Mildred Montana Tana Vaught
Mildred Montana “Tana” Vaught, 80, passed away peacefully at the Clark Fork Valley Nursing Home in Plains, Mont., on Friday, March 7, 2008, following a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. Tana had been a resident there for the last nine months. She was a dear, loving wife, mother, and grandmother and will be greatly missed by her family.
Tana was born Sept. 12, 1927, in Butte, Mont., to Fred and Grace Elliott. She moved with her family to the Swamp Creek area as a young girl. She attended grade school at the Ayers School and attended high school in Noxon.
As a young adult she worked in the shipyards in Bremerton and later in the apple orchards at Oroville, Wash.
In 1945, Tana met Harold Vaught while he was home on leave from the Air Force. After his discharge they were married on Dec. 31 of that same year, a union which continued for 62 years. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1995 with family and friends.
Tana and Harold's family included two children, Duane and Debbie. Tana devoted her life to her family and her home. She enjoyed crocheting and embroidering, and created many treasured gifts for family and friends. Over the years, her hobbies also included playing cards, bowling, boating and water skiing. Tana and Harold spent many happy times camping at their lot at Trout Creek and enjoyed travelling in their motor home.
Her happiest times were always when she was with her family. In later years she especially enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, each one was precious to her.
Tana was preceded in death by her parents, and an infant daughter; her sisters, Alice Lacy, Lola Olson, Margie Olson, and her brother, Raymond Elliott.
Survivors include her loving husband Harold of the family home; son Duane Vaught and wife Marilyn of Thompson Falls, and daughter Debbie Slaughter and her husband David, of Sandpoint, Idaho; her grandchildren, Kevin Vaught and his wife Shawni, and Kerry Hanley and her husband Ryan, all of Thompson Falls, and Colin Slaughter of Sandpoint, Idaho and Jeffrey Slaughter, of Dallas, Texas; great-grandchildren, Stephanie Bortz, Allison and Dylan Vaught, and Ripken Hanley. Tana also is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and other extended family.
Services will be held at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Thompson Falls at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 13. Pastor Char Schmiedeskamp will officiate.
The family suggests that memorials be made to the Clark Fork Valley Nursing Home in Plains, Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Thompson Falls, or to a charity of the donor's choice.
Arrangements entrusted to Sunset Hills Funeral Homes, Plains and Thompson Falls.