Mary Emma (Carr) Leighty, 94

Mary Emma (Carr) Leighty, 94, “was reunited with her loved ones” on Feb. 4, 2014, in Kalispell.

Mary was born on Jan. 27, 1920, at the home of her parents, Rue and Mauna Loa Carr in Creston. She was number four of six girls and grew up in Creston. She attended the first eight grades at Creston School and then went on to Flathead County High School, graduating in 1938.

In 1942 Mary married the love of her life, Earl Leighty, and they were soon joined by twin boys, Samuel and Daniel. They lived in Kalispell until the boys were in the third grade and then moved to Evergreen where they resided until Earl passed away in 2012. Mary moved to Wel-Life assisted living on what would have been their 70th anniversary.

Mary and Earl raised a large garden in Evergreen, milked cows and raised chickens, and when the Flathead Farmers Market started up in the First Interstate Bank parking lot, she and Earl began taking their produce and flowers to sell. The Farmers Market was a major part of Mary’s life for many years. She and Earl would spend all day Friday getting their produce and flowers ready for sale. Mary was well known at the market and she was the little lady with the flowered hat. She had bought a muumuu in Hawaii and when she got home cut it up and covered a straw hat with the fabric. Mary and her hat became the symbol of the Farmers Market as she was featured in the Daily Inter Lake many times, as well as many other newspapers and magazines. Many of her customers would take pictures of her, some sneaking them and some coming up to her and asking permission to take her picture and saying, “You are cute.”

She loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and would often be seen down on the floor with them putting a puzzle together, playing with marbles or out in the garden sharing her strawberries, raspberries and peas with them. In the winter she could be found sledding with them. There was always a smile on her face when they were around.

Her faith in Jesus Christ was very important to her and she was very active in Evergreen Alliance Church teaching Sunday School for many years to young children. She was also active in the Women’s Missionary Prayer Fellowship, and both she and Earl attended Keen Camp at Dickey Lake for several years. She was also a 4-H leader and a volunteer at the Nutrition Center.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Earl in 2012; son, Dan in 2011; a granddaughter; four sisters; and her parents.

She is survived by one son, Sam and his wife, Sandy of Kalispell; daughter-in-law, Diana of Kalispell; one sister, Helen of Great Falls; six grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren, one great-great-granddaughter; numerous nieces and nephews; as well as all her friends at Wel-Life.

Viewing will be from 1 to 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14 at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home. A celebration of Mary’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15  at Faith Alliance Church, 348 Second Ave. W., in Kalispell. There will be a luncheon provided after the service. Memorials may be given to Faith Alliance Church, or Wel-Life Assisted Living.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Mary’s family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and view Mary’s tribute wall.