Mary Floyd

Mary Schuster Floyd of Great Falls, the daughter and granddaughter of an eastern Montana pioneer family who were among the first homesteaders in Valley County, died on October 23, 2015Visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral liturgy which will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 29, 2015 at the University of Great Falls Chapel.Mary is survived by her husband of over sixty years, Harold; three sons, Harold (Lin) of Media, PA, Frank (Colette) of Vestal, NY, and Dan (Julee) of San Marino, CA; and six grandchildren and one great grandchild, all of whom she loved dearly.Mary was born in Glasgow, Montana on October 16, 1919, the daughter of Andrew and Catherine Schuster. Following the death of her mother when she was just over two years of age, she was raised as the only child of her Aunt and Uncle, Daniel and Mary O' Connor. She was a graduate of St. Mary's High School of Great Falls and of the University of Great Falls, Class of 1944, and pursued graduate studies at the Catholic University of America and Georgetown University.Prior to her marriage she was employed by Special Staff, U.S. Army, in the office of the Chief of Military History in the research, writing and preparing for "public"ation of Chronology 1941 - 1945, The United States Army in World War II. During this period she was asked to join President Trumans speechwriting team, a position she felt necessary to decline because of the "public"ation deadlines for the military history. She and her husband, Harold, had met in London where both were members of Field Information Agency, whose mission was to find out German scientific advances since 1939. Later she served as Chief of Service Section for the office of the Exchange Officer, European Command, with direct supervision of the Personnel, Registration, Typing and Files unit. She taught school at Tampico and in Northern Valley County. After her marriage she became a full-time homemaker who then considered her family her career.She is a past President and a member of the Board of the University of Great Falls Guild, a founding member of Galerie Trinitas and a member of the University of Great Falls Alumni Association and of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas. She was a former Home and School Officer and an officer and member of the Great Falls Central Catholic High School Mother's Club. As a Den Mother in the Boy Scouts of America, she was especially proud of having her three sons attain the rank of Eagle Scout.Her hobbies and interests included travel, which took her around the world, her family, volunteer work, reading, bridge and friends. She was an exceptional wife, mother, and grandmother and will be missed by all.Memorials are suggested to the Floyd Scholarship Fund for a deserving student at the University of Great Falls, 1301 20th Street South, Great Falls, Montana 59405.