Diane Sloan Whitson, 75, formerly of Troy

Diane Sloan Whitson (Nana) passed peacefully on Nov. 12, 2012, in Missoula. 

She was born to the late James and Ruth (Bonnie) Sloan, Oct. 4, 1937, in Troy. She graduated from Troy High School in 1955 when she met and married Chuck Whitson. 

Diane moved to Everett, Wash., in 1968, where she lived the majority of her life. She loved to walk and enjoyed taking her German shepherd “Bruiser” to Howarth Park Beach for his swim. 

She worked for the late Dr. Harry R. Secoy in the early years and then for Dr. Robert Johnson until his retirement in the late 1970s when she became the film librarian for the Everett School District. 

Diane retired from the district in 2003 and remained in Everett until 2011 when she moved back to Montana to be near her children.

Diane was an excellent cook and had a great sense of humor, which was inherited from the Sloan side of the family.

She was preceded in death by her loving sister Gail Carter, and is survived by her brother Gary Sloan (Mary) of Whitefish, Mont., daughters Brenda Whitson Carroll, of St. Ignatius, and Wendy Whitson Holzinger of Ellensburg, Wash. 

She also leaves behind her loving grandchildren, Jamie Newell, Austin Holzinger, Zannie Williams, Nicholas Carroll, Haley Rae Carroll, and five great-grandchildren, Libby, Tori, Aiden, Caitlyn and Zachary. 

She also is survived by her niece Deborah Carter Thompson of Missoula, nephews Terry Carter also of Missoula and Timothy Carter of Kalispell and brother-in-law Harold Carter of Missoula, and good friend Gail Estrada, of Lake Stevens,  Wash.

She was a loving grandmother and friend and will be sorely missed. She was Nana to all who knew and loved her.

A private cremation was held in St. Ignatius at the Foster Funeral Home, and a date for her memorial will be announced in the spring as per her wishes. 

Well wishes can be sent to: c/o Carroll, P.O. Box 834, St. Ignatius, Mont., 59865. 

In lieu of flowers, a donation/memorial in her name can be made to the National Audubon Society. http://support.audubon.org/.