Mary Anna Boyd McGovern
Big Horn Co., MT

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Mary Anna Boyd McGovern

 Mary Anna Boyd McGovern, 80, died Monday, Jan. 26, at Aspen
 Meadows after a brave battle with Parkinson's Disease.

 Mary Anna was born Aug. 28, 1917, in Sheridan, Wyo., the daughter
 of Johnston R. and Cecile K. Phillips Boyd. She was educated at
 Sewickly Academy in Pennsylvania, Sheridan High School, as well as
 Montana State College at Bozeman.

 She met her future husband, Harold Vincent McGovern, at a country
 dance hall in Sheridan and they were married Aug. 27, 1938, at her
 father's ranch home southwest of Wyola. They honeymooned in the
 Big Horn Mountains on horseback. They ranched there until ill health
 forced a move to Billings in 1959. They thoroughly enjoyed camping
 and fishing on the Yellowtail and Cooney Dam.

 Mary Anna was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother and will be
 sorely missed. Her grandchildren were the delight of her life, and she
 loved them around her.

 She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold in August, 1994,
 and her brother, Johnston Phillips (Sonny) Boyd in November, 1993.
 She is survived by a daughter, Letha M. Johannes, a son, James B.
 McGovern and wife, Peggy, all of Billings. Grandchildren include
 Christine and Joe Willoughby, Billings; Cameron and Barbara Curry,
 Escondido, Calif.; Lara McGovern, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Joel
 Johannes, San Diego, Calif.; Brian V. McGovern, Austin, Texas; Ronda
 and Ryan Hogg, Fayetteville, N.C.; Mark J. McGovern, U.S. Navy in
 Orlando, Fla.; and AFS granddaughter, Grisell Mojica, Panama City,
 Panama. She is also survived by five great-grandchildren, Kayla
 Willoughby; Jordan, Elizabeth and Kate Curry; and Taryn Johannes.

 She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and First
 Congregational Church in Billings.

                         Don't grieve for me now I'm free

                    I'm following the path God laid for me

                    I took His hand when I heard Him call

                          I turned my back and left it all.

                             I could not stay another day

                        To laugh, to love, to work or play.

                     Tasks left undone must stay that way

                 I found that peace at the close of the day.

                             If my parting has left a void

                        Then fill it with remembered joy,

                       A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss

                      Ah yes, these things I too will miss.

                    Be not burdened with times of sorrow

                     I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.

                       My life's been full, I savored much.

              Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.

                     Perhaps my time seemed all too brief

                    Don't lengthen it now with undue grief

                  Lift up your heart and share it with me.

                      God wanted me now; He set me free.

 Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 30, at Michelotti, Sawyers
 & Nordquist, Pastor E. Lynn Howe officiating. Interment will be in
 Sunset Memorial Gardens.