Carmen Peebles, 70

Carmen Peebles, 70, a longtime and beloved resident of Kalispell, was called home on Nov. 23, 2009, after a long illness. She was born in Tehachapi, Calif. Carmen was well known for her loving devotion to God and to her family. She adored her grandchildren and her great-grandchild. Carmen was a mainstay at Kalispell Regional Medical Center, where she worked for many years as a housekeeper. Her warmth and kindness endeared her to both staff and patients. Motivated by her trademark qualities of generosity and compassion, Carmen valued community service and volunteerism. She assisted urban Native Americans through a health outreach organization. Her Native American heritage equipped her with the knowledge to serve as a cultural consultant. She also worked extensively with anthropologists to document and preserve her native Kawaiisu language. Faith and music were common threads throughout her life. She was a regular participant of Bible study groups and she expressed her creative spirit through singing and playing the guitar; she especially loved bluegrass and old-time hymns. Carmen is survived by her husband of 46 years, George; her brother, Monty Greene, and his wife, Jill, of Tehachapi; two daughters, Leslie Hughes, and her husband, Michael, of Stanwood, Wash., and Veronica Brandewie of Sequim, Wash.; two grandchildren, Stuart Brandewie of Port Angeles, Wash., and Kelsey Brandewie of Helena; one great-grandchild, Kali Heyer, of Sequim; two nieces, Melanie and Brandi Greene; and a nephew, Kyle Greene. A celebration of Carmen s life will be held at 1 p.m. this Saturday, Nov. 28, at the Cowboy Church in Kalispell, with Assistant Pastor Don Robinson officiating. A reception will follow at the church.