Mary Evelyn Simonson

Mary Evelyn Simonson, daughter of Franklin W. David and Catharine (Tressler) David was born December 13, 1933 in Rosedale, Pennsylvania as one of 10 children, passed away at the age of 90 on April 11, 2024 at Central Wyoming Hospice in Casper, WY.

Mary completed her primary education in Pennsylvania moving to Wyoming at the age of 13 and graduated in 1951 from Thermopolis, WY High School where she met her future husband, Wayne E. Simonson, while working in the school cafeteria. Upon graduation, Mary moved to Denver, CO for a year where she attended secretarial school. She returned to Wyoming where she married Wayne and they moved to Gebo, Wyoming in 1953. They were married for 55 years until Wayne passed away in 2009.

Wayne was drafted into the Army where he served in Anchorage, Alaska on Elmendorf Air Force Base. This was where they welcomed their first child Kathy. Upon discharge the family moved to Laramie, Wyoming where he completed his Bachelor's Degree in Education from the University of Wyoming and he started his teaching career. While in Laramie they had David and Douglas where Mary frugally managed the household and finances. Wayne later received a Master's Degree in Education at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Wayne started his career as a Vocational Education Teacher at the Glenrock High School,where Mary landscaped her first yard and garden. They moved to Casper where Wayne taught at CY Junior High and Kelly Walsh High School over a period of 31 years and retired from Kelly Walsh High School at the age of 57. During those years in Casper as a homemaker, Mary earned an Associates Degree in English and a minor in Spanish. She took great pride in supporting her children in their achievement of college degrees.

Mary was an astute real estate investor making numerous real estate investments over the years. Purchasing, constructing, remodeling, and landscaping numerous projects to supplement their income. She worked for several years as a volunteer at the Casper Humane Society because of her extreme fondness for cats. Later in life Wayne and Mary enjoyed traveling to Texas and Arizona in the winter. Other hobbies that she enjoyed were playing games with the family, knitting, quilting, cross-stitching, sewing, landscaping, and gardening.

Survived by siblings, Roger (Majel) David, Lois (Steve) Silvia, and Sue David; children; Kathy David, David Simonson (Dee Anne), and Douglas Simonson all of Casper, Wyoming. She was also survived by grandchildren: Sunshine Bon (husband Adam McKinnie), Jeremy Bon (wife Audrey), David Bon (wife Kelly) Emily Clarke (husband Chris), Joel Simonson (wife Kate), and Bethany Simonson. Great-grandchildren: Lazarus Gerardy, Claire, Declan and Liam Clarke, Henry, Lily, and Georgia Bon, Julian Bon, and Logan Simonson.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings; Richard David, Walter (Shorty) David, Wilbert (Tinker) David, Robert David, Melvin David, Kenneth David and Arthur David.

Services will be held at Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church, Sunday, April 21st at 12:30 pm followed by a reception in the fellowship hall. A private burial will take place on Monday. Memorials in her memory, in lieu of flowers, may be made to Casper Humane Society, 849 East E St., Casper, WY 82601.

To share a memory of Mary or leave a special message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.