Mary DeVries
Mary Alice DeVries, 102, died July 30, 2010, at The Springs of Whitefish surrounded by many members of her large family.
She was born July 17, 1908, in Walters, Okla., the youngest of 10 children born to Dick Yates and Mary Maria Wilson. The family moved to Montana in 1914 and lived on several homesteads in the Winnett area. She attended school in Winnett and graduated as the valedictorian.
She was the only member of her family to attend college. She worked her way through Montana State College in Bozeman, graduated in 1934, taught briefly in Winnett, and returned to Montana State College as an executive secretary.
She married Herb DeVries in 1937. They moved throughout Idaho, Montana, Colorado and Washington for Herb's job as a county extension agent before moving to Chinook to raise their family.
Mary raised four children, taught elementary school and worked as a social worker. They retired to Polson in 1971, where she lived until 2005.
She was always active in her church and loved her Polson Community Church. She was lovingly referred to as Queen Mary by her church family.
Mary and Herb put four children through Montana State University and encouraged education in all their children and grandchildren. Among her grandchildren, there are 10 college graduates with two Ph.D.s, an M.D., two pastors, one major in the Air Force and several graduate degrees.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 53 years in 1991.
She is survived by her children Noel DeVries and wife Edna, of Palmer, Alaska, Gail Phillips and husband Ken, of Castlerock, Colo., Gordon DeVries and wife Laura, of Bennett, Colo., and Kathy Walker and husband Bill, of Dayton; 13 grandchildren; and 31 great grandchildren. Local family include Dr. Craig Walker, of Bigfork, James Walker, of Plain, Washington, Dr. Jennie Eckstrom, of Whitefish, and Mary Walker Berck, of Redding, Calif.
A memorial service was held at Polson Community Church on Aug. 1, 2010, with Richard Widerholdt presiding. Private burial took place at Polson Cemetary. Memorials can be sent to Polson Community Church and to DOVES Women Shelter in Polson.
Carolyn Smith
Carolyn (Doney) Smith, 47, passed away Aug. 2, 2010, in Whitefish due to a blood clot in her lungs.
She was born June 5, 1963, in Missoula to Roger and Helene (Loy) Doney, of Whitefish. She graduated from Great Falls High School in 1981, where was a basketball standout and played on the state championship team for three years.
Carolyn received a full-ride basketball scholarship to University of Alaska in Anchorage. She married her college sweetheart, Barry Smith, on July 7, 1990, in Penticton, B.C.
They moved to Munich, Germany, where Barry played pro hockey. He went on to coaching teams in Erie, Pa., where sons Maxl and Gage were born; Waterloo, Iowa; Kansas City, Kan.; Baton Rouge, La.; Syracuse, N.Y., where son Hutton was born; and Winnipeg, Manitoba.
They settled in Whitefish in 2004, while Barry commuted to his coaching responsibilities with the Vancouver Canucks and the Kamloops Blazers. Carolyn was very active in their church, the community and with youth hockey and youth baseball.
Carolyn is survived by her devoted husband Barry; sons Maxl, Gage and Hutton; parents Roger and Helene Doney, of Whitefish; brothers John Doney and wife Maggie, of Helena, and Mike Doney and wife Jennifer, of Seattle; sister, Lauryn Rice and husband Andrew, of San Diego; Barry's parents Robert and Dolores Smith, of Roseburg, Ore.; Barry's siblings, Cindy Dorrell and husband Darrell, of Portland, Oregon; Kevin Smith and wife Kim, of Kansas City, Kan., Wendy Smith, of Brazil; and Perry Smith and wife Cindy, of Chicago.
Carolyn was able to donate life to others by being an organ and tissue donor. Memorial Mass was held at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, in Whitefish, on Aug. 6, 2010.
Melvyn Yokan
Dr. Melvyn R. Yokan, 89, died Aug. 7, 2010, at Whitefish Care and Rehabilitation Center.
He is survived by his wife Mary Catherine; daughter Christina Yokan; sons Nicholas Yokan and wife Janet, and Michael Yokan; and granddaughters Catherine and Marie Yokan.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. A full obituary will be available next week. Austin Funeral Home is caring for the family.