Mary E. Urquhart

Mary Esther (Farver) Urquhart, passed peacefully from this world on Tuesday, April 27th, at the age of 87. A Visitation will be held on TUESDAY, May 4, 2021 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM in The Rose Room Chapel at Croxford Funeral Home. A Funeral Service will be held on WEDNESDAY, May 5th at 1:00 PM at Our Saviors Lutheran Church. A Celebration of Mary's Life will be also be held on her birthday in July.

Mary was born in Scobey, MT to Lavilla Bird and Martin Farver on July 21, 1934. As a young girl, Mary was stricken with rheumatic fever and had to spend her entire 4th-grade year at home. Mary graduated from Scobey High School in 1952 and worked for Solbergs’ Implement dealership in Scobey to save up enough money to attend nursing school at the Columbus Hospital.

It was in Great Falls where she met Duane “Red” Urquhart and they were married on June 9, 1957. They lived on a farm northeast of Great Falls on the Missouri River Breaks, where they farmed for over 50 years and raised their three children. On June 9, 2007, Red and Mary celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary surrounded by family and friends.

Those who knew Mary remember her for her warmth and her sweet, brilliant smile. While Red was often described as "a character," it was Mary who was his anchor and safe harbor. She always brought a sense of peace and comfort to everyone around her and never failed to help lighten the loads and spirits of everyone.

Mary was active in the National Society Daughters of the American Colonists (NSDAC) where she rose in the organization to serve as the Pacific Northwest Vice President, one of only two women from Montana to do so. Following her term as Vice-President, Mary became an Honorary Vice-President and acted as an advisor and elder stateswoman for the administration of several National Presidents of the NSDAC. Mary and Red traveled the country to attend NSDAC events and present awards on behalf of the NSDAC to graduates from West Point and the Air Force Academy.

Mary was always active in the community with Red by her side. Mary and Red were active in events for the Al Bedoo Shrine and Daughters of the Nile, of which they were respectively members. Mary and Red were also active in Republican politics for many years, contributing to numerous candidates and serving on the steering committees for several statewide campaigns.

As the co-owner of the Lewis and Clark Portage campsite with Red, Mary was greatly involved in efforts to locate the campsite, uncover the mysteries of the expedition, and preserve this important piece of history for future generations.

As a result of her bout with rheumatic fever, Mary suffered from lifelong heart problems, but she never let that slow her down or keep her from doing the things that she wanted or needed to do. Family and friends often referred to Mary as the Energizer Bunny because she would just keep going and going. Because of her heart issues Mary considered every day a gift and did all she could to enrich the lives of those around her.

Mary is survived by her sister Marge (Farver) Legare, brother Gerry Farver (Marlys), daughters Pastor Kathleen (Urquhart) Lowery (David), Colleen Urquhart-Fillner (Russ), a son Richard “Dick” Urquhart (Tania), granddaughters Elizabeth Lowery, and DVM (Dr.) Katherine (Lowery) Hanson (Travis), grandson Wesley, and several great-grandchildren.

Mary is preceded in death by Red and an infant son, Wesley; her parents; a sister, Doris Jean Farver, and a brother, Howard Farver.

Condolences may be shared with the family at www.croxfordfuneralhome.com.

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