Guynn Ellen (Waggoner) Cavallini, 69

Guynn Ellen (Waggoner) Cavallini, 69, died Jan. 21, 2021, in Hot Springs.

Guynn was born May 31, 1951, in Fremont, Ohio, daughter of Robert Guynn Waggoner and Dorothy Janet (Haley).

She was preceded in death by her brother, Jeff Waggoner of Delray Beach, Florida.

She is survived by her husband, Steve Cavallini of Hot Spring, son Peter Cavallini of Citrus Heights, California, son Shane Cavallini of Bozeman, and sister, Patricia Minnozzi of Springfield, Oregon.

Guynn graduated from Fremont Ross High School in Fremont in 1969. She was an excellent student and was selected to the National Honor Society. She loved art and theater and was always involved in decorating committees for school plays and proms and was active in Teen Theater. She was also an active member of various school clubs, often elected to positions of leadership. Due to her infectious enthusiasm and creativity, she was honored by fellow students to be their homecoming queen. To know Guynn was to love her.

Guynn attended George Williams College in Downers Grove, Illiinois. While majoring in humanities, she continued her theatrical dreams and was the lead in several college plays. Initially she lived on campus, but later lived in Chicago and commuted out to school. She had an adventurous soul.

Guynn headed west to Montana, settled in Kalispell and put her graphic artist skills to use at “Kalispell Neon” as a sign-painter. She was chosen as an extra on the movie “Heaven's Gate” that was shot in the area. She got herself shot in the film, which we watched yearly to see her demise. That winter a skiing accident forced her to enlist a neighbor to carry her through deep snow. We fell in love quickly and co-habitated near Rogers Lake in a log cabin I, Steve, built. We married at the Diamond R wilderness ranch up the South Fork of Flathead at Spotted Bear, hosted by Gary and Tootie with Brady flying up the justice of the peace to do the ceremony.

Guynn did her part in Kalispell's growth spurt with the arrival of sons Peter Colt and Steven Shane who grew up in the woods by the lake. We decided it was getting too crowded and bought a small ranch near Hot Springs. Needing something to do, we established Hot Springs Lumber & Feed store, built an apartment building and a mall where Guynn had her fitness center and women's dress boutique. She got the boys involved with 4-H, helped with the fair in Plains, organized blood drives for many years and dedicated a gallery in her mall for Hot Springs Artist Society.

When the boys went to college she expanded her fitness center to include classes in Zumba, Sit and Be Fit, yoga and even ballet for little girls (which she never had). She helped host many art and photography shows in her gallery and regularly won ribbons as she got back into painting. Next came her musical endeavors as she started playing with friends at Wall Street Place mall on weekends. Their little ensemble I called the Menopausal Militia (as they also took shooting and gun safety class together).

All this took a back seat to becoming Gramma Guynn five times over. Her true calling, though cut short, will have a lasting effect on Shane and Angie's three girls, Ashlynn (8), Layla (6) and Brynlee (2), and Pete and Danielle's pair, Geno (5) and Capri (2). Her face never failed to light up at their presence or slightest mention of them. We will surely miss seeing her buzz through Hot Springs in her little red sports car with the top down.

Any memorial contributions may be made to the Hot Springs Artist Society.

Services are planned for later this year once the pandemic has subsided.