Nancy Claydon

Nancy Lee Claydon, 56, passed away from unknown causes at her home in Columbia Falls on Jan. 10, 2013.

She was born in Rochester, Minn., on April 15, 1956, to James and Joyce Claydon. She graduated from Mayo High School in 1974 and then moved to Missoula to attend the University of Montana, where she graduated in 1978 with a bachelor’s in sociology.

Nancy moved to Whitefish with friends in the fall of 1978 to spend one winter skiing and working, and ended up staying in the Flathead Valley for the rest of her life. She was married to Terry Conat of Whitefish from 1981 to 2008.

She is survived by her daughter Sara Kurashige and husband Aaron, of Bow, Wash.; son Weston Conat, of Portland; daughter Lexie Conat, of San Juan Bautista, Calif.; stepdaughter Stacey Taylor, of Alexandria, Va.; stepdaughter Brandie Elia, of Gilroy, Calif.; five grandchildren; sister Elizabeth Klopp, of Rochester; sister Sally Nathanson, of Middleton, Wis.; and five nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held Jan. 17, 2013, at Austin Funeral Home in Whitefish. Memorial donations may be made to the Humane Society of Northwest Montana, P.O. Box 221, Kalispell MT 59903.