Mary Frances Black Dog

Mary Frances Black Dog (Smith) was born September 29, 1974, to Frank Jorden Smith and Clairena Louise Smith (Andreasen) in Poplar, Montana. Mary passed away on October 10, 2026, in Murray, Utah.

Mary grew up and spent most of her life in Poplar, MT. She attended and graduated from Poplar Schools. Mary then went on to reside between Miles City, Brockton, Poplar, and Billings.

Mary’s marriage to Carl Failing brought two children, Isaac Mychael Anthony Failing and Quentin Wayne Failing. Years after their divorce, she married William Black Dog, gaining a daughter Chastity Black Dog. William and Mary later adopted Chastity’s daughter Jazmine Black Dog.

Mary is survived by her children Isaac (Donna) Failing, Quentin Failing, and Jazmine Black Dog, grandchildren Kade, Liam, Rowan, Brooke, Justin, Marshall, Hiro, and Rayna, her father Frank Smith, her older sister Theresa (Johnathan) Bailey, nephews Brandon and Gregory Knoble, her brother Virgil (Michelle) Smith, nephews Dakota and Kenshin Smith, and her younger sister Suzann (Brian) Smith, nieces Tia Welzenbach and Kaylee Kardell.

Mary was preceded in death by her mother Clairena Louise Smith, daughter Chastity Black Dog, grandparents David and Frances Smith and grandparents Virgil and Mary Andreasen.

Anyone who had the pleasure of knowing Mary knows the gem of a person she was. She was truly one of a kind. Family always came first to Mary, and she loved nothing more than her kids, grandkids, and family get-togethers — and maybe even her Denver Broncos. Mary had a caring heart, the best sense of humor, a contagious laugh, and a smile that would light up a room. Mary had deep compassion for people and devoted more than 25 years to a career in healthcare. Throughout her career in healthcare, she met and positively impacted so many lives.

Mary was the type of person to make the best out of any situation, whether it was good or bad. She would not view this as goodbye; she would want people to know that this is simply ‘until we meet again.’