Mary Maynard McWilliams
A witty, kind, feisty, beautiful, and loving mother of three—Mary Elizabeth Maynard McWilliams tragically passed away on Friday, November 4, 2022. She was 32 years old.
Born in Helena on January 5, 1990, to Robin Maynard and Bud Wooten, Mary attended Helena Schools and studied at Helena College.
Mary married Mike “Chopper” McWilliams on July 25, 2021.
Her originality knew no bounds. She crocheted and stitched fabulous designs for her daughter Harper’s wardrobe and for anyone else fortunate enough to receive one of her amazing creations. She played the banjo and loved a good read and a good hike.
Mary bartended at Jester’s Bar on Rodney St., where she was beloved by her customers, coworkers, and many friends.
Predeceasing Mary were her mother, Robin Maynard; maternal grandparents, Don Maynard and Joanne Maynard; and paternal grandparents, Carl “Big Bud” Wooten and Maggie A. Wooten.
Surviving Mary are her husband, Mike “Chopper” McWilliams; her father, Bud Wooten; her children, Desmond Countryman, Max Countryman, and Harper Stobie; her brothers, Brian Boettger, Mike Woodall, Jeremy Wooten, and Carl “Buddy” Wooten III; her niece, Christina Boettger, and nephew, Eric Boettger; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Mary’s two closest friends were her “sister from another mister,” Cynthia, and her “brother from another mother,” Jonny.
A gathering to celebrate Mary’s life is scheduled for Saturday, November 19, at 11:00 a.m. at the Great Northern Hotel in the banquet rooms by the back entrance. A wake for Mary will be held at Jester’s Bar on Rodney St. that night at 8:00 p.m.
To contribute to a “Go Fund Me” account in Mary’s name to be used for funeral expenses and her children’s future needs, go to gofundme.com and search for Mary McWilliams.
When a person dies he only appears to die. He is still very much alive in the past, so it is very silly for people to cry at his funeral. All moments, past, present and future, always have existed, always will exist. It is just an illusion we have here on Earth that one moment follows another one, like beads on a string, and that once a moment is gone it is gone forever. —Kurt Vonnegut
Service Schedule
Social Gathering
11:00 a.m.
Saturday November 19, 2022
Great Northern Hotel in the banquet rooms by the back entrance
835 Great Northern Blvd
Helena,
Service Schedule
Social Gathering
11:00 a.m.
Saturday November 19, 2022
Great Northern Hotel in the banquet rooms by the back entrance
835 Great Northern Blvd
Helena,
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Paddy Ferriter says
Such sad news. I am truly sorry for your loss. Peace to the Maynards and McWilliams’. Paddy Ferriter
John Matthews says
So very sorry to learn of Mary’s unfortunate passing. I moved from Helena in 1961. Although we are distantly related, I had never met her. Her grandmother and I were cousins. Mary sounds like a terrific mother, and family member. Her obit certainly testifies to that! John Matthews
Kaycee Lynn Woodward says
She was a very cool person and will be missed.
Daniel Mack says
Mike and family:
Devastated to learn of this. I am so sorry for your loss, and simple words can never fill the void left with a loved one’s departure. When a life companion leaves us, I can only say that while the human body is mortal, with each lost companion I am only more convinced that while these fragile bodies certainly will fail us, spirit, love and friendship are eternal and will always remain a very essential part of our soul, our lives and our very being. And we a part of theirs. May you find shelter in the prayers, love and white light those that love you surround you with now. I am so so very sorry.
Daniel Mack
Judy Trevor says
I had lost track of Mary over the years and am so saddened to read of her death. She was smart, clever but hard to know in my sixth grade class at CRA. Years later I ran into her a couple times and wanted to befriend her but she wasn’t receptive. She seemed so strong but I felt she was hurting. I wont forget Mary.
Chuck says
i am totally shocked. Much too young to pass on! Anyway, i was trying to look Mary up to share a way she might share her late Mom’s artwork, for free (www.sito.org), and that’s how i stumbled across this news. I remember Mary in her Mom’s words to me, shared in letters over the years (from, like 1986). I remember that her Mom used to worry that she would get pregnant “too young” and worked hard to try to block her from being even wilder as a teenager than she (her Mom) was! I recall a photo of a painting she did about Mary that Robin sent me. I met Mary once, when i was showing my artwork in downtown Missoula, a year before her Mom passed on. I remember her guyfriend at the time (soon to be her hubbie?), sporting a most unusual bushy beard, or was it a mustache? Mary’s son (i don’t recall his name) actually remembered me and called out to me when he saw me (i had met him when visiting Robin). Far out! (i was bicycling thru MT, heading back west, after visiting Robin for a few weeks) …i wish all of her family the best…and wonder if Mary ever painted. Or whether there are any more artists in the Maynard family?? Maybe you can post their art at that link i put up above???