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The world lost a bright shining star when Viva Ann
"Ty" MacLeod passed away on Friday August 24 after a long and
courageous battle with Alzheimer's Disease.
Ty was born May 12, 1922 in Billings, the daughter
of William "Bill" and Florence Shirley. She attended schools in
Havre, Livingston, Hardin, and The University of Montana in
Missoula. While in High School in Hardin she met the love of her
life, Colin O. "Scotty" MacLeod. They married 5 years later in
Chicago on January 11, 1944, immediately preceding her husband's
deployment to Europe.
During WWII she worked for a defense contractor in
Hattiesburg MS then was in charge of The Office of Price Control and
Rationing in Choteau MT. When her husband returned after the war
they settled in Glendive where she worked for the Soil Conservation
Service until she and Scotty began their family.
During her life she enjoyed directing her church
choirs in Choteau and Glendive. She sang in the choir at her church
in Houston TX where she was also an Elder. She sang in the choir for
20 years at First Presbyterian Church in Billings where she also
helped start an adult Sunday School class, Church and Society. Ty
was active in Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority, The Order of Eastern Star,
and was a member of Chapter BG of PEO.
Ty provided support for her husband's career with
Conoco in government and distributor affairs by hosting social
occasions nationally, including Hawaii, and in Europe. She was an
avid gardener involved with numerous Garden Clubs. She propagated
and showed African Violets, winning many ribbons, before becoming a
judge for area Violet shows. She was a talented seamstress and cook
who enjoyed sharing her recipes and always had homemade cookies and
bread ready for her family.
Ty's greatest love was her family. Her devotion
was especially evident as she stayed by her son's side for months
after he sustained a traumatic brain injury.
Ty was the co-founder, along with her husband, of
the Brain Injury Association of Montana where she served as
Secretary for many years. She was the principle organizer of the
Billings Area Brain Injury Support Group.
Ty is preceded in death by her parents, William
and Florence Shirley; her siblings William (Helen) Shirley, Barbara
(Harold) Koontz and George Shirley. She is survived by her husband
Colin O. "Scotty" MacLeod of Billings; her children Tom MacLeod of
Whitehall, Carol (Dwight) Ritter of Billings; her only
granddaughter, Sara McDermott of Missoula; Burgess (Jean) MacLeod of
Billings, Troy Carpenter of Grand Haven MI, and numerous nieces,
nephews and cousins.
Thanks mom. If we could do it all over again, we
sure would like to. You will be missed by all who new you.
Ty's family would like to thank the caregivers at
Highgate Senior Living and Rocky Mountain Hospice for all they did
to help us.
In lieu of flowers memorials to benefit brain
injured individuals in Montana may be made to the MacLeod Fund at
Stockman Bank, 1450 Shiloh Road, Billings MT 59106.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial services will
be 11am Thursday at First Presbyterian Church. |