Mary Emily Meade

Mary E. Meade

Memorial service for Mary E. Meade, a longtime area resident, was held this Tuesday, March 24, at Peet Mortuary with the Rev. Frank Blish and Rebekah Lodge #12, Lusk officiating. She died March 19 at the Niobrara Nursing Home where she had been a resident since August, 1980.

Mary Emily Meade was born August 12, 1901, on a farm north of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, the daughter of William and Susan Campbell Young. She grew up near Mt. Pleasant, attending West Pleasant Lawn School and graduating from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1920. She attended the fiftieth year reunion of her class in 1970.

Following graduation she taught school for several years. On June 18, 1924, she was married to Iliff Allender and they were the parents of two children, Betty and William. Mr. Allender died on February 23, 1937. In 1939 she married Lester Meade of Lusk and lived in the Hat Creek community for many years, moving to Lusk while the children attended high school. They lived on the Coffee Ranch north of Harrison for several years, then in Schuyler, Neb. where Mary was the Methodist Church organist.

In 1953 the Meade family returned to Wyoming and operated a restaurant at Lance Creek. While there Mary directed the adult, young girls and Boy Scout choirs. She was an accomplished pianist and had played with several orchestras through the years. The Meades moved to Casper in 1961 and were employed at the Casper office of Stafford Well Service at Evansville. Mr. Meade died June 16, 1973.

A member of the Methodist church since her childhood, Mary was a member of Christ Methodist Church of Casper at the time of her death. She was a past matron of Eastern Star Chapter 35 and a member of Ft. Casper Chapter #4. She was also a Past Noble Grand of Rebekah Lodge #12 of Lusk and a member of the Niobrara Historical Society.

Jane Bardo was organist while Joy Kaltenheuser sang "The Lord's Prayer" and "Just A Closer Walk With Thee."

Casket bearers were Pat Kant, Howell Burr Bryant, Bill Jones, Dan Meade, Scott Stafford, and Luther Penfield. Honorary bearers were Melvin Miller, Lloyd Miller, Junior Johnson, Herb Lasater, Richard Kant and Jay Nichols.

Interment was in Lusk Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to Niobrara County Nursing Home.

Besides her husbands, Mrs. Meade was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers, Carl, Tom and Bruce Young of Mt. Pleasant. She is survived by her daughter Betty (Mrs. Dean Long) of Linch, her son William of North Platte, Nebr., two brothers Edward Young of Bellingham, Wash. and Arthur Young of Mt. Pleasant; her step-mother Blanche Seberg of Mt. Pleasant; two half brothers James Young of Table Groves, Ill. and Leonard Young of Mt. Pleasant; on half sister Louise Wooley of LoJolla, Calif.; six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and a host of friends.

Images & Attachments

Related/Linked Records