Elizabeth 'Ann' Tarr, 74

Elizabeth “Ann” Tarr, 74, passed on quietly at 6:30 a.m. Sunday, April 15, 2012, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center, after a brave year and a half fight with pancreatic cancer.

Ann was born in Coulterville, Ill. Her parents Blanch and Mark also were born there. Ann had a sister June, a brother John, and a sister Carrie, who died early in childhood. The family lived and grew in Villa Park Ill., a suburb of Chicago. Ann went to public school then on to York Community High School in Elmhurst, Ill. 

Her husband to be, Bill, or Warren, as she knew him, was one grade ahead of her through junior high and high school; although they didn’t really know each other until the summer of 1959 when they started “hanging” out at the local swimming pool. 

Bill “Warren,” having finished four years in the U.S. Coast Guard, and Ann, an executive secretary at Sears Roebuck, decided not to waste a cold winter and were married Nov. 11, 1959, at the Elmhurst Presbyterian Church. Ann continued at Sears until they were blessed with Mark Robert and then William Warren Jr. Ann then became a homemaker until the boys were in school at Whitefish, where they moved to in 1968 for a change in lifestyle.

During her 43 years in Whitefish she was a pretty busy gal. Besides raising three very active boys, Bill, Mark and Warren, she found time to pursue her passion for genealogy as well as garden, quilt, fish, canoe race, run (including a 26.2 mile marathon), bicycle tour (once to Chicago), wood carve, alpine ski and winter camp on touring skis. She was also a library board member, book club member, sorority member, clerk of the session at the Whitefish Presbyterian Church for more years than anyone can remember, and a member of the Alpine Ringers bell choir. 

She worked as an aide at Whitefish High School and Muldown Elementary School for 16 years. She was a proud member of the DAR, Daughters of the American Revolution. She loved traveling anywhere, but loved getting home even more. 

Ann was a quiet, but fierce supporter of her sons and grandchildren. Ann and Bill logged many miles following their athletic endeavors.

Ann is survived by her husband, Bill, of 53 years; sister, June Whyte, and husband, George, of Naperville, Ill.; son, Mark, and his wife, Yvonne, of Columbia Falls, and their children Allyson Lucker, husband Adam, and daughter Sydney of Bothell, Wash., and Aric Tarr of Bozeman; and son, Warren “Will,” and his wife, Ann Marie, of Vancouver, Wash., and his children, Katarina and husband Fabian Wopke of Essen, Germany, and Conner Tarr of Vancouver.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Blanche Burgher; her father, Mark N. Burgher; her brother, John; and sister, Carrie.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 31, at the First Presbyterian Church of Whitefish. The Rev. Ken Peterson will preside.

You are invited to go to www.austinfh.com to offer condolences, share memories and view Ann’s tribute wall. 

Austin Funeral Home is caring for Ann’s family.