Marie O'Lena Stephenson

Marie Stephenson left this earthly domain and presented herself at the Gates of Heaven on January 23, 2015. Marie O'Lena Stephenson was born October 31, 1929 to Charles and Gladys Wilson Stephenson, in Savannah, Georgia. Her maternal grandparents, Robert W. Wilson and Nellie Brewer Wilson, were very early Campbell County pioneers and homesteaded the L Quarter Circle Ranch north of Gillette. Marie grew up in Savannah, but she and her sisters spent summers on the ranch with their grandfather. After graduation from high school, Marie and her mother, Gladys, moved onto the family ranch full-time. Gladys and Marie ran the ranch until Gladys' death in 1983 when Marie took over sole ownership and management. In August of 2014, Marie was very proud to travel to the State Fair with her family to receive a Wyoming Centennial Ranch Award honoring ranches that have been owned and operated by the same family for over 100 years. Marie spent her adult life ranching. Fiercely independent, she eschewed marriage and chose instead to tend horses and cattle and the land she loved. She called the ranch the Sunshine Valley. When Marie wasn't fixing fence, chopping ice, rounding up cattle, or repairing machinery around the ranch, she enjoyed bowling at Camel Lanes. She played for years on the Stockman's Bank team, and once celebrated a perfect game. Marie loved music, and taught herself guitar so she could sing the songs of the Sons of the Pioneers. She had a lovely voice and sang in the First Presbyterian Church choir and was a member of Sweet Adeline's. She was also a poet, writing poems on many subjects, but mostly expressing her faith in the Lord. For a number of years, Marie owned a motor home and traveled around the country with friends and family. Marie had an active curiosity about life, always asking questions about how things worked and what was going on in the world. She had a genuine interest in people of all kinds. If you were anywhere in the presence of Marie, whether it was a business transaction, at church, or standing next to her in line at the post office, you would soon be talking with her. Marie was adventurous and brave, and never believed she couldn't figure out a way to fix something or get something done. Marie laughed easily and had a keen eye for the beauty in all of God's creation. Marie was a long time member of First Presbyterian Church in Gillette. Marie is survived by her sister Edythe Stephenson Wise and brother-in-law, Robert Wise, of Spartanburg, South Carolina; her niece and nephew in South Carolina, Ange Wise Pickens (Jim) and Robert Wise, Jr; her niece and nephew in Wyoming, Jerry Thornton (Karen) and Nancy Carman (Mark). She is also survived by grandnieces and nephews, James Pickens(Kendall), Bert Pickens(Suzanne), Edy Pickens Levin (Danny), Robert Wise II, Aimee Marie Wise, Adam Thornton, Kate Thornton Belinda(Steve), Chan Elizabeth Carman, Macy Anne Carman, and Drew Margaret Carman, and seven great great grand nieces and nephews. Marie is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Gladys Stephenson Thornton, and her twin sister, Mary Orissa Stephenson, who died at birth. The family asks that memorials may be made to the Rockpile Museum, Gillette, Wyoming in Marie's name. Memorials and condolences may also be sent in the families name 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