Helen May Morris, 97

Helen May Morris, 97, passed away Oct. 15, 2014, at her home in Whitefish, of natural causes.

Helen was born Nov. 24, 1916, in Whitefish to the Belvederes who died in the flu epidemic when she was 2 years old. She was adopted by Obie and Pearlie Clark and grew up in Whitefish.

Helen met her husband, David Morris, when she was 8 and he was 12; they married on their shared birthday, Nov. 24, 1935, when she was 19. They had three children and were happily married for 73 years. David preceded her in death at 96 years of age in 2008. Their love for and devotion to each other was evident in everything they did. Their lives touched the lives of many people in countless ways.

Helen was very active in her home, community and church. She enjoyed gardening, photography, record keeping, baking and feeding people. Her home was continually open to friends and family. She was famous for selling cookies to her grandchildren for kisses. Helen worked ceaselessly and enjoyed her work. She was gifted in hospitality and partnering with her husband to excel at all the endeavors they took on. Their various livelihoods were logging, ranching, farming, outfitting in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, heavy equipment construction and snow removal. They were pioneers in the Sheriff Posse, O-Mok-See, the Whitefish Saddle Club, the Back Country Horsemen, among other activities. In 2013 Helen had the honor of being the last First Lady of Whitefish.

Helen lived well, loved well; she lived fully and generously and she will be greatly missed.

Helen is survived by her daughter, Marie Morris Hedman, of Kalispell; son, Robert Morris, of Whitefish; grandchildren, Doug and wife Kathy Hedman of Washington, Dale and wife Annette Hedman of California, Dave and wife Wendy Morris, Mark and wife Sherilyn Morris, Darcy Morris of Whitefish, Yvette and husband Bruce Holler of the U.S. Army; great-grandchildren, Jason, Mandie, Jenna, Daniel, Paige, Casey, Cody, Wyatt, Jessica, Clayton and Courtney; great-great-grandchildren, Isabel, Alexis, Addison, Raylena, Serena, Deacon, Analee, Veronica and Stetson; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A burial service will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at Glacier Memorial Gardens Cemetery. The memorial service will follow at 11:30 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Whitefish.

Austin Funeral Home is taking care of the arrangements.