Mary Lucille Richards

Mary Richards, 91, passed away on December 28, 2017 at a local care facility in Great Falls. A celebration of her life will take place at First Presbyterian Church in Great Falls at a later date. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Schnider Funeral Home. Mary was born in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, to Max and Ruth Lown. She received both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in organ performance from the University of Michigan, in 1947 and 1951 respectively. Mary married Gordon Richards in 1950; their son Gary was born in 1951. In 1960, Mary and Gordon moved to Great Falls, where they set up a studio to teach private music lessons. Mary taught piano and organ lessons to hundreds of students from Great Falls and the surrounding area over the next forty-six years. She also served as the organist at three different churches in Great Falls during that time period: the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, and First Presbyterian Church, where she served as the organist from 1969 through 2006. In addition, she played for many weddings and funerals throughout all of those years. She was a remarkable musician, outstanding teacher, and a master of the pipe organ and piano, largely because of her commitment to practice. She was an exceptional piano accompanist who accompanied high school students for district and state music festivals for many years. Mary served as the accompanist for the Montana Chorale under the direction of Kenyard Smith, and was regularly called on to accompany notable musicians and ensembles giving concerts in Great Falls. She provided a powerful musical influence for anyone fortunate to have the chance to work with her. Mary was a member of the American Guild of Organists and the First Presbyterian Church, and attended Great Falls Symphony concerts faithfully until May of 2017.During the 1990s, Mary made several trips to Europe as part of Marilyn Mason’s (her organ teacher and the Chair of University of Michigan’s Organ Department) “Music Tours of Historic Organs,” Mary was thrilled to have the opportunity to play some of those organs. Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Robert; son Gary (1977) and husband Gordon (1993). She is survived by her sister, Della Zeitler of Lake Havasu, AZ; niece Helen Richards of Great Falls; close friends, Pam Kampfer and Sharman Tokerud of Great Falls; six nephews, Jim (Maureen) Lown in North Carolina, Brian Richards in California, Dave, Dan, and Larry (Kelly) all in Arizona and Don Zeitler in Colorado; and several great-nieces and nephews. Special thanks to the staff at the Lodge Assisted Living for the ten years of compassionate care they provided for Mary, and to the Park Place Nursing Home staff for providing the same for her last six months. Memorials may be made in Mary’s name to the Great Falls Symphony, PO Box 1078, Great Falls, MT, 59403.