Nadine "Nay" Joyce Vye

Nadine “Nay” Joyce Vye passed away peacefully on April 28, 2021 in Great Falls, Montana at 80 years young. She was born to Joyce Lorraine (Mann) Barsotti and Guy Barsotti and her childhood was spent in Black Eagle, with her two late sisters, Sharon Ashbaugh and Marcia Ward. Adventure was always at the foundation of Nadine’s soul, forming her personality of tenacity and spunk. Nay loved her Montana roots, but her adventurous spirit called her to places around the world, living in Texas and Sicily, Italy. It didn’t take a long time of living in Sicily before Italy was embedded in Nadine’s heart. She loved traveling the world, but eventually the Big Sky called her back home to be close to family. All through her life she found herself drawn to digging for fossils and artifacts, as well as getting lost in genealogy. Nay is survived by her 4 children, Rick (Gail) Cook, George Cook, Kelli Cook, and PJ Cook. As a mother, she provided an eventful childhood for her kids. As a family, they built priceless memories at their cabin they called Pinky in Lincoln, MT, raised animals to live in their home (Grover the Pig, Sammy the Cow, Floyd the Lamb and Bill the Magpie), and spent countless weekends attending the rodeos and wrestling matches the boys participated in. There was no room for sugar coating and her love was always honest. Her influence of simple living was passed on to her 10 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Italy had her heart, but Virginia City had her time. Every year, at least once, Nay would take her grandchildren to southern Montana to enjoy the old west. These unforgettable trips in her motorhome slowed down life as the kids enjoyed panning for gold, attending the seasonal play, exploring Boot Hill and shopping at the candy store. The fondest memories of Nay are undoubtedly remembered in Virginia City. The community knows Nadine best from her hard work, determination and independence. In her early work career, she contributed to the family business at the Vaughn Meat Packing Plant for many years. After deciding to follow her lifelong passion for animals, she opened her pet grooming service, The Animal Haus, and recently retired after 27 years. She never forgot a client’s name, but she may have forgotten the owner’s. What Nadine loved most about her business were the people and the relationships she fostered within her community. They knew she loved their animals just as much as they did. No morning was complete without a cappuccino and if there was a celebration to be had, a butter shot had to accompany the excitement. If you saw her out and about, she was most likely wearing earrings and something turquoise. Her afternoons were enjoyed with a chocolate Pepsi in hand and she knew how to whip up a perfect lasagna or spaghetti. Perhaps the best use of her time was spent pondering the marriage that should’ve been between her and George Strait, as she gazed at his full-sized cardboard cutout she kept up for all to see. Attending his concerts were a favorite past time and he was the only romantic man she ever really needed. For her last time visiting Italy, she boarded the plane at the age of 77 and stepped off in Rome 50 years younger. No one would know the difference between a tourist and an Italian, after watching her roam the streets of Italy with the confidence of a local. She enjoyed every bite of tiramisu like it was her last, and became quite the tour guide as she viewed historic sites. George Strait would be proud of the motto she lived by from one of his songs: “I ain’t here for a long time, I’m here for a good time.” Nadine requested a private celebration of life with family in Virginia City.