Mary Mills

Mary Ann Mills, 55, of Thermopolis, Wyo., passed away suddenly at her home on Tuesday, June 16, 2015.   

Mary was born In Chicago, Ill., on June 15, 1960, to Jim and Tuck Mills. Mary, Jim and Tuck's first child, was the eldest of five girls.

 Mary grew-up in Chicago and attended St. Margaret Mary's Elementary School and St. Scholastica High School graduating in 1978. While in school, Mary was an incredible athlete earning many awards and honors in both swimming and volleyball. 

 Mary was awarded an art scholarship to attend college, but chose to follow her parents to Thermopolis in the summer of 1978. Mary's future husband Daniel Grissom came along for the ride and in 1979, they were married. Mary and Danny had two children together: Kelly born in 1980 and Michael in 1984. Mary and Dan divorced, but remained great friends until his death in 1998.

Mary followed in her father's footsteps choosing to work in the hotel industry. She held just about every position and in 2010 was named General Manager of the Day's Inn. Mary's love for people and travel made her a natural fit for her life in the hospitality industry. People all over Wyoming would stop in for a hug and to hear her laugh and listen to her stories.

 Mary understood the importance of balancing work with play and enjoyed her life to the fullest. She loved to fish, hunt, and sit around a campfire. Mary solidified her love of hunting when she went with her parents on her first African Safari in 2000. She quickly became a frequent flier-- hunting and fishing all over the globe. She was most happy in a blind, a boat, or a camp chair.  

 Mary was a woman without a mean bone in her body:  a warm,friendly gal who made her mark on the world --not with grand gestures or fancy titles, but by the basic goodness and generosity of her character. 

 She is survived by her parents; Jim and Tuck Mills of Thermopolis; her children Kelly and Michael Grissom of Raleigh; grandchildren, Daniel, Mason, and baby Grissom; sisters: Patty (John) Batenhorst of Jackson, Kelly (Jim) Wagner of Rock Springs, Tracy (Neal) McDonald of Billings, and Jamey (Ken) Nielsen of Lander; and numerous nephews, nieces, cousins, aunts and uncles. Mary also leaves behind her true soul mate and the love of her life Christopher Soltzer who she has been with since 2002.

 Services were held on Monday, June 22, 2015, with a Catholic Mass at St. Francis Church in Thermopolis, Wyo. Father Hugo Blosky officiated. A Rosary Vigil was held on Sunday, June 21. A private family burial followed at Riverside Cemetery.

 In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Mary's favorite charities;  Backpacks for Children or the Relay for Life.