Margaret Joy Saunders

Funeral Services for Margaret Saunders will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 2, 2015 at Family Life Church, Pastor Marty Crum officiating; burial to follow at Mount Pisgah Cemetery. Visitation will be held 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday, June 1, 2015 at Gillette Memorial Chapel. Margaret Joy Saunders, age 83, of Gillette WY, passed away Thursday, May 28, 2015 at Campbell County Memorial Hospital from natural causes. Margaret Joy (Rhode) was born on March 26, 1932 in Gillette to William and Eleanor (Haas) Rhode. Margaret was a lifelong resident of Campbell County. She attended elementary school at the Bundy School in the Pleasantdale area. She graduated from CCHS in 1951. Margaret married the love of her life, Lee Saunders on March 21, 1953 in Overton, NV; they spent the first year of marriage in Coronado, CA where Lee was stationed in the Navy. After Lee's military service, the couple returned to the family homestead in the Savageton community and started the long road of family ranching. In 1960, Margaret and Lee purchased the Smelser Ranch in the Pleasantdale area and continued to expand their livestock business. Margaret was a full-time wife, homemaker, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was a member of Savageton Home Builders, Levi and Lace Square Dance Club, Campbell County Woolgrowers, and Wyoming Cowbells Cattlewomen. Margaret had numerous hobbies and interests that included; cooking, sewing, spending time with her family, gardening, walking and traveling.Margaret (Grandma) will be dearly missed and remembered as a timeless country woman. She instilled in her family a pride in community, and ranching traditions. Margaret loved being a homemaker, but when Lee passed she took on the responsibility of managing their family ranch for over 20 years, while living independently on the property.Margaret is survived by her son; Michael Saunders, daughter; Nora (Bob) Balo, brother; John (Betty) Rhode, sister; Shirley (Walt) Stone, along with 9 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband; Lee Saunders, son; David Saunders, grandson; Jacob Saunders, parents; William and Eleanor Rhode, and brother; William Rhode. In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorials be made in Margaret's name to Savageton Home Builders or Close to Home Hospice House. Memorials and condolences may also be sent in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel 210 West 5th Street, Gillette, WY 82716 or via website: www.gillettememorialchapel.com Funeral Home:Gillette Memorial Chapel210 West Fifth Street Gillette, WYUS 82716