Betty Lou McLoughlin

Jan. 29, 1936 – Oct. 12, 2019

Posted

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.