(Last name misspelled in yearbook.)

DOD 07-22-10

Mary Lynn Whittenberger-Reese was born in Kansas City, Kansas on May 28th, 1954 to Dr. S. Bruce and Aldra Whittenberger. She was the fourth of five children and from the very beginning it was obvious that Mary was driven by an indescribable passion. A passion for life, for love, for animals, a passion that made her heart bigger than most people can imagine. It was that passion that made her a wonderful mother, wife, friend, sister and daughter. People flocked to Mary's delightful personality, warm heart and non-judgemental nature and she made lifelong friends almost everywhere she went. Her love for animals and her amazing work ethic drove her to become one of the world's best professional horse trainers.

In 1977 her daughter Kelley was born and then in 1981 she had her second daughter Meagan. As a single mother she continued with a highly demanding and difficult work schedule in order to provide for her young family and keep them together. Mary met her husband Bob Reese in the fall of 1986 and fell so madly in love with him that they married on December 24th, 1986 at her parent's house in Cheyenne. They were blessed with their son Tyler in 1987 and then had their baby girl Whitney in 1990. For many years Mary's sole focus was her family.

She adapted her natural passion into becoming the best wife and mother she could be. Years later she started yearning to make other contributions and decided on pursuing higher education. Incredible confidence and strength was required for her to return to school after such a long absence and among students so much younger than her, but nothing ever stopped Mary. That passion once again pushed her to excel in college and in 2001 she graduated with a degree from Western Wyoming Community College as a Registered Nurse. She chose a career in which she could help others and serve her community.

She is survived in death by her husband Bob Reese; her daughters Kelley Rosenbaum of Las Vegas, NV, Megan Reese of Palm Desert, CA, and Whitney Reese of Green River, WY; her son Tyler Reese of Green River, WY; her step-son Derek Reese of Las Vegas, NV; her sisters Ann Hardy of Cheyenne, WY, Martha Whittenberger of Arizona, and her brother Steve Whittenberger of Laramie, WY. She is also survived by her grandsons Kyle and Austin Rosenbaum and granddaughter Sharon Rosenbaum all of Las Vegas, as well as many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her mother Aldra Whittenberger, her father Dr. S. Bruce Whittenberger, and her brother Eric Whittenberger, all of Cheyenne WY.

Services are to be held Wednesday, July 28 at 10:00 am at the Union Congregational Church located at 350 Mansface in Green River.

The family is asking in lieu of flowers donations be made at any Wells Fargo Bank to benefit the Harmony Foundation in Estes Park, CO.