayes friends for all of the acts of kindness extended to her.
A vigil service will be held on Friday, May 13, 2011 at 4:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City. Rite of Committal will follow in the Calvary Cemetery in Miles City with full military honors provided by VFW Post 1579.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in her memory and that of her family to the Custer County Class of 1939 Scholarship Fund c/o Jack Regan, 1604 Main Street, Miles City, Montana
Service Schedule
Service Schedule
Share
Georgia Jo Conway Olson says
How much I loved My SIS…she was a part of my family from before I was born in 1949. She was neighborhood Friends with the Conway boys, Dick, Bob, and Luke. The name of “Sis” was her nic name from them,And as far as I know, they adopted her from in their childhood. They all went to school at Sacred Heart Elementary and High School. She frequently was at the Sage Riders, Which was a Horse Riders club, tho I know she didn’t have a horse, and never heard of her getting on one either. She was full of laughs and always seemed to be interested in everything I did or learned. She would come over and wait for my parents (Bob and Jean Conway ) to get dressed and ready to go to Dinner, Dancing at the CrossRoads Inn, and had great fun telling stories,She loved long story with a kick at the end! Which was what my Father Bob Conways favorite ones to tell. Years later, she placed a ROSE on my Dads grave on Memorial Day; he passed in 1996. She also continued this ritual memorial when my Mother, Jean, passed in 2000.
She was totally by my side when my Uncle Dick passed (2 months after my Mother) and I had to dig thru a Bachelors Nightmare since I was the only relative of the Conway Family. When I traveled with my husband Mike, to the East Coast we stopped to see Mary Faye in 2006. She was the same Sis I knew as a kid of 10. Doing for others was her life, she was a special Nurse and I’m sure every Kid in town knew Mary Faye! I had a sister, who was a bit older than ME.