Mary Lou Brophy

Mary Lou Pickering Brophy was born June 6th, 1936, on the Troublesome in Grand County,Colorado.  Both of her parents were from Middle Park pioneer families. She attended school in Kremmling and graduated from Kremmling Union High School in 1954.  Mary Lou continued her education at Colorado Teachers College at Greeley to earn a bachelor’s degree in Home Economics. She then taught in Stratton,NE, for 2 years.

From Nebraska,she came home to Colorado to marry her first husband Wallace Reynolds. The children from this marriage are Ronda and Rance Reynolds. She later taught at Kremmling Union High School. After she and Wallace divorced,she moved to Me Clave,Colorado,and taught for several years at the Junior/Senior High School there.  During that time, she worked to earn a Master’s Degree in Vocational Education from CSU.

After earning her Master’s degree,she moved again,this time,to Wray,Colorado. In Wray, Mary Lou worked in the Extension Office as a Youth and Home Economics agent. While in Wray, she met and married the love of her life, Desmond Brophy. By marrying Des, she increased her family tremendously, including six step children, whom she treated like her own. Also,Des has some 50 first cousins and multiple nieces and nephews.

After her retirement,they spent many years pursuing their mutual passions­ rodeo,fishing,hunting, and playing cards. Mary Lou “chauffeured” Des around in their motor home,following these interests and visiting their many friends and relatives.  Since 1985 they have been to all of the National FinalRodeos in Las Vegas,never missing a performance.  Their love of rodeo extends to never having missed the NationalFinals for the Professional Bull Riders,since its beginning in 1992.  They also had perfect attendance at the PBR events in Denver.

Mary Lou was a person with many passions throughout her life. In recent years she spent many hours,researching oil and gas leasing practices. Her expertise of these laws resulted in her testifying at the State Legislature,and serving on the Colorado Royalty Owner’s board of directors.  Many oil and gas executives will not soon forget encountering Mary Lou and getting an ear full of her ideas.

Some of her other  favorite times were going hunting and fishing.  She also loved pheasants,and watching for them to come into her yard.  All the local pheasants knew they would always be safe there,as  many hunters (including Des, Randy, and Todd) will testify.

Mary Lou is survived by her husband,Desmond Brophy of Wray,Colorado; daughter, Ronda Reynolds Meyers  (Richard), of Hot Sulphur Springs,Colorado; son, Rance Reynolds,of Wray,Colorado;grandchildren,Pamela Peterson, (Richard),of Fargo,North Dakota;Amelia and Simon Nichols,both of Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado;sister,Nancy Pickering Earl (Gary),of Wray,Colorado;aunts Katherine  Pickering, Loveland,Colorado and Frances Pickering,of Kiowa, Colorado. Mary Lou is also survived by Desmond’s six children,Jackie,Doug, Todd,Tracey,Paula,and Tom,who through the years have become like her own as well as all of the grandchildren and great grandchildren. Plus,there  are numerous nieces,nephews,and cousins.

She was preceded  in death by parents Clyde Becker Pickering and Gertrude Olson Pickering;brother,Donald Perry Pickering; sister,Terry Pickering Edmonds,and niece,Brenda  Earl Maclennan.

Mary Lou Brophy, 76 passed away July 16, 2012 in Wray, Colorado. Funeral services were held on Saturday, July 21, 2012 at the Wray Elks Lodge in Wray, Colorado at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Norman Stott officiating.  Interment was in the Grandview Cemetery in Wray, Colorado following services. Memorials may be made to the Hospice of the Plains, P.O. Box 365, Wray, Colorado 80758. Spellman-Schmidt Funeral Home in Wray, Colorado is in charge of arrangements.