Mary Esther Bell

Obituary

Mary Esther Bell

June 5, 1954- March 15, 2026

Mary Esther (Frix) Bell has left her earthly body on March 15th, 2026 due to long term complications of scleroderma, a disease she had battled for over 20 years.

Mary was born June 5, 1954 in the tiny hospital on the hill in Thermopolis, WY to Arthur Henley Frix and Gloria Dewey Frix. She was one of five children born to this union with two babies being deceased shortly after birth and two brothers still living.

The Frix family lived in Thermopolis until late 1969 when the decision was made to move on from Thermopolis. Her father moved to Alaska and Mary and her brothers moved to Oregon with their mom. She finished her high school years at St. Mary's of the Valley Catholic School for Girls (Valley Catholic) and then went on to study nursing at Seattle University in Seattle. She received her Bachelor's Degree of Science in Nursing in 1976.

Mary then took her career to Children's Orthopedic Hospital in Seattle where she worked on the Toddler Surgical, Orthopedic and Burn Unit. She loved working with the littles and thrived there. She then moved to Eastside Group Health Cooperative Hospital in Redmond to assist in opening their pediatric unit and women's health unit. After some time, she moved into the outpatient setting working in the Women's Health Care Clinic and eventually became manager of that unit.

After the toil and stress from managing that unit took its toll, Mary decided to open her own flower shop and get into the creative side of her life. She had her shop in Issaquah, WA for ten years before she sold it and then went on to work in different fields until it was time for her to retire. In 2015, Mary and her older brother Skipper drove to Utah to attend their half-brother Richard's services. On the way back, they made an unscheduled trip back through Thermopolis. Neither of them had been back since the move in 1969. Skipper remembers Mary having to pull over as they were coming through the canyon and Mary first caught sight of Round Top and burst into tears. Soon after that trip, Mary drove back out to hang out for about a week and actually to start looking at real estate for herself to move back home.

Mary came back to Thermopolis in March of 2016 and purchased a home on Circle Drive. She has been here in Thermopolis ever since.

During Mary's nursing career, she met and married Steve Matney and together they had a son, Joshua Matney. Though that union did not last long, Mary had a beautiful son and a healthy relationship with Steve through the years. Joshua married in 2012 and shortly after, had a son named Oliver Danger Matney. Mary was over the moon in love with her grandson and loved hanging out with him. That was the hardest part about her move back to Wyoming was to be away from Oliver.

Mary worked freelance transcription once she came back as well as creating beautiful artisan soaps and raising an organic garden. She sold the soaps and the garden goods at the local Farmer's Market and craft fairs as well as on Etsy.

Mary is predeceased by her father Arthur Henley, mother Gloria, and her older half-brother Richard. She is survived by her older brother Skipper and (Julie) Frix of Gresham Oregon and Peter Frix of Lynnwood, WA, her son Joshua Matney of Seattle and her grandson Oliver Danger Matney of Belfair WA along with numerous nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews around the country.

Mary has requested that there be no service or celebration of life to ease the burden on her family. Instead, she requests that people gather where they are, with the people they love and raise a glass or two, or ten in honor of a life well-lived. Online condolences may be made at www.bryantfuneralhomeonline.com.