Mary Missey

Mary "Millie" Mildred Missey (nee Snell), Wiya Haska (Tall Woman), left to be with the Lord on December 5, 2023. Mary was born to Richard Snell and Carrie Lemon on the 11th of June, 1924 (possibly 1923) at the former townsite called Brookside, Montana, the 6th child of ten. Mary grew up in Little Warm before leaving to attend school at Flandreau Indian School. She always spoke of her former Flandreau roommate, Velma Gardipee Flansburg.

After graduating from Flandreau, Mary went on to work in the shipyards during World War II. She was very proud to speak of her time working in the shipyards, especially being that these were roles considered non-traditional for women at the time. It was at this time she also met her first husband, Ezra Carrywater, whom she would marry and have two sons, Daley and Clayton. Mary would later get remarried to Earl R. Missey, Sr. and have Earl, Jr. and her only daughter, Margaret.

Mary would continue her education and receive an associate degree in human services from Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. She would then work for the Washington State Department of Health and Human Services before moving to Denver, Colorado, where she would continue to work in the Health and Human Services field until her and her husband Earl would then buy a gas station and become small business owners.

Mary lived her life devoted to the Lord and was a long-time minister. Her time in the ministry took her all over the US and to Canada and Mexico. She would hold many prayer meetings in her home and the homes of friends. For a short time, she was the pastor at the Hays Assembly of God Church. Whenever asked, Mary was always willing to offer a prayer to those that needed it.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Carrie (Lemon) Snell, husbands Ezra Steven Carrywater and Earl Robert Missey, Sr.; sons Daley Carrywater and Earl Robert Missey, Jr.; grandson Jaycee Carrywater; siblings Mabel Snell, Elmer Snell, Arthur Snell, Everett Snell, Ada Buckman, Erma Bear, Carl Snell, Ross Snell, Sr. and June Hunter.

She is survived by her son Clayton Carrywater of Spokane Washington and daughter Margaret (Robert) Fox of Hays, Montana; grandchildren: Robert (Karla) Missey of Cement, Oklahoma; Clayton D. Carrywater of Spokane, WA; Richard Fox of Billings, MT; Robert E. (Ashley) Fox of Rocky Boy, MT; her only granddaughter Mandi (Seth) Fox of Malta, MT; great-grandchildren: Tyler, Sean, Elizabeth, Devin, Koby, Alexis, Peyton, Shirayne, Nina, Etsy, Karyia and Quentynn, and several great-great grandchildren with one on the way; numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, and those that she considered brothers and sisters through Jesus Christ. Please forgive us if we forgot anyone, it is not intentional.

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