Wilma Fay Marr

Wilma Fay Marr was born July 13, 1925 to Kate (Butler) and Ernest Scott in Castle Rock, CO and as a child moved to the XS Ranch on Crowfoot Valley Road. She attended Castle Rock Elementary and graduated from Douglas County High School in 1943. She attended business school in Denver and worked for the Soil Conservation District of Douglas County and for Stearns-Rogers in Denver. She passed away on March 24, 2018 in Greeley, CO, at the age of 92.

Wilma married her high school sweetheart, Jim Marr, at the Castle Rock Methodist Church on September 9, 1945. Since it was wartime, the wedding was a simple ceremony. Wilma wore her prom dress, while Jim wore his Army Air Corps uniform. The people of Castle Rock, including Mrs. Andrews of the funeral home and Betty Lowell, provided the flowers for the wedding from their own gardens. The newlyweds traveled as far as their gas ration tickets allowed, which was to Yellowstone National Park.

After Jim returned from service in 1946, Wilma and he moved to the XS Ranch and assisted with its management. While raising her four children, Wilma taught at Little Bears Preschool in Castle Rock for 15 years. She was also active in the Methodist Church of Castle Rock, acting as a Sunday school teacher, superintendent of the Vacation Bible School, and co-leader of the Junior Choir. She was a member of Worship Circle, Young Farmers and Homemakers, Eastern Star, and the Columbine chapter of Sweet Adelines.

Her greatest involvement was with Douglas County 4-H. All four of her children were enrolled in 4-H, with projects ranging from sewing construction to showing cattle, sheep, and hogs. She was also a devoted 4-H sewing leader for 25 years in both Colorado and Idaho, and she was often asked to judge 4-H Sewing Construction and Dress Revue competitions. She passed on 4-H values to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She and Jim were also active in numerous civic affairs around Douglas County. They were especially involved in the Republican Party after Jim was elected County Assessor for one term, and then County Treasurer, a position he held for 26 years.

On the ranch, Wilma shared equally in the demanding work. She helped with calving and singlehandedly managed the herd of sheep in lambing. She loaded hay, drove trucks, and doctored sick cows. In 1981, she and Jim and family moved to the Shoe Sole Ranch near Kimberly, ID. In addition to cattle, they raised crops of beans and sugar beets. After Jim’s death in 1983, she moved to Greeley, CO in 1985, where she worked for 20 years at JoAnn Fabric.

Wilma’s life centered around her family. As well as working on the ranches, she cared for her mother, Kate Scott, during the later years of her life. She taught her daughters and granddaughters to sew, took kids to piano and swimming lessons, and was always a proud parent along with Jim at school events. She also loved music and played the organ. In her later years, she took up oil painting. She has left her family with wonderful memories of a mother who was always there for them.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James Marr, and a granddaughter, Megan Maureen Bryant. She is survived by her four children: Carol (Bob) Bryant of Tie Siding, WY; Patsy White (George Jones) of Greeley, CO; Thomas Marr of Colorado Springs, CO; and Laurie Wasmund (Bill) of Parker, CO; nine grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.