Mary Lou Stanhope ~ Leaves a Legacy of Family and a Life Well-Led

Mary Lou Stanhope passed away on Tuesday, January 25th, 2022 at the South Lyon Medical Center, Long Term Care.  She was 79.

Mary Lou was born to Ralph and Margaret Griffith in Glasgow, Montana on Oct 29^th 1942.  They lived in Saco, Montana until Mary was 1 year old and then they moved to Baker, Montana.  Mary was the 2^nd of 6 kids, 5 girls and 1 boy.  Mary loved playing with her friends and in the lake behind her house.  They would camp out in the yard and tell ghost stories and scare each other. During her years in school Mary was in Rainbow Girls, cheerleading, Future Homemakers of America and Choir.  Mary worked at the Lawler Drug soda fountain in high school and after graduating she became a telephone operator.

Mary worked with JC Stanhope who ended up being her sister-in-law when Mary married Robert Neal (Bob) Stanhope on June 19, 1964 in a double elopement with Mary’s sister Donna and her fiancé Les Crow.  They were married in Rapid City, SD

A year later they moved to Gabbs, Nevada where Bob’s sister and her husband lived and Bob went to work in the mine.

About 3 years later their only child Sandra was born.   When Sandy was 3 they moved to Weed Heights/Yerington, Nevada where Bob went to work for Anaconda Copper Co Mine.  The supervisor of the local telephone company happened to live right below them and talked Mary into going to work at the local telephone company.  Mary worked there until 1977 when she transferred to Gardnerville, Nevada as a supervisor.  One year later the mine closed and they moved to Gardnerville.  Mary worked for the phone company until it closed and then worked for Polyphaser Corp as assistant to the VP until she retired.

Mary loved spending time with her grandkids, baking, crocheting, camping, rock hounding, spending time with friends and was always smiling, laughing and liked to sing.

Mary is preceded in death by the love of her life Bob, her parents and her siblings Mike and Keitha.  She is survived by her daughter Sandy  and her husband Larry Shipley, grandson Zach Thompson and his partner Chris, granddaughters Caitlin and her husband Jason,  Malinda and her husband Morrie and Lane Shipley. Great grandchildren Emery, Wyatt, Adam, Aiden, Andrew and Ryan.  Sisters Sally, Donna, and Gay and many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to sign her online guest book at www.FRFH.net

Arrangements and cremation are under the direction of Freitas Rupracht Funeral Home, 25 Hwy 208 Yerington, Nevada 89447 (775) 463-2911