Mary Alice Sjoden, 85, of Saratoga passed away peacefully at home, with her children by her side May 16, 2016. She was born May 30, 1930 to Clarence and Winifred Shaw in Rawlins, Wyo. The family moved to Saratoga, Wyo. in 1935. Mary attended the Saratoga schools graduating from Platte Valley High School in 1948. She was active in band, Glee Club, pep club, dramatics, played softball and basketball, 1947 TAA Queen, chosen for Girls State 1947, editor of PLAVALHI annual, society editor of the Mtn. Echo school newspaper, and bookkeeper for her Dad's business, The Saratoga Truck Line. She was the first Honored Queen of Jobs Daughter's Bethel No. 30. She attended and graduated from Colorado Women's College (CWC) in 1950 with an Associate Degree in Elementary Education. Mary taught third and fourth grades in Encampment for one year and kindergarten in Saratoga one year. She married Carl R. Sjoden November 10, 1951. She and Carl had two children. While the kids were growing up, she was a Brownie and Girl Scout leader, room mother for various elementary grades, helped with strep throat screenings in the 1960s, substitute taught, and was Guardian for Job's Daughters Bethel No. 30. Mary was a worship leader and member of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, charter member of the Cherokee Trail chapter of the Wyoming Archaeology Society, Past Matron and sixty-seven year member of Saratoga Chapter No. 12, Order of the Eastern Star, Past President and fifty year member of American Legion Auxiliary Unit No. 54, Member of the Past President's Parlay, Saratoga Museum docent for ten years, and charter member of The Dish Club. She enjoyed playing bridge and cards, rock hunting, painting, sewing, reading, music, dishes, and loved to dance. She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl; parents, Clarence and Winifred; brothers, Frank and Jock; sisters-in-law, Joan Shaw, Yvonne Shaw York and Elsie Sjoden Hooper; brother-in-law, Dr. Gerald Hooper; nieces, Patricia and Terri Shaw; and nephews, Jock and Steve Shaw.
She is survived by her children, Karlene Sjoden and Randy (Donna) Sjoden; nieces, Sue (John) Getty, Peggy (Bill) Shrader, Sally Bates, Karen Shaw and Mary (Bill) Harp; nephews, Gary (Shannon) Hooper and Ron (Bonnie) Hooper; and great nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Memorial and Eastern Star Services will be held at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Saratoga Friday, May 20 at 1 p.m., with a reception to follow.
Tributes and condolences may be offered online at http://www.carboncountyfuneralhome.com.
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