Obituary: Mary Lou Angus

Mary Lou Angus
Oct. 16, 1920 ~ March 4, 2019
Born Mary Lou Muir on Oct. 16, 1920, in Gray, Idaho, to James Roy and Gladys (Heath) Muir. Mary Lou spent the first 10 years of her life in Gray enjoying the family ranch and store, firmly establishing a sense of adventure that she would carry with her for the remainder of her life. She loved the outdoors and was an excellent student.
In 1930, the family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, and she attended schools there, graduating from West High School in 1937. She pursued a teaching degree at the University of Utah, graduating in 1941. She married Parley Dale Thompson of Sandy, Utah, on June 19, 1942, in the Salt Lake City temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Dale and Mary Lou moved to Philadelphia, Penn., where Dale was a medical student at Temple University and Mary Lou was engaged as a ticket agent for the Pennsylvania railroad. Dale served as the medical officer as a Lieutenant (j.g.) aboard the U.S. Navy Destroyer Drexler. He was killed while deployed off Okinawa on May 28, 1945 and was awarded the Navy Cross. Mary Lou returned to Salt Lake City to live with family.
Mary Lou became a science teacher in the high school in Reliance, Wyo., from 1948 to 1950 and took her master’s degree in education at the University of Utah in 1952. She also taught science and was a guidance counselor in the high school in Rangely, Colo. On Nov. 27, 1952, she married Richard Hull (Gus) Angus of Dallas, Texas, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Gus was a first lieutenant in the army and a WWII veteran serving as an anti-aircraft range instructor. Gus was employed by Standard Oil of California as the superintendent of the gas and oil refinery in Rangely. They made their home in Rangely until retirement in 1972. They were popular in the community and knew everyone. In 1956, they built a cabin with a lake on the White River near the town of Buford, Colo. The building of this bit of heaven in the wilderness was where Mary Lou and Gus found many adventures together. Here too, they knew and were known by all of the neighbors and it was to this cabin that they invited family and cherished friends to share in the adventure of exploration, fishing, and hunting.
After retirement in 1972, Mary Lou and Gus moved to Sedona, Ariz., and established their home there with easy access to golf in the beautiful surroundings. Mary Lou was an avid golfer along with Gus. This home also proved to be a base from which they would travel the world. Mary Lou became an accomplished photographer documenting their trips to the South Pacific, Africa, Europe, South America and Asia in addition to various North American beauty spots. Even after Gus passed away in 1983, Mary Lou continued to travel extensively and often included family in those trips.
She moved to Tucson, Ariz., in 2000 to be near her younger brother and his family. She invited family to her home in Oro Valley on every possible occasion and much adventure was to be had there. She is survived by a nephew, Robert A. Muir, and a niece, Keri L. Muir, both of Tucson. In addition to her parents and husbands, her brothers preceded her in death: Robert Pershing Muir of Canyon, Texas, on June 20, 1991, and James Daniel Muir of Tucson, Ariz., on Jan. 6, 2011. Her adventure was completed on March 4, 2019, at age 98 in the loving care of the great caregivers at Pura Vida with hospice care provided by Casa de la Luz. We wish to thank the doctors and nurses at Northwest hospital for their care. Memorial services will be private.