Vera Jarrett, 90

Vera Jarrett, 90, passed away on June 13, 2019.

Vera was born in Lewistown on Nov. 17, 1928 to Lee and Dot Smith. Her mother passed away when she was 3 years old. She spent the next few years being raised by her father Lee, with help from her aunts. In 1934 Lee remarried Della Smith giving Vera a steady home again and a loving mother.

Vera spent her childhood growing up on a dry farm 40 miles outside of Lewistown. She attended a small rural school until junior high, at which point her and Della moved into Lewistown.

In 1947, Jack, a handsome young sailor from New York came to Lewistown. Vera initially played hard to get but was eventually won over with a jar of dill pickles at the county fair. Jack and Vera married on April 17, 1948 and soon gave birth to their daughter JudyDel in January 1949.

The young family bounced from town to town across Montana as Jack pursued his lineman career. Vera was an amazing wife and mother. For those that knew her, she was always deep cleaning something. Many an apartment across their travels received a top to bottom cleanse. She was also a fabulous cook and baker with skills she acquired from her beloved aunt Sweetie.

In 1950 they moved to Columbia Falls to operate the taxicab service out of the police station with her folks. The town was booming with the construction of the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company, Hungry Horse Dam.

Jack and Vera were inseparable throughout their 72 years of marriage, living a very active lifestyle. They loved to camp, fish and dance. She was always proud of their large garden and of all the canned foods she prepared from the fresh fruits and vegetables. They were both wanderers and loved to travel, covering all 50 states and rarely missing a rodeo along the way.

Vera worked at several bakeries around Columbia Falls before settling at the Vet’s Home, where she was loved by many of the vets.

Jack and Vera’s marriage lea to the birth of JudyDel, who is married to Jim Perry. At the time of her passing she had five grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. She always had a wonderful way of making each one feel as if they were the only one in the world that mattered.

Vera was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends, but they can rest assured that her and Jack are once again dancing together in Heaven.

A funeral service for Vera will be held on Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at the Canvas Church in Columbia Falls, 738 3rd Ave West, at 2:30 p.m.

Burial will follow services at Woodlawn Cemetery.

Columbia Mortuary is caring for Vera’s family.