Mary Margaret Ide (nee Merritt) passed away on June 18, 2026 at the age of 91 in Boulder, Colorado. 

Mary was born on December 3, 1934 and raised in Wyoming, where her family on both sides were among the earliest, and at times influential, pioneers of the state.  She lost her brother and experienced family hardships at an early age which occasionally haunted her but which also made her more resilient, compassionate, and joyful.  Mary graduated from Cheyenne High School and attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri and the University of Colorado, where she graduated with a Bachelors Degree in English (she was a voracious reader and wrote beautifully).  While attending CU, she met the love of her life, Robert Curtis Ide.  They married on January 26, 1957, during a blizzard in Glendo, Wyoming, and together raised three children in Boulder.  Mary’s primary focus was always her family, although she co-owned a boutique dress shop for a time, and worked as a counselor for the Boulder County Department of Corrections. In later years, Mary and Bob lived at Frasier Meadows in Boulder where she was an active and enthusiastic member of the community, editing the newsletter, volunteering, and generally spreading positive energy.  Frasier Meadows recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of her residence.  She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

Mary was always proud of her Wyoming and Western pioneer heritage, having spent a lot of time on family ranches while growing up.  Later on, Mary became involved with the Women of the West Museum and volunteered at the annual Denver Stock Show and Rodeo Coors Art Exhibit.  She passed her appreciation for the West on to her children:  weekends in May and June were always spent at the ranch helping with brandings, where the kids would also spend summers during their teen years.  She took an active interest in her children’s activities, including baseball scorekeeping, cheerleading, and rodeo queen judging.  Later she would organize a yearly ski trip for the family with grandkids always looking forward to it on their spring breaks.  Family events and trips were adventurous and joyful affairs, with Mary often playing the guitar and singing or playing cards until the wee hours.  She had a generous spirit and was always the life of the party.

Mary and Bobs six grandchildren all adored their Nana, and each occupied a separate and special place in her heart.  She had a way of making each one feel like a winner in their own right, turning any negative behaviors or attributes into mere signs of uniqueness that could be positively channeled.   Nana Mary, or GG to the four great grandchildren, wanted all of her progeny to experience the broader world, and while she was still able to travel took swashbuckling granddaughter “girls’ trips” with K.T. to France and Maggie to the Kentucky Derby.

Mary is survived by daughter Jennie (Larry) Murphy; sons Robert (Cathy) Ide and Jim Fritz (Patty) Ide;  grandchildren K.T. Ide (Kellen) Smith, Clint (Amy Iberlin) Ide,  Maggie Murphy, Lorin Murphy, Austin Ide, Audrey Ide; and great-grandchildren, Waylon Smith, Sutton Smith, Townes Lee Smith and Mia Ava Ide.  Mary and Bob also have four step-grandchildren with step-great grandchildren.  Mary is preceded in death by her husband Bob, her parents Lawrence and Rita Merritt (nee Southwick), her brother James Merritt.

A brief ceremony will be held to honor Mary’s exuberant life at 1:00pm on June 22 at Green Mountain Cemetery in Boulder.

“The strongest and sweetest songs yet remain to be sung.” –Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass