Betty Lou McLoughlin, 83, passed away
in the early morning hours on Oct. 12, in Pinedale.
She was the oldest daughter of Richard
Disney Hecox and Isabelle “Dorothy” Logan
Hecox, born Jan. 29, 1936, in Rock Springs.
Betty Lou grew up in the Upper Kendall
Valley along with her siblings Donnie and
Dick. She went to primary school at the Kendall
Valley Schoolhouse. During a couple of
years with harsher winters, she was sent to
Rock Springs to spend the school year with her
Aunt Catherine. Betty Lou attended secondary
school at the Wasatch Academy boarding
school in Mt. Pleasant, Utah, graduating in
May of 1954.
While home on a school break with a
friend, Betty Lou met Melvin L. McLoughlin.
They married June 30, 1954, at the Chapel of
Transfiguration in Moose. They lived on the McLoughlin family ranch in Daniel, where they
raised their three children LaDonna Kay, James Richard and Cindy Lou. Betty Lou and Melvin
remained together in Daniel until his passing in September 2007.
Betty Lou spent the first 15 years of marriage helping her husband, raising cattle and haying.
Together they established The Place restaurant in May 1969 in the Upper Kendall Valley
where Betty Lou spent the next 25 years as owner and head cook. She was known valley wide
for a warm smile, a hot cup of coffee and her famous cinnamon rolls. Upon her retirement, she
happily settled back into life as a wife and homemaker.
Betty Lou was a lifelong member of the Bronx Homemakers Club, Jobs Daughters and
the Order of the Eastern Star. She spent many years as a 4-H leader and was recognized as
an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Green River Valley Cowbelles/Cattle Women in 2017.
She enjoyed playing cards, crafting, reading, sewing, baking and tending to her many flower
gardens. Her greatest joy was spending time with her grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years Melvin, parents Richard and Dorothy,
brother Dick and sister Donnie.
She is survived by daughters LaDonna McLoughlin of Pinedale, Cindy Jones (Justin) of
Pinedale and son James McLoughlin (Sandra) of Daniel. She is also survived by her grandchildren
Ryan McGuire (Marie), Andrea Jones, Casey Jones, Isabelle McLoughlin and great-grandchildren
Mae and Finn McGuire, along with many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, at Pinedale Community
Church, 113 S. Maybell Ave. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Betty Lou’s name can be
sent to the Museum of the Mountain Man, P.O. Box 909, Pinedale, Wyo. 82941 or the Sublette
Center, P.O. Box 788, Pinedale, Wyo. 82941.