Edwina Knowles

Edwina Lawrence “Larry” Knowles, 104, passed away Monday, June 8, 2015 at the Golden Eagle Assisted Living Facility. Larry was born October 11, 1910 in Pittsburgh PA, and was raised in Brookfield and Springfield MA. She graduated from Massachusetts State College with a bachelor’s degree in botany. She worked as a Girl Scout executive in New York, Connecticut and Cascade County, coming to Montana in 1948. She met John E. “Jack” Knowles while taking scouts horseback riding at Sun Mountain Ranch near Monarch. They married in 1950, and further developed the guest ranch business with guided horseback riding, a summer “boy’s ranch,” and a winter sports area and lodge. Many are the “summer boys” influenced by their Montana ranch experience, and many are the church groups, scout groups and families that enjoyed the “tubing area.” Larry enjoyed ranch work and ranch projects, carpentry, gardening and wood working. She donated wooden toy vehicles to the Monarch Volunteer Fire Department fundraisers, and knitted and donated baby caps to Benefis for newborns. She was a long-time member of the Monarch-Neihart “Needle Break” ladies club. Larry could be seen driving to the mailbox and cutting firewood with a chainsaw into her late 90’s, and lived independently on the ranch until she was 100. Cremation has taken place and she will be returned to the ranch, with no services at her request. She is survived by Laverne (Spook) Knowles of Great Falls; Frederick “Butch” (Lila) Jones of Monarch; Charles (Gail) Gray of Boulder CO; Austin (Hank Alley) Gray of Eugene OR; Jeff and Lydia Knowles of Great Falls; Chris Knowles of Winter Park CO; Jessie Knowles of Livingston; Vickie Kemmerer of Sherwood OR; Debbie O’Hern, Linda Knowles, David Knowles, Susan Knowles and families all of California; Ed Jones and family of Dillon; Russell Jones and family of Arizona; Jim Gray and family of Maine; Julie Gray and family of Hawaii; as well as numerous great and great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by husband Jack; step sons Fredrick “Bud” (Shirley) Knowles; and John “Spook” Knowles. The family would like to thank the extraordinary care givers from Golden Eagle Assisted Living for befriending and caring for Larry the past four years. Memorials in her name may be directed to Peace Hospice, the Gift of Life, or the Girl Scouts of America.