Kathryn Bess Wamsley

Kathryn Bess Wamsley, 80, passed away, after fighting a courageous battle with cancer, on Wednesday, April 13, 2005, at her home in Kalispell. She was born Feb. 11, 1925 in Cut Bank, Montana.

She met the love of her life, Ray Wamsley, and was married on May 16th, 1942, and had three children. Then in 1952, they decided to move to Kalispell where they have resided ever since.

Kay loved life. One of her favorite past times was playing bingo every Wednesday with all her friends who called themselves the Bingo Babes. Ethyle and Eleanor, she loved you dearly. Over the past years, she loved watching her grandchildren pay baseball, through snow, rain or sunshine, she sat through it all. She was a woman of true grit.

Throughout her lifetime she belonged to the Montana Women's Bowling Association, The Moose Lodge and The Eagles. Kay raced stock cars for many years; back then it was called powder puff racing. She also was a bartender throughout the valley and will always be remembered for her great sense of humor and wit.

As a loving Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, wife and Friend, she touched the lives of many people and she will be dearly missed by those blessed by her love and kindness.

"The good Lord decided to take home one of the best, Kathryn Bess Wamsley. God saw she was getting tired so he wrapped her in His arms and said, 'Come home with me.' Kay suffered much in silence, her spirit did not bend. She faced her pain with courage until the very end. She tried so hard to stay with us, but she did not go alone, for part of us went with her the day God took her home." She was loved and will be missed.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents, Lyle and Emma Lindquist; one son, Jay Wamsley; one brother, Charlie; and two granddaughters, Kelly Kay and Ilene.

She is survived by her husband Ray Wamsley of Kalispell; two daughters, Renae Morton and husband, Jeff, of Kalispell, and Diane Sigman and husband, Don, of Coulee Dam, Wash.; nine grandchildren, Bodie Morton and wife, Heidi, Tonya Holden and husband, J.J., Leslie Breimon and husband, Tim, Jeff Downing and wife, Christy, Deana Dennison and husband, Gregg, Scott Downing, Jerry Ray Downing, Ernie Holmquist, and Tony Wamsley; 19 great grandchildren, Taylor, Marie, Max, Jaden, Kyle, Jenelle, Brad, Madison, Brent, Brendon, Curtis, Lerrick, Doug, Dustin, Derrick, Josh, Kenny, Shaney, Tory and one more on the way to be born in August, Gracie Gayle.

Graveside services for Kathryn Bess Wamsley were held on Monday, April 18, at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.