Mary E. Loewen

Mary Elizabeth "Toots" Loewen died of natural causes on Monday, Aug. 31, 2015.

The first of five children, Toots was born in the Philadelphia Naval Hospital on Nov. 28, 1934, and moved back home to Missoula shortly after.

Toots gained her nickname from her father, who used to call her "Tootsie," and it stuck for life, eventually shortening to an affectionate Toots. In an odd and humorous way, all four of her siblings came to be known nearly exclusively by nickname – so together Toots grew up in Missoula with her two sisters Sis and Floo and two brothers Spud and Boog.

A tiny woman with a halo of red, curly locks, Toots survived the Great Depression, often adding to the family income by harvesting strawberries. Whether learned or through genetics, Toots never took any guff. Strong willed and ornery at times, she was also a survivor and learned to make due.

On her 19th birthday, Toots stood outside the house of her friend Normie Jones' on 14th Street, when a young man, freshly back from the Army, drove by and stopped to talk. Though she had a boyfriend at the time, Frank Loewen won her heart, and they married on Nov. 27, 1953. They had their first child, Larry, in October of the following year, and a second son, James "Ed" Edward the next October. Diane, their daughter, was born in May 1958.

Toots spent most of her days in Missoula chasing around three rowdy, prankster children – all of whom, no doubt, inherited her fiery spirit. She served all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinners at Sharief's, and grew famous for her cabbage rolls.

In 1972, Frank was transferred to Alaska to build public utilities, and together Toots, Frank and their kids started a life in the last frontier. They thrived on what they hunted or pulled from the sea, and Toots became a talented salmon fisherwoman in her own right – and rarely complained when Frank returned with bushels of oysters for her to prepare for the men on his construction crew.

Through hard work and determination, they found themselves living the American dream. That dream continued when eventually the Loewens returned to Missoula where Toots and Frank retired. Their immediate family grew to include seven grandsons and a granddaughter, while their extended family created a web so large that it is difficult to track. Toots loved driving her '78 diesel Cadillac Eldorado and she also secretly loved anything that sparkled. Toots spent summers camping with family on the Oregon Coast, where she loved combing the beach. In the early 2000s, Frank built their dream home on a beautiful piece of land near Maclay Bridge in the Target Range area. There, Toots and Frank celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary before he passed in 2008.

Toots lived a life with many tribulations, and yet, she managed to give a beautiful life and joy to so many others. Nobody entered her home without being offered a grilled cheese sandwich – creating a now fond and running joke among her grandchildren.

Toots is preceded in death by her husband Frank; her parents Ruby and James Watson; her sisters Patty "Floo" Jones and Robbie "Sis" Smith; Sis's husband Moe Smith and her brother William "Boog" Watson.

Toots is survived by her brother Robert "Spud" Watson; her children Larry Loewen, Ed Loewen and Diane Rapp and their spouses; her eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, and many more beloved family members who will forever hold Toots in their hearts. There was also a special place in the family for Stacy Buckingham and Aren Finbraaten and Aren's twins Jaden and Riley.

Her family would like to thank Rosetta Assisted Living, Dr. Clare Brownlee, St. Patrick Hospital, Partners In Home Care and her niece Kathy Mitchell – all of whom provided tremendous care during her end of life. You all saw her feistiest side, and lived to tell her tale.

In lieu of gifts, her family requests that donations be directed to Meals on Wheels of Missoula.

A celebration of life will be held at Foursquare Church on Saturday, Sept. 5, at 2 p.m.
Read Mary Loewen's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.