Grace Purvis McGary

Posted

(Feb. 11, 1922 - Feb. 10, 2017)

Grace Purvis McGary, of Cody, died at West Park Hospital’s Long Term Care Center on Feb. 10, 2017, surrounded by her family. She was 94 and 364 days old.

Grace was born on Feb. 11, 1922, in Cody, to Henry and Frances Purvis. She married Guy Kalian on Oct. 13, 1945. They moved to Vancouver, Washington, where she worked as a secretary at Fruit Valley School and Minnehaha School. She had three daughters in Vancouver: Sue, Vicky and Carol.

In 1964, they moved back to Cody where Henrietta was born. Guy and Grace divorced in 1966.

She married John McGary in 1967. She worked at the McGary Family Ranch, Salt Creek Freight Ways, Credit Bureau of Cody, and finally retiring from Celotex in 2001.

She was a member of the Irma Flat Mother’s Club and a lifetime member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary.

She was always a loving grandma, and her home on South Fork was open to anyone who stopped by. She will always be known as Grandma Grace to many kids.

Her favorite fruit was chocolate. Grace loved going to the Thorofare with her mom and dad, always talking about her younger days in hunting camps.

She will truly be missed by her family and friends.

Grace was preceded in death by her husband John, father, mother, two brothers, and one grandson.

She is survived by her four daughters: Sue (Gary) Packard, Vicky Mulholland, Carol (Merlin) Hill, and Henrietta McGary; 10 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; 23 great-great-grandchildren, and countless other family and friends.

Visitation will be at Ballard Funeral Home on Tuesday, Feb. 14, from 5-7 p.m. Graveside services will take place at Bull Creek Cemetery (up South Fork) on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 2 p.m.

An online memorial is available at www.ballardfh.com.

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