After a long and full life, Nancy Nadine (Daly) Cossitt, gladly left this world for the next on January 4, 2024.
Nancy was born February 11, 1932 at her grandparents home in Leiter, WY. According to the post office scales, she weighed 4 lbs. (including the receiving blanket). She was the second child, second daughter, of George "Shorty" Daly and Iva "Beck" Avery Daly. She was raised in rural Powder River County, MT at the family ranch. Schooling was always a problem. She started school in Big Horn, WY and then attended one year with her sister being her teacher (bad idea), boarding one year with family friends (bad idea), one year of correspondence, and one year with a teacher who became her aunt that year. Nancy graduated high school from Sheridan, WY in 1950. She then attended two years at Rocky Mountain College in Billings. She married William "Bill" Cossitt in November of 1952 when he returned from Korea and they quickly produced a bumper crop of five children: Barbara Diane in 1953, George Lester in 1954, Rita Gail in 1955, William Brent in 1957, and Loren Russell in 1958.
After several moves, they settled on the edge of Ranchester, WY in 1962 where they lived for 52 years. Along with their five, they provided a loving home for seventeen foster children-some who stayed for several years. After her own children were grown, Nancy fulfilled a lifelong desire to be a nurse, not something that was encouraged in 1950 when you are 5 foot tall and barely 100 lbs. She became a physical therapy assistant and worked for several years at Sheridan Memorial Hospital. She enjoyed raising peacocks, chickens, and her llama "Chief", as well as reading, quilting, and genealogy. She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, first in Sheridan and later in Ranchester and Gillette. Nancy was famous for her homemade bread that she gave as Christmas gifts for many years. She traveled many places with Bill and other family members, including Hawaii, the Caribbean, Alaska, and the Panama Canal. She always wanted to "go as a family".
In 2014 she and Bill moved to a retirement home in Gillette. Bill passed in June of 2016 and in February of 2021 Nancy moved back to Powder River County to the nursing home in Broadus, MT. She celebrated her 90th birthday at the family ranch on Otter Creek, now owned and operated by her daughter Rita Cossitt Mueller and her husband Steve.
Nancy is preceded in death by her husband Bill, her parents, daughter Barbara Cossitt Irwin, son Les, granddaughter Teala Sherard/Cossitt, and sister Elsie Daly Haack. She is survived by daughter Rita Gail (Steve) Mueller, sons Wm. Brent (Betty), and Loren. Also eight grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, and one great great.
In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the Sayle Hall Preservation Fund. Cards with your memories would be appreciated and shared by the family. Send to: Rita Cossitt Mueller 673 Horse Creek Rd. Gillette, WY 82716
No public memorial service will be held. Family graveside services will be held at the Otter Ranch family cemetery in June or July.
Online condolences may be written at http://www.kanefuneral.com.
Kane Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.
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