Joyce Ferrin Faechner

Joyce (Ferrin) Faechner, 82, of Great Falls, Mont., passed away Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016.

She was born on May 31, 1933, in Lewistown. She was raised near Glasgow, along with her brother and two sisters. She graduated from Northern Montana College and became an elementary teacher in Great Falls.

She married Al Faechner in November 1955, a marriage of 59 years until Al's death in 2014. Joyce's joys were her children, grandchildren, gardening, reading, sewing, and the family cabin in Lincoln.

Survivors include her four children, Jerry, Glen and his wife, Tracy, Jolee and her husband, John, and Randy and his wife, Chrissy; seven grandchildren; one brother, Derrald Ferrin; and one sister, Carol Clowes.

All her friends were invited to an Open House Celebration of Life and to enjoy her homemade cookies at her home, 2711 8th Ave. S., in Great Falls, on Saturday, March 5.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Paris Gibson Education Center, 2400 Central Ave, Great Falls, MT 59401. Children and education were very dear to Joyce's heart.

Her wish was for this obituary to be short and to include the following poem written by a beloved granddaughter.

We Are Her

The best parts of us are Her.

We are rooted so deep in Her soil;

She has made us who we are.

We're the lamp and She's the oil.

We are subconsciously Her every day,

through what we think and what we do.

When things, good or bad, happen to Her

they also happen to the part of "us" She grew.

We are Her when we stop at Eddies Corner,

when we use too much Ranch dressing,

when we read with a warm rice bag,

and when we count each and every blessing.

She is in our eyes when we spot a robin,

when we notice someone invisible to society,

during a night of watching the moon,

and when we see the beauty in variety.

We are Her when we cook with one bowl,

when we take a long walk in the rain,

when we crave sweet huckleberry jam,

or when we ignore the proud and vain.

She is in our hands when we help someone,

when we pull the neighbors' weeds when walking by,

when we skip rocks on the Blackfoot,

and when we make the perfect pecan pie.

We are Her when we sneeze loudly,

when we giggle during a backrub,

when our sweet tooth takes charge,

and during the inevitable foot-stub.

She is in our character when we're generous,

when we find joy in the mundane,

when we avoid any recognition,

and when we choose to not complain.

We are Her when we waddle to the potty,

when the windows are down on the highway,

when we burn a hot dog on the fire,

and when we stay outside the entire day.

She is in our spirit when we take a back road,

when we're at the secondhand bookstore,

when we reminisce over old pictures,

and when we're ripping up the dance floor.

We are Her when a cuss words slips,

when we're muddy and don't care,

when we sing songs to babies,

and when our nose runs in fresh air.

We are Her.

She has given a little bit of Herself to us

so even when Her physical self is gone

we will esteem that part She has given

and through "us," She will live on.