Mary Riegert

Mary Elizabeth (Coats) Riegert was born on January 20, 1944, in Denver, CO. She died on December 14, 2016, in Casper, WY, at Central Wyoming Hospice from complications caused by a complex medical history including: rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and two forms of cancer. She was born to William and Dorothy (Earl) Coats in Denver, CO, at Colorado General Hospital. She was named for her grandmother, Mary Elizabeth (Dillingham) Coats. The family, including brother, Wendell, and sister, Thelma, lived in (Derby) Commerce City, CO, until Mary was 2 years old. Between the ages of 2 and 14, Mary's family moved several times starting with Princeton, KY, and ending with the Gas Hills, WY. During that time, when Mary was 6 years old, she was hospitalized in Denver, CO, when she fell ill with rheumatic fever and Saint Vitas Stance, setting her behind in school by one year. When her family made the move to the Gas Hills, WY, Mary boarded with family friends, Gene and Dee Dee Sargent, to allow her to attend Shoshoni High School in Shoshoni, WY. It was there that she met her lifelong friend, Judy (Riegert) Tibesar. After attending a basketball game in December of 1960, with her friend Judy, she met Gary (Judy's brother), who was home on Christmas break from college. They became best friends and later married on August 5, 1961. They were married 54 years at the time of Gary's death in April 2016. As newlyweds, Mary and Gary, returned to Billings, MT, for Gary to finish college. While in Billings, Mary worked as a homemaker and cared for her beloved dog, Tammy. The untimely death of Gary's father, David Riegert, Jr., on July 2, 1962, brought them back to the family farm to help his mother, Helen. They later purchased the farm from Helen after she had a stroke. While living on the farm, Mary worked along side her husband taking care of the family, farm, and livestock. It was also here, that the couple welcomed their three oldest children. David William was born in 1962, Myra Lynn in 1963, and Lorelei Ann in 1965. After leaving the farm in December 1971, the family moved to Jeffery City, WY, where Gary worked for his father-in-law at Coats and Sons Motor Company and Mary helped clean motels at the Coats Motel. Around this time, Mary also developed a love of bowling and crafts, especially ceramics. She enjoyed time with family and friends. During their time there, they added sons, Shawn Lewis and Jason Eugene to the family in March of 1974. In August 1974, the family moved to Casper, WY, where the couple built the family home. While living there, their youngest son, Michael Robert, was surprisingly added to the family tree in August of 1975. During her many years in Casper, Mary worked as a homemaker, an avid Avon Lady for approximately 40 years, and other various clerical jobs. She was a member of Boyd Avenue Baptist Church since 1980, where she participated in many programs including: Women's Missionary Union, Acteens, V Group, Sunday School Director, and choir member. She loved her church family very much. She was an avid bowler participating in local, state, and national bowling tournaments. She had an average in the 170-180"s at times. Despite her rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis, she continued to bowl, having bowling balls specially drilled to accommodate her challenges with the disease, until she was no longer physically capable of bowling. Mary loved sports and was a New York Yankees fan until she became a Colorado Rockies fan in 1993. She cheered for the Denver Broncos for many years. Later in life, she developed a love for NASCAR, being a Jimmie Johnson (48) fan. She and Gary also hosted exchange students from Mexico, Brazil, and Japan even traveling to share our great country with exchange students. Family was always important to Mary. She even had grandchildren stay with her and Gary, as they loved having family around. Additionally important to her were her dogs with her beloved Abby remaining one of her driving forces after Gary's death. After Gary retired in 2004, the two loved traveling to see friends and family. They enjoyed watching NASCAR, even attended some races with youngest son, Michael, and his late wife, Mandy. They also attended some sporting events with oldest son, David, and wife, Valerie. She is survived by children, David William (Valerie), Myra Lynn Deobald (John L.), Shawn Lewis (Tomi), Jason Eugene (Joanna), Michael Robert (Mary); sister, Thelma Sharleen Jones (Frances); brother, William D. Coats (Nola); twelve grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Gary Lee Riegert; daughter, Lorelei Ann Russell; her parents, William Absalom Coats and Dorothy Jean (Earl) Coats; brother, Wendell Robert Coats; two granddaughters and one great-grandson. Services are planned on Saturday, December 31, 2016, at Boyd Avenue Baptist Church at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to Meals on Wheels, Boyd Avenue Baptist Church Building Fund, or Central Wyoming Hospice in her memory.

Service

Saturday, December 31, 2016 11:00am

Boyd Avenue Baptist Church

1930 Boyd Avenue

Casper, Wyoming 82604