Grace G. Lilley
POLSON — Grace G. Lilley, 84, of Polson died of natural causes on March 24, 2005, at Evergreen Health & Rehab. Center, Polson.
She was born in Hourlford, Scotland, on May 17, 1920, near the township of Newmilns. Grace Goldy McMurtrie grew up in a war torn era. The Third Reich had declared England an enemy by the time Grace reached adulthood. An educated young Scottish lady, Grace wanted to contribute any way she could in the fight against Hitler's regime, so she joined the British Army as a shorthand typist.
Given top-secret classification and a book of rations, Grace survived the devastating bombings of England in 1942-1945.
In 1945, Grace met the love of her life, an American G.I., and signed wedding banns in Hourlford. One year later she made the long sea journey aboard an American military vessel to New York City, where her husband welcomed her to a new life. Grace followed her husband, Fred R. Lilley, to the vastly untamed lands of Montana in 1946, a far cry from anything she had ever known previously.
In 1949, Grace gave birth to her and Fred's only child, Donald W. Lilley. A women of extreme intelligence, knowing four languages, she became a court stenographer, working for many years under such prestigious names as C.B. McNeil, Jean Turnage and Gene Hamman before retiring.
Even in her retired year, Grace helped many friends with questions pertaining to legal issues. Grace became an American citizen after 50 years in the fall of 1996. Full of wit, charm, and an undeniable accent, there wasn't a soul who met Grace, who came away without a smile on their face.
Crossword puzzles, anagrams, and cooking for anyone who crossed her threshold were just some of the many things Grace enjoyed doing. No one ever left Fred and Grace's house a hungry person, and she is fondly remembered for her many efforts to care for everyone. A compassionate soul, she faithfully placed prayers for everyone she knew and even those she had never met.
Grace was preceded in death by her parents and a sister-in-law.
She is survived by her husband of nearly 60 years, Fred R. Lilley; her son, Donald W. Lilley and daughter-in-law Eva M. Lilley; her brother in Scotland, Hugh McMurtrie; her three grandchildren, John Lilley, Lacosta Lilley, and Tanya Lilley; her three great grandchildren, Gavin Fox, Alana Fox, and Tristan Lilley, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins in Scotland.
A memorial service will be held on March 30 in the Grogan Funeral Home, Polson. Cremation followed services and inurnment of the cremains with military honors will be today, Thursday, March 31, at 2 p.m. in Lakeview Cemetery, Polson.