Myrtle Ellen (Jones) Hart, beloved wife, amazing mom, phenomenal grandmother and incredible friend, “was called home to heaven” on Friday, Oct. 16, 2015, at the family home with her husband Bill and dog Salsa at her side; Mom was 78 years old.
Mom was born at the family home on April 1, 1937, in Bigfork, Minnesota. She was one of nine children. Mom spent the majority of her life working and raising her family, in Columbia Falls.
After high school she moved to Springfield, Illinois, with two of her sisters, Alice and Peggy, and worked for Ben Franklin Life Insurance. Mom met William “Bill” Hart in 1955 and they were married on Jan. 20, of 1956. They moved to Columbia Falls in 1959 and made it their home until both she and Bill retired.
Mom was extremely hard working. If she wasn’t watching children in the home, she was taking in laundry and doing ironing. She was a custodian at Columbia Falls High School for a few years and then she decided to open her own contract cleaning business. Her two main contracts were the Forest Service buildings and Plum Creek’s fiberboard offices.
Mom loved the outdoors. She loved to camp, fish and pick huckleberries. One of her favorite spots to camp and fish was on Echo Lake. After retirement Mom and Dad spent several years as state campground hosts along the Oregon coastline.
Mom was into crafts! She was always crocheting mittens, hats and blankets for people. Mom made a personalized Teddy-bear blanket for each of her grandchildren. She also loved to make and donate lap blankets for chemo patients. Mom refused to miss a good yard sale. Mom loved to “yardie” with her friends. She never passed a sale!
Mom was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Flossie Jones; brothers, Bud and Tom; and sisters, Alice, Violet, Norma, Margret and Ronda. She was also preceded in death by her daughter, Cheryl Ann Sprague.
Mom is survived by her husband, Bill, of 59 years; one sister, Peggy Oprenchaha; sons, and their wives, Randy and Tami, Clyde and Diane, and Todd and Gayle; and her son-in-law, Doug Sprague. Mom was madly in love with her grandchildren. Granny is survived by 10 of them, Shawn, Audrey, Gibby, Carrie, Brittney, Sarah, Jessica, Olivia, Tyler and Cameron; and one great granddaughter, Tinsley.
A memorial service to celebrate Mom’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7, at at Adventure Church, located at 348 2nd Ave. W Kalispell. The Rev. Jim Davey is taking care of the family and officiating. A meal and fellowship time will follow the service.
Mom spent the last few years of life attending nearly every single event her grandchildren had, cowbell always in tow. Mom transcended way beyond the role of a mother and a grandmother. She was our best friend and she will be deeply missed!
“We love you bigger than the moon, Mama!”