Verna Mae McCartney, 76, the most wonderful wife, mother and grandmother 'went to be with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ' on July 3, 2008, in Kalispell. She was born in Kalispell on Sept. 30, 1931, to Ruth and Ed Buck.

This is our love letter to her: 'Mommy, although you are no longer in our sight, you are so deeply embedded in our hearts that you will never be forgotten. And our memories will keep you alive in our lives, in daddy's life and every grandchild that came from a 56-year marriage.'

Gordion McCartney (our wonderful father), met our beautiful mother at Flathead High School. On Oct. 6, 1951, they were married and began an amazing life of love together. Mommy came from a large family that included 11 brothers and sisters that started here in the Flathead Valley.

So how do you say goodbye to the most beautiful, wonderful, amazing woman that your heart knew and loved? We'll never say goodbye — we will only say, we'll be with you soon! We love you, my wife, mother and grandmother!

All who knew her are welcome to come and celebrate her life.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a baby brother, Kenneth; and an older brother, Bill.

She is survived by her husband, Gordion; and eight children, Tawni Norton and husband, Gordon, Randall McCartney and wife, Nora, Sam McCartney and wife, Deby, Lona Hanson and husband, Chris, Michael McCartney, Lori Jo Cousins and husband, Trevor, and Leann Sampson and husband, Todd, all of Kalispell, and Lisa Newton and husband, Glenn, of Erie, Pa.; nine brothers and sisters, Jean Wilkes, Wilma Galloway, her twin sister, Vera Fuller, Jack Buck and wife, Dorothy, David Buck and wife, Marilyn, Shirley Gove, Jerry Buck, Terry Buck and wife, Barbara, and Linda Buck; a much-loved sister-in-law, Gladys Buck; as well as 12 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren, including her much-wanted twins.

Funeral services for Verna will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 8, at Easthaven Baptist Church, with Pastor Daniel Lambert officiating. Burial will be afterward in the Glacier Memorial Gardens.

The family suggests that memorial contributions be sent to the Verna McCartney Memorial Fund at Valley Bank in Kalispell.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Verna's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and sign Verna's guest book.