Lois A. (Burnett) Buxton, 100

Lois A. (Burnett) Buxton, at 100 years of age, passed away of natural causes on Tuesday morning, Nov. 23, 2004, at Hillside Manor in Missoula.

Lois Buxton was born in Hamilton on July 26, 1904. Her parents, James V. Burnett and Etta Sanders Burnett were early pioneers in the Bitterroot Valley.

Lois's grandfather, John Justus Burnett, her father, James V. Burnett and her oldest brother, Leonard Burnett, were all building contractors and were instrumental in the construction of the majority of the original buildings at the University of Montana in Missoula.

Lois's mother, Etta Sanders Burnett, was a young girl that took refuge with her family inside the security of Fort Owen when the early settlers thought that the Indians were on the war path prior to and during the time when Chief Joseph and his tribe came through the Bitterroot Valley as they were on the way to that tragic destination at the battle of The Big Hole.

Lois received her education through the Stevensville school system, then met the love of her life, Charles Marlin Buxton. They were married in September of 1922. This new Buxton family lived in Stevensville until Marlin Buxton accepted a position with the Ford Motor Company in Seattle.

They returned to the western Montana area in 1939 and subsequently operated the Montana Dairy Supply. When they approached retirement age, they transferred their hobby of antiques into an ongoing antique business that they operated from their home in Hamilton.

Lois's husband, Marlin passed away in November of 1971.

Lois Buxton was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, four brothers, three sisters and one granddaughter.

She is survived by two sons and their wives, Marlin Buxton, and his wife, Isabelle, of Missoula, and her son, Jim, and his wife, Marjorie, of Kalispell, plus five grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren.

Lois Buxton was a sweet, dear person that came from early pioneer stock. She lived a long and a good life but she will be missed by all those that loved her so.

Services are pending at a later date at the Dowling Funeral Home in Hamilton.