Myra M. Sheldon Doherty Demopoulos (Eidel)

Here is the link to livestream the service. Copy and paste this address into your search engine and it should take you directly to the church website. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTbG1hBy1bJndtpTQPNxo4w The livestream will begin five minutes before the service starts and that is when the video feed will show up. Myra Margaret Sheldon, the daughter of Mary Bubnash and Myron Sheldon entered this world on September 9,1930, in Great Falls. She left it 91 years and one day later, on September 10, 2021, in Billings. She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Dorothy Rio Henrikson; an infant son, Thomas; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and dear friends after almost a century of taking care of others. She is survived by her five children; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren, Steve of Missoula, Mike (Anne) of Spokane and their children, Stephanie and Bethany of Washington, D.C. and New York City, Kathy (Mark) Sprattler and their children, Jenny (Joe) Mikes, Marcus (Jenny Jutz), and Jessica Sprattler, all of Billings, Tim (Leslie) of Missoula and their children, Gabriel of Bozeman and Elizabeth of Bellingham, WA, and Mary (Mike) Lauffer and their children, Jacob and Margaret of Spokane; as well as her informally adopted son, Werner (Katja) Hoyer and their children, Sebastian and Maria of Cologne, Germany. Finally, she was Grandma Gigi to her great-grandchildren, Gabrielle, David, and Thomas Sprattler and Dylan and Amelia Mikes, all of Billings. She also leaves behind her devoted last of many puppy persons, Bonnie. Myra was born into a tough life in 1930. Her father was around for a while but was mostly absent. That left Mary Sheldon to raise two little girls as a single mom during the Great Depression. She drilled into them the primary importance of family and helping others. There wasn't a traveler on the nearby railroad or a parishioner at St. Joe's who ever went hungry. Caring for family and the community thus came naturally to Myra. So did hard work. During this time, the Bubnash family pulled together, and numerous members worked for the Great Northern and served in World War II. Grandma Mary first rode the streetcars from the westside across the river to her hard job at Ideal Laundry for years. Myra excelled at school. She was voted Student Body Secretary her senior year at Great Falls High in 1948 and was soon putting her office skills to work in Great Falls. Sadly, she never really had a chance to complete her formal education. However, she did meet a returning Navy pilot, Art Doherty. Although of very modest means, their wedding pictures show that her mom spared no effort in giving Myra a truly memorable westside wedding. They then had a life. Art found work in Chester during the construction of Tiber dam. So off they went with infant Steve in tow. They lived there in a tiny, single wide trailer with a tar paper built on entrance. While there, they brought Mike into the family (the first baby born into the then new addition of the Chester hospital). Eventually, they moved back to Great Falls and established their family home, bringing Kathy, Tim, and Mary into the fold. During those years, Myra was not content with wrangling an increasing number of ornery kids. Every one of her kids went to Our Lady of Lourdes school and whenever anything was needed at the parish, it was a given that Myra and Art would be the first ones to show up and the last ones to leave. Their Epiphany parties, at which all the parish priests attended became locally famous. She also was heavily involved in the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, attending several national conventions with the late Father Monsignor Werner and her friend Emma Dailey. The strains of life eventually caused Art and Myra to divorce. She became a single mom for the younger kids and worked full time and eventually helped manage a food brokerage business. She re-met an old westside fella, Tom Demopoulos and a new adventure began when mom and Tom were married. On 7/7/77, her family was blended into the large, wonderful Greek Demopoulos family. Tom's railroad work took them to Minneapolis and Alliance, Nebraska. When Tom retired, they moved back to Great Falls. But in that time, this petite lady was a driver for rough and tough railroad train crews in the Alliance yards. After Tom died in 1998, mom again showed her strength and resilience. A few years later brought another adventure in her life, when she re-met an old high school classmate at a planning meeting for their 50th reunion, Mr. Phil Eidel. Pretty soon Myra and Phil, then in their 70's, were as they say, "an item." To start this new chapter of blending the Eidel family with Myra’s, they each sold their houses and built a gorgeous place on the banks of Belt Creek. It was for Myra a beautiful haven with birds, wildlife, the creek, plenty of rooms for all the family, and a big kitchen for the guy who invented pie for breakfast, Phil. Myra then became a country gal and was soon, with assistance, almost buying bulls at auction. They enjoyed taking trips together. From the coasts of Alaska to New England; to the big one when Myra took all her kids, spouses, and Phil on an incredible journey to Europe. She loved being able to provide that time for her loved ones. This marvelous adventure ended with Phil's death in February 2020. This is but a brief sketch of this truly remarkable woman. She was physically beautiful, and her energetic spirit matched that gift. Family, faith, community, and caring for others moved and motivated her to the core. Having her kids, their friends and spouses, grandkids and then great grandkids all at the house for holidays was a treasured time.Adding in multiple dogs running amuck made for loud and boisterous, but always joyful pandemonium. Kids, dogs, meals, home—she loved 'em all. She was talented, smart, and witty. Her painting, ceramics, and craft work were gifts. She became a grandma with a band saw for some of her crafts. Although Myra faced pain and death many times, in many forms, the death of an infant son, a miscarriage, a breast cancer diagnosis at age 50 leading to a double mastectomy, followed by chemotherapy and radiation, a brain tumor, delicate spinal surgery, a month-long stay in an inverted hospital bed after a surgical mistake, she was ever strong, ever hopeful, and determined. She bounced back, always. Resiliency defined her. She was of tough, but tender stock. She passed that toughness and tenderness on to her kids and grandkids. Being pulled into Myra's orbit guaranteed you a place in a special universe. Your birthday or a special day was important to her because you were important to her. She taught us well about the things that really matter in this life and this world. We who survive her are forever indebted to her. We are also obligated to act and to care as deeply as she did. We would also like to thank Myra's childhood friends, Delores Rice, Loretta Britton, and Denise Bauer for their unwavering care and support. We also thank and praise the work of the Legacy Assisted Living facility in Billings which provided such sensitive, positive, and loving care. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. In these times, Myra's immediate family asks that you please, please get vaccinated. Please consider first, as our mom would have wanted, other people and the community we share. As both Kathy and Steve are at high risk of Covid, we require that masks be worn at all indoor events. Please help us. A rosary followed by a time of stories and remembrances (bring them and share with us please) will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, September 20, 2021, at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel. A funeral mass will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 21, 2021, followed by burial at Highland Cemetery. Here is the link to livestream the service. Copy and paste this address into your search engine and it should take you directly to the site. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTbG1hBy1bJndtpTQPNxo4w