Miriam Poe Evans Ryan, 90

Miriam Poe Evans Ryan of Polson passed away on Dec. 5, 2015, at Genesis Whitefish Center in Whitefish.

She was born on Oct. 29, 1925, at Columbine Camp (Marathon Oil Company) in Salt Creek, Wyoming, to George Frick and Mary (Nowlan) Poe.  

She grew up in Lovell and Casper, Wyoming, and graduated from Natrona County High School in Casper.

She attended Mills College and later the University of Colorado.

She married Army Air Corps 1st Lt. Stanley Evans on Feb. 12, 1944, in Casper. He was killed in action over the Adriatic Sea on March 8, 1945.

She met Thomas Ryan while attending the University of Colorado, and they married on Sept. 4, 1947. Tom went to work for Marathon Oil Company and they lived in Sidney, Nebraska, and Rawlins, Casper and Cody, Wyoming. In 1959 with their two children, the young family moved to Tripoli, Libya, where they lived for seven years. Miriam was very involved in the Petroleum Women’s’ Club there, serving as president and organizing entertainment and excursions for the community, including a trip to the Vatican to meet the Pope.  

They later moved to London, England, and Madrid, Spain, where she spent a great deal of time researching antique furnishings. They returned to the U.S. in 1971 to Houston where they resided for 17 years. During that period she and several of her friends opened an antique shop where she was able to use her knowledge of European antiques.

In 1987, Tom retired and they moved to Hamilton, Montana. Miriam became enamored with the Daly Mansion and the life of Marcus Daly and his family. She was a longtime docent and tour guide at the mansion and authored a historical novel on Daly and his life, “Riverside.” They relocated to Mission Bay in Polson in 2001, where they made many new friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas; her parents; and her brother, William Poe.

She is survived by her daughter, Marylee Ryan Syme, and Douglas, of Bigfork; son, Michael Ryan, and Sue, of Houston; grandsons, Jonathan Syme and Brookie of Hamilton, Aaron Syme of Las Vegas, and Thomas Alan Ryan of Houston; and four great-grandchildren, Brandon Syme of Lafayette, Louisiana, McKenzie Syme of Missoula, Bridger Syme of Hamilton, and Braxton Nimmick Syme of Seattle; and three nieces, Anne Holmes Steck, Virginia Holmes Snowden and Harriet Holmes, all of Colorado.

The funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Dec. 15 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Polson, with a rosary preceding the service at 10 a.m.

Memorials may be made to Marcus Daly Preservation Trust, P.O. Box 223, Hamilton, MT 59840, or to any charity of your choice.  

Memories and condolences may be sent to the family at www.thelakefuneralhomeandcrematory.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Lake Funeral Home and Crematory.