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Ada McDonell

Ada McDonell

Feb 22, 1934 - Jan 13, 2015
Ada McDonell, 80, of Fort Washakie died on Tuesday, January 13, 2015, at the Kindred Heath Care – Wind River.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday Feb. 21, 2015 at the Lander Senior Center.

Ada Gustin was born on February 22, 1934 in Ethete, WY to Sherman T. and Ella Babe (Tracy) Gustin. She grew up with one brother and three sisters in Fremont County. She attended schools in Lander and graduated from Fremont County Vocational High School. She became a telephone operator and worked in Lander, Jackson, Big Piney and Elko, Navada

On October 27, 1955 she married Gus J. McDonell in Elko, NV. They made their home at Fort Washakie and raised two children, Ella and Sherman. She lived as a rancher her entire life. She spent about seven years on the Hamilton Ranch in Montana and then the rest of her life on the family ranch.

She was an involved mother, being 4-H Leader and a member of the PTA.

She grew up with horses and she loved to ride, she started riding before she was old enough to walk. She was the Jr. Rodeo Queen in 1951 when she was in high school. She loved animals and raised sheep, cows, horses, goats (Boer Goats) and anything else that showed up on the ranch. She was an avid hunter and was a great fly fisherman. She was a talented cowboy poet and artist, painting landscapes and animals.

She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Gus; her son, Sherman McDonell and his wife, Shelly of Rock Springs; and her daughter, Ella McDonell-Clarke and her husband, Warren of Fort Washakie, WY; grandchildren, Jessica Reeves and companion Larry Dewitt of Gillette, John and Tyrell Emery of Rock Springs, Forest and Christy Reeve of Lehi, Utah: great grandchildren, Johnny and Colton Emery of Rock Springs and Taylor and Delilah Reeve, of Lehi, Utah.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Sherman and Ella Gustin; and her siblings, one brother and three sisters.

On-line condolences may be made to the family at www.TheDavisFuneralHome.com

Services are under the direction of the Davis Funeral Home.