Delores "Dee" Ann McLaughlin

Delores "Dee" Ann McLaughlin, 64, of Big Arm, MT passed away at her home on Saturday, July 2, 2005, surrounded by her family. This was traditionally her weekend to bring the family together at the lake.

Dee was born on June 20, 1941 in St. Ignatius to Fred and Patricia Maiers. She attended schools in Seeley Lake and Missoula.

All knew Dee and her history of taking care of her loved ones. She touched many with her gentle nature and sunny disposition. Dee moved to California and worked as a caregiver to her sister-in-law for a time before moving back to Montana.

She married Frank Lee in 1959 and they had two children Frankie Joe & Rene. She and Frank later divorced.

Dee lived and worked waiting tables in Missoula for several years. She worked in cafes around Missoula but spent many years working at the Edgewater where she found many life-long friends.

She married Lyle McLaughlin on March 27, 1976. They lived in Missoula until 1983. They moved to New Mexico for a short time then returned home to Big Arm, MT, where they built their current lake home. She continued to work as a waitress for several years at Lake City Bakery in Polson, adding additional life long friends to her ever-growing list.

She was a fantastic cook and everyone left her home with a loaf of banana bread or a plate of cookies, especially at Christmas. She enjoyed fishing, boating around the lake, snowmobiling, growing flowers and most of all she enjoyed her family. Dee held a black belt in shopping and left her legacy in photos.

Dee is preceded in death by her son Frankie Joe; her parents, and sister Elizabeth Pique.

She is survived by her husband Lyle; her daughter Rene Kittle and her husband Jess of Polson; grandsons Brandon and Spencer Kittle; stepdaughters Lyla and husband Ben of Defiance, Ohio and Debbie of Sidney, MT; step-grandchildren Charlene,Tasha, Christopher, Chelsie, Amanda, Andrea and Nicole. She is also survived by her siblings, Jerry Maiers (Ruth) of Pablo; Darcy Maiers of Pablo; Patsy Dover of Hot Springs; Robert Maiers (Val) of Wisconsin, Dorothy "Dot" Ensley (Les) of Polson and many special nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, July 5, 2005 the Grogan Funeral Home in Polson. Graveside services will be held on Thursday, July 7, 2005 at 1:00 p.m. at Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Missoula with a reception to follow.

Memorials are suggested to either the St. Joseph Hospital Cancer Center or to the Lake County Hospice.