Wilma (Wilcox) McCart

Wilma A. McCart passed away February 27, 2021. Her beloved husband, Bill, passed on January 28, 2021, and all she wanted to do was be with him. She said they always planned to go together. They would have been married 75 years on June 21, 2021.

Wilma was born November 2, 1927, as Bill and Helen Wilcox's second child, in Corvallis. The family moved to Grantsdale and lived at the ditch camp. Bill was a ditch rider and bus driver while she attended elementary school at Grantsdale. Three more brothers joined the family during those years, and two of Helen's brothers lived with the family, as well. They moved to Anaconda for a few years, and then to Darby, where Wilma and her brothers graduated from high school. Bill and Helen had two more children during that time.

Wilma graduated in 1946 and was working at the Tin Cup Café. She met her love, Bill, while he was visiting his dad, Tim McCart, after returning from the Army. They had a whirlwind courtship, married, and moved to Nevada, where Bill went to work for the CAA (later named the FAA). Their daughter, Jessie, was born during this time. Son, Steve, was born in Hamilton as they were in the process of moving from Nevada to Dillon, three years later. Bill used his GI Bill on flight instruction and became a pilot and a flight instructor. Wilma loved flying with him.

Bill's career with the FAA involved many moves as each promotion required a move. Further moves were to Hanksville, UT; Prescott, AZ; Tucson, AZ; Bountiful, UT; and Aurora, CO, where he retired from the FAA's Regional Office.

They moved back to the Bitterroot at that time and settled happily back at home in the mountains and around family. They divided their time between Montana and Arizona, traveling in their motorhome for over 30 years. They visited all but two of the states and took several trips to Alaska with friends. They also took trips on Dad's motorcycle over the years. They loved camping, fishing, four wheeling, hunting, and gardening. One of Wilma's biggest joys was having the grandchildren travel with them. They had many wonderful adventures and made friends everywhere they lived. After they retired, they often met up with many of their friends at Yuma or Quartzsite, AZ. Wilma was blessed to have two of her friends from her Darby years still living, Edythe Waldo and Wiona Goodrich.

Over the years, Wilma enjoyed many crafts and most of all crocheting. She crocheted wonderful afghans for family and friends. She loved gardening, canning fruits and vegetables, and teaching this art to the younger generations.

Wilma was the family historian and faithfully recorded, not just their life's memories over the years, but also memories of the Wilcox family, and Bill's mom's family, the Pearce's of Nevada. She was an awesome cook. She loved family and friend get togethers. Even though the family home here was lost in a fire, Wilma's photo albums survived for which the family is so very grateful.

Wilma and Bill are preceded in death by three of her brothers, Lyle, Jack, and Ernie. They are survived by a sister, Shirley (Don) McGourty, in Grantsdale, MT; brother, Cody (Terri), in Lovelock, NV. Son, Steve, passed away four years ago. Daughter, Jessie (Vic Smith) McCart, in Arizona; six grandchildren, Traci (Joe) Flowers, Dustin (Annabelle) Dedmore, Timm McCart, Adam (Jenny) Dedmore, Alicia (Tim Shaw), and Nathan (Ingrid) Dedmore; 14 great grandchildren, Stephannie, Gabriella, Will and Jake, Sophia, Joia, Tadd, Alielah, Kyndred, Twilla, and Micah; and one great grandchild, Ryder.

A Celebration of Wilma and Bill McCart’s life will take place on Saturday, July 24, 2021, at 1:00 pm, at Daly-Leach Chapel. The family would love for you to come and share your memories of Bill and Wilma. Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Wilma (Wilcox) McCart, please visit our floral store.