Julie (Luce) Craft
Julie E. Luce was the first born child of Ronald S. and Marie Keck Luce on Nov. 1, 1916, in New Richmond, Wis.
As a young girl, six years of age, Julie arrived in Columbia Falls with her mother and father and three brothers and all their worldly belongings in a horse-drawn covered wagon. In order to pay for passage for his family on the Great Northern Railroad from East Glacier to West Glacier, since there was no road, her father worked for Jim Hill on the railroad for one month.
Julie attended schools in the Flathead Valley and graduated from Whitefish High School in 1934, after which she attended and graduated from Kinmon Business School, in Spokane, Wash.
Armed with her bright red hair and big smile, a love of life and people and a good education, Julie became an astute, respected business lady and eventually became partners with Bud Schrock for 20 years at the Park Drug in Columbia Falls. Julie was always proud that she and Bud had a strict policy of "never turning anyone away for lack of money." They sold the business to Jack Therrien in 1968.
Julie became the first woman elected to the Columbia Falls City Council and served two terms, being so proud to "give something back" to the town and people she loved. During this same time period she also worked as a secretary for the Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce.
Although she started painting at an early age, during her retirement years Julie became an accomplished artist and painted many beautiful pictures with oil paints. After her husband, Laurence Craft, retired, they were able to become "snowbirds" and traveled south in the winter for about 20 years, during which they traveled through most all of the states except the Northeast.
Her mother and father, Marie and Ronald; her four brothers, Robert, Lewis, Joseph and Albert; and two infant daughters from a previous marriage, Frankie Julia and Janice Marie Barnett, preceded Julie in death.
She is survived by her husband of 47 years, Laurence, at their Columbia Falls residence, and by many loving and loved nieces and nephews and a large family who loved her. Many will remember the red hair, the smile and laughter, and the big heart as well as the economic and emotional help, which she gave freely.
A memorial service will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery at 11 a.m. on July 31, 2004, led by Reverend Ray Davis and accompanied by Marcia Dewkett.
A celebration of Julie's life will be held at Connie Kenfield's home on Poverty Lane, just off Tamarack Lane. All friends and family are welcome and invited to attend.