Nora Grace "Gracie" (Cooper) Holcomb-Willis, 86, passed away at Brendan House on March 15, 2014, of natural causes.
Gracie was born Nov. 26, 1927, in the Lower Valley of Flathead County, the daughter of Roy E. and Adelaide (Taylor) Cooper. She grew up in the Flathead Valley where she attended Rousell School in Lower Valley, Elrod, and graduated from Bigfork High School in 1945.
In October 1945, Gracie married James A. Holcomb and they enjoyed 41 years of marriage. Gracie had worked for Bi-Rite Drug and Sykes'.
She hosted Bible clubs, loved people visiting and taught grade-schoolers how to play cribbage. She enjoyed playing cards, doing crosswords and going on motor home trips. Mom was known for her amazing sense of humor, and her love and dedication to her family.
Our loss is immeasurable and memories plentiful.
On Aug. 26, 1991, Gracie married longtime friend Melvin Willis, blending and enlarging our family. They were together for 13 years.
Gracie was preceded in death by her parents; husband, James A. Holcomb; second husband, Mel Willis; aunt, Ann Dale; aunt, Isabell; uncles, Roger and Bob; stepdaughter, Arleta Edwards; and son, James L. Holcomb.
Gracie is survived by daughters, Linda and Reynold McMannamy, Judy Sipe, Karen and Mark Kvaalen, Kathy Holcomb, and Vicki and Mark Adams; stepchildren, Rhonda Morgan, Mike and Lana Willis, and Gerry and Shelly Lingle; sister, Carol Huggins; special cousins, Jo Kienas, Joyce Olson and Harry Taylor; grandchildren, Mike and Jennifer Hayden, Rickey Hayden, Kerry and Josh Davis, Bruce and Vanessa Sipe, Jeff and Jenni Sipe, Rod and Libertie Barkley, Bill and Kate Barkley, Colin and Sonja Holcomb, James and Brandi Holcomb, Jason and Candice Calobeer, Shawna and Josh Naethe, Ryan Calobeer, Andrea Wyman, and Brooke and Aaron Callaghan; stepgrandchildren, Shannon Willis, Crystal Willis, Shane and Denice Edwards, Brett Edwards and Ty Edwards; 39 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws.
A celebration of Gracie's life will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 22, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home. Urn burial will follow at the C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery, with a reception to follow at The Church at Creston Lutheran, where all are invited.
The family asks that contributions be made to the charity of your choice.
Friends are encouraged to visit the website www.buffalohillfh.com to leave notes of condolence for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.