Nadine Rayes

Nadine, 85, of Missoula, passed away on February 14, 2015 at her home, The Springs Missoula.
She was born on December 21, 1929 in Hammond, Indiana to Frank & Edith Smith.
Nadine was a stay-at-home mom until 1962 when she began her career as a waitress at the Horseshoe Club in Gardena, California. In 1991, she and her husband Ernie moved to Missoula, Montana to join their daughter, Claudia and her family.
Nadine loved the ocean and her many trips to visit her children, Frank & his family in Virginia, Chester and his family and her daughter, Debbie in California. Although she loved the Montana beauty, her family here, and her friends and church community, she missed sitting on the sands of her ocean and collecting seashells. Throughout Nadine's lifetime, she lived in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Pennsylvania until moving to California in 1956 and then to Montana in 1991.
Upon moving to Montana, she and her husband Ernie, quickly settled in and became members of the Christian Life Center. Nadine's involvement with the Christian Life Center provided her with many opportunities and many blessings. During her Christian journey, she read her bible and attended church and bible studies devoutly. Because of her love of music and singing, the Lord guided her to learn to play the piano. She truly enjoyed her great-grand babies climbing up aside her on the piano bench and singing with her. Although Nadine was a very strong and independent woman, she loved being at family gatherings and sharing in the many humorous and deep conversations at the dinner table.
If you were to ask Nadine, her life here on earth was far too long. She yearned on a daily basis how she couldn't wait to be with her Ernie and the Lord our God in the great heavens above. Her love of God will always be an amazing reminder to her family and those who were fortunate enough to know her.
Nadine Mary Reyes was preceded in death by her parents Frank & Edith Smith, her brother and sister-in-law Jack & Joanne Smith, and the love of her life, Ernie Reyes. She is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Claudia & Thomas Hall of Missoula, son and daughter-in-law, Frank & Sandy Lundy of Virginia, son and daughter-in-law Chester & Pam Lundy of California, and daughter, Deborah Reyes of California. She is also survived by granddaughters Mischelle (LeRoy) Thomas, Tiffani (Robert) Swanson, and Brooke Lundy; grandsons Matthew Hall, Ian (Brittany) Lundy, Collin "Raven" Lundy (Elena Cooke), Shane Lundy (Rebecca Perry), and Andrew Lundy. Great-grandchildren survived by Nadine are Jeremy Thomas, Courtney Thomas (Simon Coronado), Seth Swanson, Mikayla Hall, Jenna Swanson, Logan Lundy, and Ivan Lundy.
The family of Nadine would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the staff of Footsteps Memory Care at The Springs Missoula, Hospice of Partners in Home Care, and all others who cared for her over the past few years. The kindness and compassion of her caregivers was superior and we know all of you will miss her just as much as her family and friends will. Thank you also to Rick Evans and his staff at Garden City Funeral Home for the consideration and compassion you showed.
A memorial service in celebration of Nadine's life will be held Saturday, February 21 at 11:00 a.m. at Christian Life Center in Missoula. A reception and luncheon will follow.


Read Nadine Rayes's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.