Avela Wildermuth McKee, 87, of Polson passed away on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2006, at St. Joseph Hospital in Polson from natural causes. She was born April 13, 1919, in Fargo, N.D., to Jerome and Ave (Dutton) Wildermuth.

She graduated from Greeley Teachers College in Greeley, Colo., in 1950. She met Orville Nelson at college and married him on June 12, 1951.

She first taught in a one-room schoolhouse in Colorado for grades from one through eight where she baked biscuits on the wood-burning stove for her students. She also taught elementary school in Anaheim and Pasadena, Calif., and Corvallis, Ore., for a total of 33 years of teaching, and retired at the age of 62.

Avela renewed her acquaintance with Bill McKee, whom she had not seen in 24-plus years, in 1980 at a family reunion, and they were married May 23, 1984. Their love story took them on a wonderful journey from marriage to celebrating the birth of great-grandchildren, to traveling around the Pacific Northwest, United States and the world. She called Montana home, first at Whitefish, then Polson, but spent their winters in a second home at Palm Desert, Calif.

She will be remembered for her thoughtfulness to family and friends, her zest for life and the many little things she did for others that made such a difference in their lives. Avela loved sewing, knitting, crocheting and cooking.

Never at a loss for words, she always had a welcoming smile in her eyes, enjoying laughter, a good conversation and the good friends that made both of those things happen. Avela delighted in bringing out the child in all of us no matter what our age, but particularly related with the young ones.

She was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, Orville Nelson; brothers, Rodney, and wife Olive Wildermuth, and Loren Wildermuth; and sister, Doris, and husband Charley Houser.

Avela is survived by her husband, Bill McKee, of Polson; daughters, Laurie and Doug Schmitt of Castro Valley, Calif., and Lynn McEachren of Spokane; sons, Loren Nelson of Mission Viejo, Calif., and Mike and Jeanette McKee of Hamilton; two brothers Berl and Helen Wildermuth of Clinton, Wis., and Orliss and Polly Wildermuth of Seattle; six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of her life will be held at 11 a.m. today, Nov. 29, in the First Presbyterian Church in Polson with Rev. Dave Anson officiating. Inurnment will be held in the spring at Glacier Memorial Gardens in Kalispell.

Arrangements and cremation under the direction of Grogan Funeral Home, Polson.

Condolences to the family at www.groganfuneralhome.com.