Nadine Stayton

Nadine Stayton passed away peacefully on July 14, 2025. 

She was born in 1927 to Russ and Mabel Whitefield. The oldest of three children, she was raised in Libby with her sister Ila Moe and her brother George. Growing up, the family enjoyed the outdoors, picnicking, fishing and gold panning around Libby with family and friends.

Nadine was always a good student and became a life-long learner. She graduated from Libby High School and paid for her own way through college at Eastern Washington University. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education at a time when few women pursued college degrees. 

At university, she met her future husband Tom Stayton at a graduation party, where they discovered they were both moving to Great Falls, Montana for their first teaching jobs.

Tom and Nadine were married in 1950 in Fort Benton, Montana, and then settled in Libby where they made their home, had two children, Jeanne and Daniel (Catfish), and Nadine had a long career as an elementary school teacher. 

She was devoted to her children (and later to her grandchildren), and to the many kids that she taught over the years. To her final days she still wished to teach and could frequently be found reading to fellow residents in the Libby Care Center.

Throughout her life, she enjoyed gardening, golfing, reading and spending time with family at their cabin at Lavon Lake. She was a gracious lady, always kind and composed, and was very involved in her church and the community. She was also adventurous and curious. 

After retiring from teaching, she and Tom traveled widely with their friends. Later in life, following the loss of her husband, she joined a group of women friends on many adventures including concerts, plays, trips to Glacier Park and once, even a hot air balloon ride.

Nadine will be greatly missed by her family, who are grateful for her long, wonderful life and for having the privilege of being part of it. 

She is survived by her daughter Jeanne Crawford of Libby; her son Catfish Stayton and his wife Sandy of Escondido, California; grandchildren Tamara Darrow (Boston, Massachusetts), Eric Stayton (Oceanside, California) and Chelsea Smith (Greeley, Colorado); and seven great-grandchildren. 

Memorial services for Nadine will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, at the United Methodist Church in Libby. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Libby Senior Citizens Center. 

Arrangements are under the care of Schnackenberg Funeral Home of Libby, Montana. Online condolences and memories may be shared by visiting www.schnackenbergfh.com.