EDNA Y (McKENZIE) GWYNN Obituary (1932

Edna Yvonne Gwynn passed away at the age of 83 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center the evening of Sunday, September 13, 2015. She was surrounded by her family. Graveside services will be at 4 pm Tuesday, September 22, at the Tobacco Valley Cemetery. A memorial celebration of her life will follow at the RiverStone Family Lodge. Edna was born in Eureka on June 9, 1932. She lived her early years on Meadow Creek Ranch, Fortine, and in the Eureka area. She graduated from Lincoln County High School in 1950. Activities at LCHS included playing basketball, drill team, baton twirling, and cheerleading. She also worked at Withycombe's Rexall Drug Store at the soda fountain and also as a store clerk. She met the love of her life at the age of 10. She would sit on the fence and throw rocks at Bill so he had to walk the long way around to the fishing hole. Later Bill became her best customer at the soda fountain. In June of 1950, Edna celebrated her eighteenth birthday, graduated from Lincoln County High School, and married Bill Gwynn. Together, they had four daughters. They operated a Christmas tree and wreath business for about 60 years where Edna was the bookkeeper and a shrewd business manager. For years Bill and Edna loved to dance together and created magic on the dance floor. Together they attended many sporting events where they rarely missed a game, and even after Bill passed, Edna continued to support the local activities. Currently, Edna was on the board of directors for Tobacco Valley Senior Citizens Center, and she regularly attended St. Michael's and All Angels Episcopal Church, where she led prayer services and was church treasurer for 47 years. She was a member of Sundowners Home Demonstration Club, Bridge Club, and Lions Booster Club. When Bill served as a state legislator and his sight was failing, Edna read the bills to him each day. From the early days of their marriage, Bill and Edna's dinner table always had a chair for anyone passing by, and many young people, grandchildren, or friends, picked up an afternoon snack or a meal. She was everyone's "Maga". Edna was preceded in death by her husband Bill, her daughter Cindy, her brother Robert McKenzie, and her parents Grace and Johnny. She is survived by son-in-law Larry Viano, granddaughter Marci Davis and husband Phil, great grandson Wilbur, and great granddaughter Roma; grandson Tim Viano and wife Nina, great grandson Bridger, and great granddaughter Makenna; daughter Susie McRae; grandson Christopher Hibbert and Bianca, great granddaughters Risa, Kayla, and Haley; granddaughter McKenzie Camp and husband Nick, great grandson Aaden, and great granddaughters Zoey and Gracie; grandson Michael McRae; daughter Shelley and husband Tom Shay; grandson Andrew Shay and wife Anna, great grandson Trent and great granddaughters Selah and Hattie; granddaughter KaeDee Shay and Jud; and granddaughter Klairee Shay and Tre; daughter Kelley and husband Terry Comstock; granddaughter Tara Patterson and husband Jason, great grandsons Ty, Cael, Dayne, Nicholas, and John Paul, great granddaughters Emma, Abigail, and Rebecca; grandson Telten Comstock and Karra, and great granddaughter Aria; grandson Cade Comstock and wife Samantha; grandson Colter Comstock and wife Amanda; granddaughter Lisa Unbekannt and Andreas, great grandsons Ben and Mark. She is also survived by sister-in-law Marilyn McKenzie, brother Hubert McKenzie and wife Bonnie, Tommy Cuffe and wife Carol, brother Mike Cuffe and wife JoAn, sister Becky Vredenburg, and brother Ben Maughn and wife Mel; and many nieces and nephews. She leaves behind her beloved dog and companion Lizzie. The family would like to publicly thank Eureka Ambulance Attendants Rachel Durham, Joyce Suttley and Patty Kincheloe for their professional and loving attention. The family also wishes to thank the community, family, and friends for all of their support and kind words. Any monetary donations can be made to the St. Michael's and All Angels Episcopal Church, PO Box 342, Eureka, MT 59917. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.schnackenbergfh.com.