Gladys L. Cantrell

Gladys L. Cantrell was born on February 12, 1937, in Wolf Point, Montana to Leonard H. Poil and Bernice Hutchinson.She was the eldest of 8 children.Mom was married to Eugene Desjarlais who she later divorced. She then married John Cantrell until his passing in 1984.She spent her later years with longtime companion James Welch, Sr. until his passing in 2006.Mom had 7 children and 2 adopted children,Victoria Poil Jackson (deceased), Kathryn (Gary) McLaughlin of Great Falls, MT, Daniel Desjarlaisof Ferndale, WA, Michael Desjarlais (deceased), Dennis Desjarlaisof Kalispell, MT, Jonnie (Roger) Sangretof Great Falls, MT, Karen Cantrellof Helena, MT, Mary (Henry) Wolfchildof Rocky Boy, MT, Maria Hess Valandraof Helena, MT. She is survived by her sisters, Karen (Charles) Spry of Ulm, MT and Bonnie (Fred) Egan of Billings, MT.Mom was preceded in death by her parents, Leonard and Bernice Poil; her husband, John Cantrell; brother, Monty Poil; son, Michael Desjarlais; daughter, Victoria Poil Jackson; brothers, Charles, Loren, and Harold Poil; and sister, Donna Poil Bossard. Mom helped raise 9 other children. She had 41 grandchildren, 67 great-grandchildren, and 32 great-great-grandchildren.She worked at the Great Falls Head Start and was one of the original co-founders of the Great Falls Parent Center.Mom also worked for the Great Falls School District as a lunch lady, bus aide, and foster grandparent.Mom was very active in the Great Falls Native community and ran the Native American Art Show for 25 years.She was instrumental in working to purchase the Native American Center by selling Indian Tacos. Gladys’s grandchildren include Tani (Chris) Hall, John Mclaughlin, Kelly (Seth) Soria, Monty Mclaughlin, Michael Mclaughlin, Stephanie Orfe, Sancha (Bo) Valenzuela, Nicole Sangret, Roger Cantrell, Jared Peavey, Samantha Woltering, Chad Jackson, Tyler Lamere, Courtney (Josh) YellowOwl, Stephanie Kennedy, Joe Desjarlais, Jerry Sirchio, Nida Parker, Bernadine Wolfchild, Mary Small, Henry Wolfchild Jr., Thomas Wolfchild, Timothy Wolfchild, Cicero (Katherine) Running Crane, Jaeger Valandra, and Daunte Valandra. Mom adopted and welcomed many children into her home including many nieces and nephews whom she considered her own.She always had an open door, and would feed anyone that came by to visit.The children she worked with over the years from the Parent Center, Longfellow, and Emerson Elementary remained in her heart forever.Mom lived a good life, enjoyed traveling (St. Lucia, Hawaii, Mexico, and Jamaica), and made friends wherever she went.Mom was an avid Mariners and Seahawks fan and enjoyed bingo, keno, horse racing, and rummage sales.She loved her coffee and cigarettes, and had a serious commitment to Ms. Clairol #112 “Dark Auburn” and of course we can’t forget her long time love…. Anthony Quinn. A special thank you goes to Peace Hospice of MT, Dr. Mel Margaris who was her long-time primary care physician, and her current physician, Dr. LaDonna Maxwell.There are many more people, too numerous to mention, that mom loved.We apologize if we missed anyone. We know that she is in a better place with dad, her parents, her children, her best friend Ann Hess Maciel, and her dog, Tiny. We love you, mom.We will see you again!