Grace Marie Elliott , 68

Grace Elliott 68, 'joined the heavenly choir' on Jan. 25, 2007, at her home in Happy Trails, in Surprise, Ariz., after a long and strenuous battle against breast cancer. She was born in Missoula on April 15, 1938, to Klaas and Gertrude De Wit. She attended grade schools in Bonner and Missoula. She graduated from high school in Columbia Falls, and attended Northwest Christian College in Eugene, Ore.

Grace was married to Roger H. Elliott in 1959, and lived in Columbia Falls, where they raised their four children. One of her outstanding attributes was her lovely soprano voice. She generously gave her talent through the United Methodist Church in Columbia Falls and Happy Trails Christian Fellowship in Surprise.

Grace was very active in civic, social and fraternal organizations. She was president of the Montana State Jayceens; mother advisor of the Rainbow Chapter in Columbia Falls, a member of Eastern Star and P.E.O. She was a member of Deborah Circle of the United Methodist Women. Her social activities included book clubs, singing clubs and the Red Hat Society. She was instrumental in forming the Happy Trails cancer support group in Surprise. She also enjoyed needlework while watching the humming birds feed at the window.

Some of the highlights of her life included supporting her children through school, sports, and other youth activities and into adulthood. She enjoyed travel, which included moving onto a boat for three years, where she sailed the Inland Passage to Alaska two times. She enjoyed motor homing from 1992 through 2006, having been around the U.S. and Canada many times. She insisted on settling at Happy Trails in Surprise for her winter home in 2002.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father; numerous aunts and uncles; and a stepgrandchild.

She is survived by her devoted husband, Roger H. Elliott; four children, Diane Elliott of Poplar, Roger F. and Rose Elliott of Columbia Falls, Wayne and Suzanne Elliott of Kalispell, and Elizabeth and Mark Parrish of Sparks, Nev.; her sister, Marjorie and Kent Lindsey of Halfmoon Bay, British Columbia; stepmother, Irene De Wit of Columbia Falls; grandchildren, Stephanie and Sam Elliott, Briana and Elliott Parrish, and Melissa Dodge; a niece, Dr. Jeanne and Roger Mace, and a nephew, Scott and Kelly Lindsey, both of Canada; many cousins and a family of friends in Montana and Arizona.

Her wishes were to have her organs donated to the organ bank and to research.

Cremation has taken place at the International Institute of Advanced Medicine in Phoenix. A memorial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 24, at the United Methodist Church in Columbia Falls.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Flathead Lake Methodist Summer Camp or the American Cancer Society.