Mary Ann Font (Schafer)

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our wife, mother and grandmother, MaryAnn (Schafer) Font, in the early morning on Sunday, June 7, 2015, at Riverside Health Care Center in Missoula, of natural causes. Both of her daughters were by her side.

Mom was born Dec. 8, 1933, in Warren, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Anna Mae and Alfred Schafer. She graduated from Warren Area High School in 1951 and married Thomas A. Font on Aug. 23, 1952, at the Holy Redeemer Church in Warren. They would have celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary this summer.

In 1978 Mom and Dad moved west to Montana, where they had visited many times. They purchased the Sheep Ranch Inn & Supper Club near Arlee and operated it for 15 years before retiring in 1993. They built a new home and spent time traveling in their RV enjoying camping, boating and fishing with family and friends. Mom loved being a homemaker and was always busy. She had a vegetable and flower garden, enjoyed ceramics, and loved decorating for the holidays, particularly Christmas. She also enjoyed bowling and watching NASCAR races with Dad, both on TV and in person.

Mom's health issues lasted over many years, yet she was not defined by them. She was on dialysis for several years and later regained the use of her kidneys. When it became hard for her to stay at the family home, her first regard was for Dad, saying that she knew everything would work out for the best. Ever the optimist, it was under these circumstances that Mom lived out her remaining years, sharing the attributes that made her so special like her kindness, humor and genuine interest in people. It also allowed us to share with her the depth of our love. With almost no exception, Dad visited faithfully every day, and many evenings as well for the next six years, making sure Mom had the best possible care, dishing out equal doses of humor and devotion that made her feel so happy and loved. We were also able to spend lots of time with Mom, watching movies or her favorite TV shows and never missing the bingo games at Riverside that she loved to play.

Riverside Health Care Center was Mom's last home and we will forever be grateful for the wonderful people who took care of her; the nurses, med-techs, and all the staff, especially the CNA's. They, along with many residents, became part of our extended family.

Mom was preceded in death by her parents and by her beloved son, Larry. She is survived by her husband, Tom, at the family home; daughter Barbara Royce (Mitch) and their daughter Megan; daughter Susan Roberts (Kent) and their son Matthew, all of Missoula; brother Gail (Connie) residing in Maryland, and numerous nieces and nephews.

There will be a service at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home, 7405 Mullan Road, at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 12, with interment followed by a picnic. Memorials may be sent to the Missoula County Animal Shelter, as Mom loved animals.

To our wife, mom, grandma, sister and aunt, our treasure, until we see you again, rest in peace.
Read Mary Font's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.