| Graduation Year | Class of 1958 |
| Date of Birth | Dec 05, 1938 |
| Date of Passing | Dec 02, 2001 |
| About | Mary Sue Armstrong Hemphill died Sunday, December 2, 2001, at Steele Memorial Hospital from cancer. She was born December 5, 1938 to Oscar and Martha Armstrong at Basalt, Idaho. Mary’s mother had pneumonia when she was born and her oldest sister and husband, who lived in Pocatello, took care of her for the first few weeks. Mary and her family moved to Salmon, Idaho in 1948 when she was in the third grade and received her education in Salmon. They lived on the Fox Ranch where she spent most of her time on the back of an old white horse. She loved all animals, especially horses. Mary and her brothers and sisters loved to get together with the Davis and Cole kids and swim in the Lemhi River all summer after a hard day at work on the ranches. She lived on the ranch until she married Edward Lewis Hodges on May 5, 1956 at Idaho Falls, Idaho. Mary and Ed had two sons, Edward Lynn Hodges born in August 1956 and Ricky Gene Hodges born in April 1959. She and Ed were later divorced but remained good friends. She married Don Peck, August 2, 1962. They later divorced. She then married David Hemphill in Washington. David, Mary, Eddie and Ricky lived in Cobalt where he was associated with the mine and then moved to Salmon. David died February 26, 1988. Mary married Gordon Wellard, whom she had known through family for years, December 15, 1993. Later they were divorced but still remained friends. Mary worked at the Coffee Shop for 40 years for Irman, Betty and Julie Gott. All of her customers thought she was the their best waitress. She had a lot of out of town customers, along with her loyal town people, and she would always remember them by name and could almost order their food for them. One bunch that came to Salmon every year was from California and would always bring her a fresh garlic bunch. Another group always came up and would take her out for her birthday in December. She was honored one year for the many years of service for the Coffee Shop with a picture and write-up in The Recorder Herald. Mary enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and bird hunting. The only thing she loved better was getting together with her sister and hitting every yard sale in and around Salmon. If you were ever in her home you could see she loved to collect clocks. She had two tiny poodles, Baby One and Baby Two, that she took care of all the grooming. She also had the noisiest bird, she called her “Squawky Gabby.” She always loved to get together with all of her family whenever they were ready. Mary made two trips to Alaska to see Eddie and Annette, and she saw a lot of beautiful country. They fished for halibut to give to all of us. She also loved to go to the Recorder Herald and help Rick put out the paper or collate books, even after her full day at the Coffee Shop. After many years of her arms hurting her, she finally retired from the Coffee Shop, planning on enjoying her beautiful flowers, yard, creek bridge and garden. Little did we know she wouldn’t have a full summer to enjoy it. Mary is survived by two sons: Edward Lynn and wife Annette Hodges, Las Vegas, Nevada and Ricky G. Hodges, Salmon; granddaughters: Kellsie Rose Hodges, Salmon; Tammy Robinson, Anchorage, Alaska; Trina (Aaron) Jefson, Anchorage, Alaska; grandson: Ronnie Talbert, Las Vegas, Nevada; great-grandchildren; Bradley Robinson, Anchorage, Alaska; and Edward Lynn Hodges Robinson, Anchorage, Alaska; brothers and sisters: Lela Johnson, Layton, Utah; Lola (Mick) Andrews, Salmon; Melvin Armstrong, Salmon; Norma (Jay) Wellard, Salmon; Bob (Evelyn) Armstrong, Salmon; Carole (Mike) Cusic, Menan, Idaho; Jack (Mona) Armstrong, Salmon; Verla (LaVar) Hutchison, Salmon; and Verl (Nola) Armstrong, Salmon; along with numerous aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, cousins and friends. Mary was preceded in death by her parents Oscar and Martha Armstrong; two brothers: Don W. Armstrong, Richard S. (Dick) Armstrong and a sister Kady Armstrong Misner. Bishop Weeks will conduct at the services with Hallie J. Proksch providing the prelude and postlude music. Invocation is by Dell Lowe, Mona Armstrong will read the life sketch, and Debra Blood will rad a poem. Sheila Ankrum and Wynn Stokes will sing I Hope There’ll Be Pine Trees In Heaven accompanied by Hallie J. Proksch. Joseph A. Proksch will speak followed by Red River Valley sung by Sheila Ankrum and Wynn Stokes. David Anderson will give the tribute followed by remarks by Bishop Weeks. Kim Wellard Danner will sing Amazing Grace and Coralee Lish will give the Benediction. Pallbearers are Rick Hodges, Edward Hodges, Andy Armstrong, Cory Armstrong, Ken Armstrong, Lonnie Larson, Mike Armstrong and Rulon Wellard. Honorary pallbearers are Melvin Armstrong, Robert Armstrong, Jack Armstrong, Verl Armstrong, Gordon Wellard, Frank Jay Wellard, Edward Hodges, Melvin James Andrews Ralph LaVar Hutchison and Mike Cusic. Burial is in the Salmon Cemetery under the direction of Salmon River Funeral chapel. The Lord’s Prayer is given by Signe Wellard Peterson and dedicatory prayer is by Cory Verl Armstrong. |
| Events | Mary Sue Armstrong Hemphill Birth: Monday, December 5, 1938 Basalt, Bingham County, Idaho Death: Sunday, December 2, 2001 Salmon, Lemhi County, Idaho Age: 62 yrs • 11 mo Married: Hodges, Peck, Hemphill, Wellard Burial: Salmon City Cemetery Salmon, Lemhi County, Idaho Plot #:R • 092 • 01 Memorial ID: 24457710 Cause: Cancer |
