Elizabeth Ann Tarr
Elizabeth “Ann” Tarr, 74, passed on quietly Sunday April 15, 2012 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center after a brave year and a half fight with pancreatic cancer.
Ann was born in Coulterville, Ill. Her parents, Blanch and Mark, also were born there. Ann had a sister, June; a brother, John; and a sister, Carrie who died early in childhood. The family lived and grew in Villa Park, a suburb of Chicago.
Ann went to public school, then on to York Community High School in Elmhurst, Ill. Her husband to be, Bill, or Warren as she knew him, was one grade ahead of her through junior high and high school although they didn’t really know each other until the summer of 1959 when they started “hanging” out at the local swimming pool. Bill “Warren” having finished four years in the U.S. Coast Guard, and Ann an executive secretary at Sears Roebuck, decided not to waste a cold winter and were married Nov. 11, 1959 at the Elmhurst Presbyterian Church.
Ann continued at Sears until they were blessed with Mark Robert and then William Warren Jr. Ann then became a homemaker until the boys were in school at Whitefish, where they moved to in 1968 for a change in lifestyle.
During her 43 years in Whitefish she was a pretty busy gal. Besides raising three very active boys — Bill, Mark and Warren — she found time to pursue her passion for genealogy as well as garden, quilt, fish, canoe race, run (including a 26.2 mile marathon), bicycle tour (once to Chicago), wood carve , alpine ski and winter camp on touring skis. She was also a library board member, book club member, sorority member, clerk of the session at the Whitefish Presbyterian Church for more years than anyone can remember and was also a member of the Alpine Ringers bell choir.
She worked as an aide at Whitefish High School and Muldown Elementary School for 16 years. She was a proud member of the “Daughters of the American Revolution.” She loved traveling any where but loved getting home even more.
Ann was a quiet but fierce supporter of her sons and grandchildren. Ann and Bill logged many miles following their athletic endeavors.
Ann is survived by her husband of 53 years, Bill; sister, June Whyte and husband George of Naperville, Ill.; and son, Mark and his wife Yvonne of Columbia Falls. Their children, Allyson Lucker, husband Adam and daughter Sydney of Bothell, Wash., and Aric Tarr of Bozeman; and son, Warren “Will” and his wife Ann Marie of Vancouver, Wash., and his children, Katarina and husband Fabian Wopke of Essen, Germany, and Conner Tarr of Vancouver, Wash.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Blanche Burgher; her father, Mark N. Burgher; her brother, John; and sister, Carrie.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, May 31 at 1 p.m. at the 1st Presbyterian church of Whitefish. The Rev. Ken Peterson will preside.
You are invited to go to www.austinfh.com to offer condolences, share memories and view Ann’s
tribute wall.
Austin Funeral Home is caring for Ann’s family.