Cloudy, 27° F
Mary Rebecca Kysar-Scott passed away at the age of 92 on Sept. 25, 2018, at the Powell Valley Healthcare Center.
She was born to George and Leta Gibson on Nov. 2, 1925, in Casper. She was the big sister to brothers Dave, Rodney and Greg Gibson.
She married Joe Kysar on Aug. 30, 1940. They traveled the oil patch for a few years and then settled on the Kysar homestead on the “north end” of Powell where they farmed until 1980. Through the years they had six children and the “Kysar farm” became home to many other kids who landed there and didn’t want to leave. She was an outstanding cook, and as her many grandkids would say, her cookies were “the best damn cookies.” You never left Mary Kysar’s home hungry as she could whip up a meal for a king in no time at all.
She loved to fish, camp, play bridge and dance! She decided while her kids were still at home to go back to school. She was a busy mother of six, the bookkeeper for the farm — and she obtained her GED and enrolled full-time at Northwest College. She received her associate degree two years later with high grades. She was also one of the first women in the basin to drive a beet truck during the beet harvest season. She loved music and could play the piano by ear and it was amazing to see.
One of her greatest joys in her life was her special little brother Rodney. He was born with Down Syndrome and she made sure that he had the best of care at all times. He loved to come to “Mary’s house” and he always said that his sister Mary was “just right”.
Joe passed away in 1980 and Mary moved to town. She married Marion Baxter on Jan. 3, 1983. They enjoyed woodworking, dancing and traveling. Marion passed away on Sept. 28, 1995.
She married Melvin Scott in 1998 and he passed away in January 2017.
She was preceded in death by her late husband Joe Kysar; son Larry Kysar; and brothers David and Rodney Gibson.
She is survived by her daughters Kelly (Jim) Cooley of Powell and Becky Christensen of Sheridan, her sons Mike (Linda) Kysar of Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, Jim (Pam) Kysar of Powell and Tom (Barb) Kysar of Wasilla, Alaska. She is also survived by brother Greg (Joyce) Gibson of Colorado Springs, Colorado.
She adored her 12 wonderful grandkids and they adored her as well. Here are some favorite memories and quotes from her grandkids.
• Mary (Niki) Kysar — “Gramma would meet us in Billings every year before school started and buy us new winter coats and a new outfit. I loved her for that.”
• Anne (Tito) Kysar Rodriguez — “When I was little she always bought me a new winter coat. She was always very gracious when we would visit.”
• Nick Frank — “I remember how she would always say it was a blessing when someone died who had been sick or down in some bad way. Maybe it was a premonition.”
• Chad Frank — “She was a great Grandma”
• Robbi (Yancy) Welch — “She always called me ‘Rob a Dob’ — I can hear her to this day calling me that.”
• Jami (Tyson) Shatto — “I remember there was always food on the table no matter the time of day. I fondly remember her chocolate cake, cookies and fried chicken.”
• Aimee (Spencer) Jolley — “I remember Grandma Mary as being one of the most accepting and kind people around.”
• Kasi Kysar — “Grandma let me play dress up with her fur coat and wigs.”
• Quincey (Thomas) Causa and Joe (Jessica) Kysar — “I remember she made the BEST cookies and she always made sure to make some when we came to visit.”
• Tyler (Steven) Cooley — “I loved listening to her play the piano. Grandma was a wonderful friend to me and many others.”
• Valee (Clayton) Cooley-Miller — “She made stellar cookies and always made me chicken strips in a mini fry pot when I stayed with her.”
She was also blessed with 21 great-grandkids and one great-great-grandson.
“She is dancing with the angels.”
