Heaven welcomed Pauline Jane (Morris) Warn (age 96) during a peaceful sleep at Rocky Mountain Care Center on April 9, 2013. Pauline was born December 16, 1916 near Belt, MT to Michael and Katherine Morris.
Pauline grew up on the family ranch along Sun River, near Augusta with 6 siblings. After high school, Pauline attended business school; worked as a “Rosie Riveter” in Portland during World War II on ships and aircraft; and in a department store. She came back to Montana and married David Eugene (“Dave” or “Gene”) Warn in Shelby June 23, 1947. They started working at a dry cleaning business in Choteau before moving to Helena, where David worked at Caird Engineering. Pauline worked in a candy factory; as an election judge; and spent the rest of her life as a wife, homemaker, mother and grandmother. Until shortly before her death Pauline lived independently after her husband died in 2005.
Pauline never met a flower she didn’t like; enjoyed bird watching, especially Pine Siskins; loved gardening, photography (relatives and flowers) and crafts. She cherished time with family members, reading her bible and attended St. Peters Episcopal Church adult bible study. She was a member of Daughters of the Nile. She was an excellent cook, and with David made jellies using plums and rhubarb grown in their yard, relishes, syrups, Czech dishes and the best wild game mincemeat on the planet. One batch was so big it was mixed in the bathtub. She cared for stray cats and many house/yard plants in her later years.
Pauline is survived by sons, Stephen (Jackie Windon) Warn and George (Sharon) Warn, grandchildren Jennifer, Jodi, Dillon (Elaine), Drew (Allison), and Samuel Warn, great-grandchildren Alexandria Dobbins and Jayden Elliott. Nieces and nephews include Mike Morris, Fred (Laura) Morris, Judy Anderson, Randall (Jerri) Morris, Merle (Rosanna) Morris, Tony-Gene Namen, Sandra (Bob) Cecrle, Sherry (Peter) Gallagher, Louie Woodcock, Rob (Jan) Warn, Russell (April) Warn, Nadine (Jeff) Whitehead, Diona (Jerry) Austil, Del (Craig) Norwood, Ronald “Hoss” (Terry) Morris, Diana (Charlie) Dickert, and Sharon Kirkness.
Thanks to long term neighbors, Helen Gage and Bill Jefferson, who kept tabs on Pauline.
Pauline was preceded in death by her husband David, her mother and father, and siblings Mike (Ina) Morris, George Morris, Fern (Ben) Woodcock, Ellen (C.O. “Shorty”) Gorder, Fred (Judy) Morris, Kay (Tony) Namen, and her nephew “Jimmy” (Barbara) Namen and Niece Benita (Ken) Burchok.
A celebration of Pauline’s life will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, April 19, 2013 at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave. A reception will immediately follow the service in the social hall of the funeral home. Burial will take place at Montana State Veterans Cemetery at 3:30 p.m. Memorials in Pauline’s name are suggested to the Lewis & Clark Humane Society, P.O. Box 4455, Helena, MT 59604 or the Rocky Mountain Development Council, PO BOX 1717, Helena, Mt 59624.
Service Schedule
Celebration of Her Life
1:00 P.M.
Friday April 19, 2013
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the Celebration of Her Life
Friday April 19, 2013
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Burial
3:30 p.m.
Friday April 19, 2013
Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Fort Harrison
Helena, MT 59602
Service Schedule
Celebration of Her Life
1:00 P.M.
Friday April 19, 2013
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the Celebration of Her Life
Friday April 19, 2013
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Burial
3:30 p.m.
Friday April 19, 2013
Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Fort Harrison
Helena, MT 59602
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Sandra Carroll says
She was a dear sweet lady who will be missed greatly. She had a lot of funny stories to share and was always kind to people. She could talk to anyone and did. My sincere condolences to her family.
Robert Warn says
My Aunt Pauline, will miss her a lot. Wish I could be there on Friday to say goodby.
Fred J. Morris says
If Pauline had her way, everybody would stop what they’re doing and ” take a bath ! “.
She was a very special Aunt. Always interested and positive in what we were doing as children and adults; even if it was bad. She always kept us up to date in visits and Christmas cards – sometimes writing sideways and upside down. She always had conversation, smiles pictures, and that stay-young attitude. We were so lucky as kids, all of us cousins, to have the Aunts and Uncles we had. They will live long in our memories.
Deborah Rumberger says
I only met Pauline a few times, and only after she’d turned 95. But I could tell what a special person she was. If only all of us could retain our sweetness and age so gracefully. It seemed to me that the world was blessed to have her a part of it, even up to her last days on earth. It’s so nice to read how much her family appreciated her, and to know how much she will be missed. May she rest in peace and may her family be comforted knowing she gave the world her very best every day.
George, Sharon & Sam - says
No matter the circumstances, it’s still difficult to say that final good-bye to a loved one. May you enjoy the memories of your Mom with a life long-lived, & celebrate all that she was & all that she left behind for her family members. Our sympathies to you.
Gary & Joy Novota says
George, Sharon & Sam –
No matter the circumstances, it’s still difficult to say that final good-bye to a loved one. May you enjoy the memories of your Mom with a life long-lived, & celebrate all that she was & all that she left behind for her family members. Our sympathies to you.
Sherry Gallagher says
Pauline was such a dear sweet aunt. I remember the times she would take us hiking to pick chokecherries, and crossing the river to visit the “Old Place” on the ranch. She was a lot of fun, always had time to do things with us, and tell us stories about her and her family growing up. She loved photography, and collected many beautiful photos. She always stayed in contact and made this world a more special place. I will miss her a lot.
Mary J. Younger says
George, Steve, and family,
My most sincere condolences go out to all family members. I know your mom was a lovely lady and she will be missed. My heart is with you.
Jackie Windon says
What a beautiful spirit, our Pauline. I loved our one on one times shopping and lunch. She had the best stories of growing up on the ranch. She laughed as she related the first time her Mama met a real Indian. You have to remember the history of this area when her Mom and Dad immigrated to Mt from Slovakia. Pauline’s Dad was out working on the ranch and her Mama was tending several kids at the house, when she spied an Indian on a horse riding straight for them. Pauline’s Mama quickly gathered all her chicks like a little mother hen and shooed them into the house and baricaded the door. She sat inside with the kids worrying herself sick, until Pauline’s Dad came home. As it turned out the Indian was a friend of Pauline’s Dad coming to visit about work and what not.
I so enjoyed our “girlfriend” talks about our college days and courtin’ boys. It’s so neat to hear that even though there may have been 40 years between us, we still had many of the same lifetime experiences. She’d giggle when she’d tell me how she played hard to get with David, before she finally agreed to marry him. It took him a couple of years to reign her in and convince her to say “Yes”.
Pauline had the best sense of humor and often engaged in banter with family members. I remember her coming home from one of her doctor check ups and the boys were teasing her about having to either get her a booster seat or make her sit in the backseat of the car if she shrunk any shorter than her 4’10”.
She may have been small in stature, but she sure was huge in love and laughter. Of all the things her descendants have learned from her, these are two traits that she has successfully passed on. I count it a privilege to have shared time with her these past 8 years. I think I might even have become a “daughter of the heart” even though I haven’t married her son yet, not that she didn’t hint at it from time to time. 🙂
Heaven will never welcome a sweeter Mama and Earth will never lose a dearer soul.
We love you Pauline and we’ll see you on the other side.
Hugs – n – Kisses,
Jackie
T Alston says
I am sorry for your loss. May you find comfort in the hope of the resurrection (John 5:28,29)