Mary "Jane" (Mclaughlin) Garrity

Mary “Jane” (McLaughlin) Garrity, 91, died at home in Great Falls, MT on Thurs. Oct. 1, of Pulmonary Fibrosis, after years of loving care by her daughter Maryann Garrity. Jane was born May 5, 1924 in Billings MT. Jane’s father was John McLaughlin, from Postville IA, a jockey for the Butte Copper King Marcus Daly. He then had a long career on the Northern Pacific RR in Billings. Her mother was Kathryn Isobel McCormick, from Lacon IL, a school teacher who raised nine children on the family farm on the corner of Wicks Lane and Main Street in Billings. Jane, a child of the Depression, was deeply rooted in her family and the Billings Bench farm community. Jane, second youngest of nine, graduated Billings Senior High School in 1942 near the top of her class, and St Vincent Hospital School of Nursing in 1945. Her first job as a Registered Nurse was in the Territory of Alaska at Sitka’s Old Pioneer Home. Her second day in Sitka, she met Elmer Joseph “Al” Garrity, a soldier in the US Army Corps of Engineers WWII Alaskan Coastal Defense. Jane and Al were married in Billings in March of 1946. They first lived in Al’s native Wisconsin, where John was born and Al worked as a carpenter. In 1950 the family moved to Great Falls, MT where Al ran Garrity Construction. Al worked for the Federal Housing Administration 1961-1971, first in Helena, then Great Falls until his death in September 1971. Jane worked several years as a Deaconess Hospital RN, and had four more children: Mark, Thomas, Maryann, and Joseph. A young widow at 47, Maryann and Joseph at home, Jane began a 17 year part-time nursing career with the American Red Cross Blood Service in Great Falls. In addition, Jane, all as a volunteer, recruited, trained, and scheduled the volunteers who staffed the blood drawings. Mom was intelligent, politically progressive, and witty, had a great sense of humor, and loved opera. Mom loved to read and learn, was astute, thoughtful, caring, and humble. Mom grew with us children and was always welcoming to our diverse friends. Mom loved each of us children and grandchildren separately and deeply, and we all knew it. To know Mom was to love her, simple as that! Mom went through some tough times, the death of her much loved older brother Philip McLaughlin, a B-24 pilot and Asst Squadron Commander shot down/killed in WWII; the death of our Dad at 51 in 1971, and our brother Mark at 41 in 1991. Mom outlived all of her McLaughlin siblings and all but one of their spouses: Frances (Harry) Gohn, John (Mary), Robert, James “Ben” (Lucy), Philip (Lynn), Helen (Joe) McPhee, Kathryn, and Bert, as well as many of her “second family”, her much loved St Vincent Nursing classmates. Jane is survived by her daughter, Maryann Garrity, Great Falls, and sons: Joseph Garrity (Jeannie) and grandchildren Hannah and Jonah Garrity, Great Falls; Thomas (Nancy Nolan), Billings; and John (Jean Thorstenson), Missoula; Bert’s widow, Fern (Mel) Strausch of Billings; Al’s sister, Alyce (Eddy, deceased) Dietzmann of Fond du Lac WI, and many nieces and nephews. The Family would like to thank Dr. Susan Avery and staff, Dr. Holly Strong and staff, and Benefis Peace Hospice RN Cheryl Hackett and Hospice staff for their loving care of our Mom and Granny. Jane was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Jane requested cremation and no public services. Donations in Jane’s memory may be sent to the Great Falls Rescue Mission.