3.txtTEXTMSWD'COhmO!+OhmO!+mBINCAOeEvelyn Lenore 'Toots' Findley
MISSOULA - Evelyn "Toots" Findley, 91, died Nov. 27, 2004, at Community Medical Center in Missoula.
She was born on July 28, 1913, in Lorado, Kan., to Essie Vern Fullerton Hewitt and Fred Ray Hewitt.
At three years of age, her family came to Montana on an emigrant car by railroad (steam engine). They homesteaded on the corner of Prairie County close to Glendive. Due to poor times the family returned to Preston, Kan. They made their living hauling sugar beets to the factory.
Evelyn was seven years of age when the family made a second move to Montana as caretakers on the Guderion ranch, 60 miles from Miles City. She had fond memories of the two-day trips to Miles City to sell butter and cheese. Again, due to hard times they relocated to Angela where Essie served meals in a boarding house and Fred worked in the horse stables.
In 1926, the family purchased their first home in the Cramer additions just above Flathead Lake in Polson.
Evelyn married Vernon Gerald Findley and they purchased their home on Strand Avenue in Missoula from a soldier during World War II. Their doors were always open and some of her best memories were when all of the cousins would come and stay for a game or special event.
She was a very loyal Grizzly fan. One of her last special days was spent watching this year's Grizzly-Bobcat game.
Employed by the City Cleaners, she did mending and tailored clothes. A Girl Scout leader for years, she never ran out of creative ideas to keep the girls busy.
Her huckleberry and apple pies will be remembered by many, along with her huckleberry bon bons. She enjoyed gardening and flowers, which she shared with her longtime neighbors.
Due to her health, she moved to the Bitterroot Valley, south of Darby, in April 2004, where she could be close to her daughter. Her last summer was spent watching the river from her porch as well as the wildlife. Everyone marveled at her sense of humor as well as her exquisite memory.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and her sister, Ruth Trana.
Evelyn is survived by her sister, Dorothy Deaver; brother-in-law Robert; son Edward Gerald "Jerry" Findley, a resident of the Montana Veterans home in Columbia Falls; Yvonne Findley of Stevensville; daughter Eloise Gay Findley and her partner Chris Martens of Conner; her grandson, William "Billy" Durbin and his wife Dana of Denton, Texas; and her granddaughter, Lisa Durbin Charbonneau and her husband David. Lisa presently resides in Missoula and David is home on leave from Korea where he serves in the U.S. Air Force.
The greatest treasures of her life were her great-grandchildren, Trey and Arianna Durbin and Andre' and Alex Charbonneau.
She is also survived by many other treasured neighbors, friends and family members. Evelyn will be remembered as a wonderful lady and a second mother to a great number of young people.
Visitation was held Dec. 2 at Cremation and Memorial Society. Funeral services were held Dec. 3 at the funeral home with burial following at Lakeview Cemetery in Polson.
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