Carolee Moyer Kurtz, 71

Carolee Kurtz, 71, longtime Whitefish resident, died peacefully in her sleep Monday morning, Jan. 31, 2005, at her home in Whitefish.

Carolee was born March 28, 1933, in Seattle, where she attended schools, then four years at the University of Washington and was a member of Alpha Phi Sorority.

She met and married her husband of 51 years, Norm Kurtz, in Seattle. They were married Dec. 18, 1953. Together they shared the excitement and adventure of growing with Big Mountain and Whitefish. They raised four children, Lisa Kurth of Kent, Wash., Peter Kurtz of Anaconda, Gretchen Murray of Missoula, and Joni Stout of Boise, Idaho, and she was a grandmother to six children, all boys.

In the early days of their marriage, Carolee lived on Big Mountain, as Chalet manager, then later owned and operated View Mount Motel (now Rocky Mountain Lodging). She volunteered in many organizations. Carolee was part of the very first Whitefish Winter Carnival. For many years, she was president of the Whitefish Women's Club, and held offices in the General Federation of Women's Clubs of Montana. Since the late 1960s, Carolee worked very hard to get a swimming pool for Whitefish. As her plaque at the new "Wave" (her pool!) in Whitefish states: "She never quit." She believed in Whitefish and did what it took to get the job done.

The library guild, recycling, park and recreation boards, Whitefish Lake Boat Club, hospital guild, Whitefish Winter Carnival, (the snowflake street ornaments) all were a big part of her life! Until the last few years, she was an avid sailor, and shared many sailing adventures on Whitefish Lake, (Wednesday sailboat races were a classic), and many sailing trips to the San Juan Islands in Washington, and the British Virgin Islands.

The talents and gifts she passed on to family and friends will be seen in Whitefish for years to come! She will be missed.

Her family is eternally grateful for the loving care that Lori and the Hospice staff provided in her last weeks.

At Carolee's request, a celebration will be held in her honor in a few weeks. Memorials, in lieu of flowers, may be sent in her name to Home Options Hospice of Kalispell.