Carol Morris

Carol Coleen (Wade) Morris, 88, was taken home by our Lord on January 9, 2023, in her home in Kalispell following complications from dementia. She was surrounded by and enveloped in the love of her family.

Carol was born November 19, 1934, in Dempseytown, Pennsylvania, daughter of the late Morris Curtis Wade and Helen Coe Wade. She graduated from Oil City High School in 1950 and wanted to become a nurse. Instead, she married her husband of 71 years, Arnold (Buck) Morris, on March 9, 1952. With a pioneer spirit, she moved from PA to Montana in 1954 with her husband and son.  And a pioneer woman she was as she raised four children in remote logging areas of Montana and Wyoming—Kila, the Yaak, Martinsdale, Pinedale—before moving to Seeley Lake, then to her first permanent home of 42 years in Bigfork. After being diagnosed with dementia, she moved to Kalispell to be closer to healthcare and family.

Carol loved music and to play the piano and her accordion, especially polkas. She loved her home in Bigfork and tending to her beautiful flower beds. Her grandchildren remember the nature walks she took them on as she held their hand, sang to them, and taught them about wildflowers. Everyone loved going to Grandma’s, especially for holidays and celebrations, as she was an excellent cook and loved to feed her family, as well as visitors. She was known for her kind heart, generosity, and compassion for all. Her whole life was dedicated to her family. She never forgot a birthday and supported all her children and grandchildren’s sports, school, and church activities. She sewed Barbie doll clothes when her daughters were little, and prom and bridesmaid dresses when they grew up. She went to every stock car race her son drove in. She was always there for her children—through owies and measles and accidents, to heartbreaks and successes. One could never have asked for a more loving mother. Carol was also a dedicated wife. She was a meticulous bookkeeper for the family logging business before computers and bookkeeping apps, and a true helpmate to her husband. Through their 17+ moves from place to place, through hard times and times of plenty, she was always willing to follow, keeping a clean and organized home, and raising their children.  As both a mother and wife, she was truly a gift from God to each of us.

Carol faithfully served at Bigfork Christian Church, playing the piano and helping wherever needed. She enjoyed the services, fellowship, picnics, campouts, and especially hayrides on Wild Goose Island, which she named. She loved all hymns, especially “Trust and Obey,” which her daughters sang to her as she began her ascent to Heaven. She praised God to the very end despite her earthly pain and hardships, and never complained. She truly earned her rich rewards that will be bestowed upon her.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Jerry Lee and Kenneth Wade, sisters Virginia Ashbaugh and Edna Usoff, and two grandchildren, Lindsey Rose Morris and Jennifer Starr Dalton. She is survived by her husband Buck (who called her his Irish sweetheart), her children: Danny Morris (Debbie) of Bigfork, Sherry Morris, Janet Holter (Ross) of Kalispell, and Linda Pete of Polson; grandchildren: Danae White, Laryssa Morgan, Khena Bullshields, ShiNaasha Pete, Sierra Pete, Mack Holter, Dillon Holter; and great-grandchildren: Isabella and Sophira Morgan, Lily Rankova, Edgar Vejez Pete, and Kelilah, David, and Eliyanah Holter. Carol documented her life and legacy by leaving 24 moving boxes of family photos.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, January 15, 2023, at Bigfork Christian Church, 110 Shawnee Drive, Bigfork, with Pastor Mike Steenson officiating. Interment will follow at Lone Pine Cemetery, Bigfork.

Please visit Buffalo Hill Funeral Home www.buffalohillfh.com  for information and to leave a note or condolence.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Hestia Hospice Foundation, 700 SW Higgins Suite 102, Missoula MT 59803. Our family is forever grateful to the nurses from Hestia who lovingly and with grace took care of our mom to the end—they are true angels: Nikki, Lori, Aimee, and Julie.