Mary J. Combs

Mary Jean Combs, age 70, a homemaker and caretaker, passed away peacefully at her home Thursday, January 26, 2017 after a long battle with health problems.

Viewing will be from 5:00-7:00 pm on Friday, February 3 at Whitted Funeral Chapel in Shelby.  The funeral service will be 10:00 am on Saturday, February 4 at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Shelby followed by interment at Mountain View Cemetery.

Mary was born September 21, 1946, in Shelby, MT to Roy and Minnie Robinson.  She was one of seven children.  She graduated in 1964 from Shelby High School and then went to Parks Business School in Boise, ID. She married Billy R. Combs on January 3, 1968 in Shelby. She was a telephone operator for Mountain Bell and Front end manager for IGA grocery store.

Mary spent her time teaching Sunday school, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts.  Mary was always busy taking care of family, but in her spare time she loved gardening and collecting angels as well as fishing and camping.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Minnie Robinson, and two brothers, Roy “Sonny” and Timothy Robinson.

Survivors include her husband Billy R. Combs of 49 years, Perry (Lorrie) of Billings, MT, Julie (Dan Sauvageau of Firestone, CO, Christopher of Shelby and Michelle (William) Hammond of Missoula; grandchildren Jai and Cam of Billings, MT, Kendra Nickol of Missoula, Karlie Nickol of Missoula, Taylor Combs and David Jeppesen of Ellinwood, Kansas, Cloey Combs of Shelby, MT, Emily and Ryan Sauvageau of Firestone, CO, Ailia (AJ) Hammond of Missoula, MT; great-grandchildren Trecen, Marcus and Leelend Christensen of Billings, Annika Kemp and Eliza Gray of Billings; brothers Kenneth & Rodney Robinson; and sisters Shirleen Curtis (Robinson) and Grace Johnson.