Ena Louise Keating Baldwin, 74

Our mother, sister, grandmother and our friend, Ena Louise Keating Baldwin, sailed away to her new life on Oct. 28, 2009. Ena was born in Ontario to Fred and Lulu Keating. She was welcomed to her farm home by sisters, Ellen, Ruby, Beatrice, Norma and Elva, and brothers, Ralph and Lawrence. Before long, brothers Orland and Vernon were born, making the number of children 10! What a family! Ena s first job was with the Bell Telephone Co. After several years she left her home country and moved to Houston, where she became a ballroom dancing teacher with Fred Astaire Studios. She even danced with the man himself! There she met and married her husband, Harold Baldwin. Her daughter Leisa was born in Houston. Ena and Harold left the dance business after Leisa was born and they traveled extensively with Harold s new company. At one of their stops along the way, a second daughter, Leslie, was born. Ena s next career was at Topeka Medical Center in the pediatric department. Ena enjoyed many varied careers throughout her life. She became a furniture salesman and interior designer in Denver and then went on to open three women s consignment clothing stores; the first one in Coeur d Alene, Idaho, and then the last, and her favorite, Ena s Reflection, in Kalispell. She never really retired until she sold the business in 2003. Finding retirement difficult, she found she needed a new challenge, so she joined the Foster Grandparent Program and was Grandma Ena at Elrod School for several years. Ena loved life. She loved her children and grandchildren and her brothers and sisters. Her physical presence will be sorely missed, but her spirit and wisdom will remain. She will continue to teach, inspire, motivate and amuse every person who remembers this most remarkable woman. She is survived by her daughters, Leisa and Leslie; grandchildren, Desiree, Eli and Clayton; great-grandchildren, Tristan, Vanessa and Christopher; brothers, Orland and Vernon; sisters, Norma and Beatrice; and oodles of wonderful nieces and nephews. A private family celebration will be held. Cards and remembrances can be sent to P.O. Box 1262, Kalispell, MT 59903.