Eleanor R. Luce

Eleanor R. Luce, 82, a longtime employee of the Kootenai National Forest Supervisor’s Office, died Sunday, May 24, 2009, at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital in Libby.

She was born May 31, 1926 at Fargo, N.D. to Clifford Taylor and Amanda Evelyn (Green) Taylor. She attended grade school in Fargo and moved to Seattle, Wash. with her family, graduating from Franklin High School in 1946. She later attended Seattle Pacific University for a period of time. She married the Rev. Wilford H. Luce, Jr. on Dec. 22, 1947.

Her husband had served in the Presbyterian Church pastorate where they had resided in Marin County, Calif., Utah, Vashon Island, Wash., and Stanford, Mont., before coming to Libby to serve in 1965. She had been an employee of the U.S. Forest Service, working in the contracting department at the Forest Supervisor’s office until retiring in 1991.

Mrs. Luce remained active in church affairs, enjoyed crafts, reading, flowers, her family and friends and had been an avid cat lover.

Her husband preceded her in death in 2004.

She is survived by her children, Robert Luce of Kirkland, Wash.; Paul Luce and wife Annie of Colorado Springs, Colo.; E. Grace Luce of Kalispell; Harold Luce and wife Luz of Billings; and Dorathea McBane of Libby; grandchildren, Samuel, Sarah, MariEsther and Christina; and great-grandchildren, Selah, Adin, Santino, Giani, Johnie and Joe.   

Funeral services were scheduled for Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Church of God with Pastor Cory Anderson officiating. Interment was scheduled to follow at the City of Libby Cemetery.

Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Libby handled arrangements.