Elizabeth Faye Kunnary, 60
Elizabeth Faye Kunnary, 60, passed away Friday, Nov. 30, 2007, at her Kalispell home, after a 12-year battle with breast cancer.
Liz was born Jan. 21, 1947, in Kansas City, Mo., to Bill and Dorothy Reynolds. They resided in Clinton, Mo., where Liz attended grade school and junior high. The family moved to Denver when Liz was entering high school. She graduated from George Washington High School, then entered Colorado State University in 1965.
Liz married Buddy Jones in 1967 and they had two daughters, Heather and Kimberly. Their marriage ended in 1974. Liz met Cliff Kunnary on a Friday night at 'The Good Life' in March 1975. It turned out that that name followed them for the next 32 years. Heather and Kim were adopted by Cliff, and a year and a half later along came little brother Tyler. For the next 10 years, Liz would raise the children in Denver. The family would travel to the mountains almost every weekend for sailing on Lake Dillon or skiing one of the many ski areas close to their Dillon home.
In 1984, the family decided to move to Montana, where Cliff had been raised. Liz designed her 'dream home' and was more or less the construction foreman when her home was built. Liz opened the local Baskin Robbins store in 1986 and ran the store for five years. She worked endless hours in filling the many special orders that came in for her beautiful ice cream cakes. After selling the store, she returned to working as an ophthalmic assistant for Glacier Eye Clinic. Liz worked there for more than 15 years, and only after the recurrence of breast cancer did she retire.
'Liz was one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen' was a comment made many times over the years. Her beauty was combined with a genuine compassion for life and ever-present grace. Her main love and priority in life was family. She loved the holidays and birthdays, making sure they were 'special' for each person. She was never late on having her presents ready on the morning of that particular day. Liz enjoyed entertaining friends at her home and made those occasions special by her attention to every detail.
Liz loved to ski with the family and go sailing and golfing with Cliff. She had a love for others that was ever present. She was like by everyone she met. Liz will be deeply missed. Always positive and smiling is how Liz lived her life.
Liz is survived by her husband, Cliff; her mother, Dorothy Reynolds; her daughters, Heather Conti and husband, John, of Denver, and Kimberly Milliron and husband, Dan, of Kalispell; son, Tyler Kunnary, and fiancee, Tammy Price, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; grandchildren, Nick, Tonya, Doris and Gabriel, all of Denver, Cody and Cory of Kalispell, Daylen of Colorado Springs; a sister, Marnie Fallon, and husband, Tom, of Crafton, Md. Liz also is survived by many loving nieces and nephews who fondly called her 'Big AL.'(Aunt Liz).
Memorial services for Liz will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5, in the Johnson Mortuary chapel, with the Rev. Paul Lobb officiating.
The family suggests memorial gifts be given to Home Options/Hospice, 175 Commons Loop, Suite 100, Kalispell, MT 59901, or American Cancer Society, 3550 Mullan Road, Suite No. 105, Missoula, MT 59808.
Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Elizabeth's family. You are invited to go to www.johnsonmortuary.com to offer condolences and sign Elizabeth's guest book.