Marie Gurnsey Galvin

Adella Marie Gurnsey Galvin, 90, died at home from natural causes on Thursday, September 19, 2019, with a dear granddaughter by her side. She was born March 10, 1929, to John Kenneth and Emma Christina (Leistiko) Gurnsey in White Salmon, Washington. She was the fifth of nine children. Marie grew up on farms in the Sun River Valley near Great Falls, and was valedictorian of her eighth-grade class. She attended Simms High School. In 1947, Marie married Patrick Glenn Galvin in Fort Benton. They had four children, Margaret Colleen, Kathleen Marie, Kevin Patrick, and Frances Eileen. She was a stay at home mom, loved raising her children, and played an enormous role in raising all of her grandchildren, much to their delight. The most important priority in Marie’s life was family -- starting with her parents and siblings, her grandmother Hannah, and her uncles -- and continuing throughout her life with her children and grandchildren. Her uncles gave her the nickname “Deedles,” shortened to “Deed,” and it stuck. She took great pride in, and stayed connected with her entire extended family because they were very important to her. Many of her descendants were named after her, given the middle name Marie. She loved all little children, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Marie loved being a wife and mother and excelled in homemaking. She was an expert at sewing and knitting, and belonged to the Home Demonstration Club of Great Falls and the women’s circle at St. Luke’s Parish. She shared her skills as a leader of service clubs with her children, including 4-H and Bluebirds. She was a wonderful cook. Her specialties included Norwegian lefse, fudge and other candy, homemade bread, fried bread, cinnamon rolls, and pasties. For fun, Marie played in card clubs and enjoyed league bowling with her Galvin sisters-in-law. She was a wonderful gardener and she loved flowers. At each home where she lived, she created beautiful gardens. She particularly loved growing roses and tomatoes. In 1972, Pat and Marie relocated to Kalispell for Pat’s job, and they lived there for 17 years. There, Marie was active in St. Matthew’s Parish quilting ladies, “The Outsiders” card club, camping and visiting the mountains to pick huckleberries, boat on the many lakes in the area, and visit the family favorite Glacier National Park. Marie’s heart was in Great Falls, and she couldn’t wait to move back to be closer to her dear extended family. Pat and Marie returned to Great Falls in 1989, and built a house in Riverview. Marie enjoyed traveling. She and Pat traveled to many places in the US and abroad. When their family was young, they took cross-country road trips, site-seeing and creating countless memories for their children. They traveled to California many times to visit family. In retirement, they traveled to Ireland and England. Marie was a mentor, teacher, coach, critic, cheerleader, and a first and best friend. She was sensitive and strong, open-minded and opinionated. She proudly referred to herself as “the original women’s libber.” Marie loved music, and her children recall her playing records and instilling her love of music into their lives. Marie was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Pat; parents, John and Emma Gurnsey; siblings, Margaret Simmes, Betty Gardner, Eunice Lords, Albertina Lords, Howard Gurnsey, Dorothy Mullins, and John A. Gurnsey; sons-in-law, Paul Walker and Steve Holzheimer; her parents-in-law, Frank and Margaret Galvin; and sisters-in-law, Fran Gleason, Ruth Butler, Helen O’Connell, Hazel Mauch, Connie Golightly, and Audrey Cefro. Marie is survived by her children, Colleen Galvin Holzheimer, Kathleen Galvin-Halcro, Kevin (David Workman) Galvin, and Frances (Bill Clark) Galvin; grandchildren, Jill (David) Roberts, Julie (George Parisot) Walker, Erin (Darren) Townsend, Leesa Halcro, Casey Halcro, Sam (Liz Castro) Sorensen, and Nicholas Sorensen; grandchildren by marriage, Heather (Randy) Burcham, Heidi Wadsworth, Briana Clark, and Albert Clark; great-grandchildren, Logan and Landon Roberts; great-grandchildren by marriage, Emily (Becca) Townsend, Riley and Bailey Wadsworth, Keaton and Kendal Burcham, Mia Sutcliffe, and Lucy Clark; sister, Coty Swartz, sister-in-law, Bridgie Jimenez; and countless nieces, nephews, and extended family. Visitation will be Wednesday, September 25, 2019, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a remembrance service at 7:00 p.m., both at Schnider Funeral Home. The funeral liturgy will be held Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. at St. Ann’s Cathedral, (715 3rd Ave N, Great Falls), with Father Silvester Anthonysamy presiding. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the West Side Boys and Girls Club.