Avela McKee

Avela Wildermuth McKee, 87, of Polson, passed away Nov. 26, 2006, at St. Joseph Hospital in Polson from natural causes.

She was born April 13, 1919, in Fargo, N.D., to Jerome and Ave (Dutton) Wildermuth. She graduated from Greeley Teachers College, in Greeley, Colo., in 1950. She met Orville Nelson at college and married him on June 12, 1951.

Avela first taught in a one-room schoolhouse in Colorado for grades 1-8, where she baked biscuits for her students on the wood-burning stove. She also taught elementary school in Anaheim and Pasadena, Calif., and Corvallis, Ore., for a total of 33 years of teaching, and retired at the age of 62.

Avela renewed her acquaintance with Bill McKee, whom she had not seen in 24-plus years, at a family reunion in 1980, and they were married on May 23, 1984.

Their love story took them on a wonderful journey from marriage to celebrating the birth of great grandchildren, to traveling around the Pacific Northwest, United States and the world.

She called Montana home, first at Whitefish, then Polson, but they spent their winters in a second home at Palm Desert, Calif.

She will be remembered for her thoughtfulness to family and friends, her zest for life and the many little things she did for others that made such a difference in their lives. Avela loved sewing, knitting, crocheting and cooking.

Never at a loss for words, she always had a welcoming smile in her eyes, enjoying laughter, a good conversation and the good friends that made both of those things happen. Avela delighted in bringing out the child in all of us no matter what our age, but particularly related with the young ones.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Orville Nelson; brothers Rodney Wildermuth, and wife Olive, and Loren Wildermuth; and sister Doris Houser, and husband Charley.

Avela is survived by her husband, Bill McKee, of Polson; daughters Laurie and Doug Schmitt, of Castro Valley, Calif., and Lynn McEachren, of Spokane; sons Loren Nelson, of Mission Viejo, Calif., and Mike and Jeanette McKee, of Hamilton; brothers Berl Wildermuth and wife Helen, of Clinton, Wis., and Orliss Wildermuth and wife Polly, of Seattle; six grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of her life was held Nov. 29, 2006, in the First Presbyterian Church in Polson, with Rev. Dave Anson officiating. Inurnment will be held in the spring at Glacier Memorial Gardens in Kalispell.