Mary Halstead

Mary Lou Halstead, 78, passed away on Dec. 6 from advanced Alzheimer's disease. Known to her friends and family as “M.L.,” she gracefully accepted the diagnosis that came on her 70th birthday. But she continued throughout the following eight years to convey her love and appreciation to those whose lives touched hers. Mary Lou was born on Oct. 21, 1933, in Olean, N.Y., to William and Mary Kadian. As a young teen, she cared for her mother who passed away from multiple sclerosis. Not long after, she was smitten by the dashing “older man” across the street who asked her out on a date. She married that man – Charles “Chuck” Halstead -- on June 28, 1952. She was 18, he was 25. Because she was an only child, M.L. always dreamt of having a large family of her own. Together she and Chuck had four children – two sons and two daughters -- who were raised at their home in Corning, N.Y. Early in her married life, Mary Lou took pride maintaining her home and raising her children. As the kids grew older, her part-time job as a Welcome Wagon hostess seemed to satisfy her lifelong craving to meet new people. Later she worked as a secretary at Corning Glass Works, a position she considered one of the highlights of her life. M.L. had a passion for travel – from her backpacking trips in the West to her international travels with Chuck to the college spring break she spent camping with her daughters. She was especially excited to move to Montana after retirement, where she and Chuck felt so lucky to find their property in Columbus. In 1985, they helped build their own home there, with Mary Lou taking charge of the rough wiring. She was active in her adopted community, volunteering at the Sillwater County Library and Project Hope. Anyone who knew Mary Lou also knew of her lifelong love of fishing -- from angling for bullheads in the “brick pond” near her home in Olean to casting her line for trout in the Stillwater River. She loved the outdoors and she loved to walk, so much so that for years she trekked three miles every day to pick up the newspaper at the end of the road. Her interests and skills were many. We can picture her in the living room, swinging to jazzy music, and we remember her always behind the camera, chronicling the family's travels. She loved to write detailed letters in longhand but enthusiastically switched to a computer and email in more recent years. She took special pride in having published in the Montana Magazine an article about her grandchildren's fishing adventure on the Stillwater. With her Irish heritage, Mary Lou loved gatherings, practical jokes (powdering her hair gray on the day she turned 30) and gag gifts at Christmas. Always upbeat and outgoing, even when diagnosed with Alzheimer's she remarked how “lucky” she was that at least it would not involve pain. Mary Lou was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by Chuck, who cared for her throughout her illness; and children Chip (Kristi) of Wilsonville, Ore.; Linda Halstead-Acharya (Bharat) of Columbus; Nancy Coates (Jim) of Glenwood, N.M., and Bill of Newark, N.Y. She is also survived by grandchildren Josh, Erin, Dylan, Akku, Jasi, Milagre and Harrison. The Halstead family gives special thanks to caregivers Jennifer Bruce, Shalomar Rangitsch and Jackie Tibbedeaux, who went above and beyond the call of duty as they assisted Chuck in caring for Mary Lou in their home. Thanks also go to Donna McClure of Riverstone Health Hospice Services for her comfort during Mary Lou's final days. Service: The family will respect Mary Lou's specific wishes during a memorial service to be held at a later date.