Ina M. Hearst

On Oct. 6, 2016, Ina McCann Hearst passed away of natural causes in Missoula. She was 87 years old.

Ina was born Feb. 27, 1929, in Lewistown, the only child of Helen Campbell McCann and James C. McCann. She was raised in western Montana, spending most summers in the Lewistown area with her grandmother, Lulu McCann, and her father and the school years in Ronan with her aunt and uncle, Hank and Margaret Campbell Redlaczyk, and her mother. Ina spent one year of high school in Plains, where she first met her future husband, Allen Lorin Hearst.

After graduating from Ronan High School in 1947, Ina attended the University of Montana. She married Lorin Hearst on June 15, 1949. They had four children: Leslie, Lorin IV, Randee and Stacie. Ina and Lorin had been married 58 years in 2007 when Lorin passed away at the age of 80. They had enjoyed 60 years together, including 25 years of retirement.

Ina’s husband’s early career with the United States Forest Service took the family from western Montana to St. Maries, Idaho, and they finally settled back in Missoula in 1962. It was here that she and Lorin lived the rest of their years with their children attending Missoula Catholic schools and the University of Montana.

Ina and Lorin were very active in the Catholic faith. Ina enjoyed playing duplicate bridge, being a member of Friendship Force and traveling. Her interests were varied and included reading, cooking, history, embroidery and collecting cookbooks.

For more than 50 years, Ina and Lorin enjoyed a family home on Flathead Lake. They took many family vacations across the United States and Canada and she and Lorin traveled extensively in their retirement, including a trip to Ireland. They enjoyed a large extended family of strong friendships.

Ina is survived by her daughters, Leslie Chambers (Charley) of Issaquah, Washington, Randee Blackwell of Missoula and Stacie Hearst (Gary Krohn) of Edmonds, Washington; five grandchildren, Jared Chambers (Marquetta), Ross Chambers and Garrison Krohn, all in the Seattle area, and Cyrus and Eliana McCombs Blackwell of Missoula. She is also survived by cousins, nieces and nephews.

Ina was preceded in death by her son in 1968, her husband in 2007 and her son-in-law Larry Blackwell in July. She will be buried in a private service along side her husband, son and other members of her family at the Ronan Cemetery.

A memorial mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, 1475 Eaton St. in Missoula.

If you feel inspired to honor her life with a donation, her favorite local charities were the Poverello Center, 1110 W. Broadway, Missoula, MT 59802; or AniMeals, 1700 Rankin, Missoula, MT 59808.