Mary Ann Kathleen Bair

Mary Ann Kathleen (Thomas) Bair, beloved wife, mother, grandma and grammy passed away on Friday, October 11, 2024, at home surrounded by her family. 

Mary Ann was born on November 4, 1939, in Rock Springs, Wyoming, the only child of Mary and Ellsworth Thomas. She graduated from Rock Springs High School in 1957. Mary Ann met David M. Bair at the Mountain Bell Telephone Office in Rock Springs, in 1959 and they were married June 25, 1961 at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church.  This began a life of love and dedication to one another, family, friends and to the Catholic parishes in the communities where they lived. 

Mary Ann and David began their married lives in Rock Springs; through David’s transfers with Mountain Bell, they lived in Jackson, Riverton and finally Cheyenne where they have lived and raised their family for the past 55 years. 

Mary Ann was very proud of her time as a telephone operator and supervisor, from 1957 to 1963. Although, she left a wonderful career with Mt. Bell, her hard work, dedication and passion for helping others was only beginning. Mary Ann volunteered in her girls’ schools as room mother as well as in their classrooms, the school office and anywhere else she was needed. She volunteered at the hospital and at the Church. She and David served as high school youth ministers at St. Margaret’s Church in Riverton and Mary Ann taught second, third and fourth grade CCD classes for many,many years in the Holy Trinity CCD program. She was a member of the St. Mary’s Cathedral Guild and the Cheyenne Bishop’s Guild, serving as President for both organizations. In fact, she spent so much time at the Church, Monsignor O’Neil offered her a job in the Rectory Office where she worked for over 20 years. After retiring, Mary Ann volunteered in the first-grade classrooms at St. Mary’s school, until the retirement of first grade teacher, Karen Robblee. One of Mary Ann’s greatest joys was her trip to Rome with other members of St. Mary’s parish to attend the ordination of Bishop Ricken as Bishop of Cheyenne.

Mary Ann and David made the most of their retirement spending summers camping and fishing with family and friends as well as  travels to Alaska, Germany, Rome and Hawaii. They enjoyed several cruises; most notably an Alaskan cruise they shared with over 30 friends and family for their 50th anniversary.

Mary Ann was a dedicated Wyoming Cowboy fan, even in the loosing years! She absolutely loved Cowboy basketball and attended every home game or listened to every game on the radio when it became too difficult to travel to Laramie. The Conference basketball tournament was one of her favorite trips; especially in the years where the tournament was held at a different university each year. This was a time to meet up with friends, enjoy a lot of basketball and wonderful dinners out.

Mary Ann is survived by her devoted husband of 63 years, David; daughters DeAnn Eisenhart and husband Mark, Barbara Horton and husband, Jeff. Her grandchildren, Mari (Jason) Eisenhart, Abigail (Mark) Mitchell, Zachary Urban (Jessica), Jace Horton, Michelle Horton, Charlyne Horton (Jerry), and Hunter Horton. She was blessed with six great- grandchildren: Emma, Logan and Matthew Eisenhart, Pyke DeSantis, River and Zev Mitchell.  These “precious babies”, as she called her great-grand children, brought Mary Ann hours of joy and filled her cup on her most difficult days. She is also survived by sisters-in-law, Joline Osborn, Louise (Bill) Lowe, Leslie Nutting, Judy Bair (Curtis), as well as numerous nieces, nephews.

An Irish spitfire, our mom was one of the strongest, most tenacious and strong- willed women we know. She was never one to complain and most people had no idea how very ill our mom had become and for how many years she had been ill. It is difficult to say good-bye, but our faith gives us the hope we will be together again.

Mary Ann is preceded in death by her parents, Ellsworth and Mary Thomas, beloved uncle, Michael Wright, in-laws, Catherine and M. Donald Bair, and grandson, Joseph Eisenhart. The Vigil for the Deceased will take place Wednesday, October 16th at 5:00 pm in Lakeview Chapel at Schrader’s Funeral Home. Funeral Liturgy will be held Thursday, October 17th, 10:00 am at the Cathedral of St. Mary. Interment will be at 1:00 pm in the National Cemetery, Cheyenne, WY.