Marlene Kay Bunyak Doyle, 60, died at her home in Great Falls Jan. 4, 2012.

She was born Jan. 12, 1951, in Lethbridge, Alberta, to Woodrow and Mary (Angyal) Bunyak. She was the second of three daughters.

Marlene was raised on the family farm north of Cut Bank and eventually moved to Cut Bank to attend school. She loved the farm and recently remodeled and updated the family home there.

Marlene graduated from Cut Bank High School in 1969 and attended Northern Montana College in Havre. It was while she was in college that she met many of her lifetime friends who now mourn her passing.

On Jan. 1, 1979, Marlene married the love of her life, Bill Doyle. No children were born from this union, but the cats that they adopted through the years were their children and were the luckiest cats in the world. They provided Marlene and Bill many hours of enjoyment and love.

After attending college, Marlene worked for Bison Ford in Great Falls for a short period, then began her career at the Social Security Administration in Great Falls. She was honored by many awards during her time there. She retired in 2000.

After Marlene's retirement, she became a full-time antique dealer. Nothing made her happier than to shop for antiques and find those hidden treasures; no garage sale or antique store was passed by.

She started her own small business, Mrs. D's Antiques, and had booths at the Jack Club Antique Mall in Great Falls and The Golden Girls Antique store in Helena. She also worked part time at the Jack Club to help fill her hours and keep a pulse on what antique collectors were searching for.

Marlene's favorite collections were her Roseville and Hull pottery, and she was always anxious to introduce others to the joy of collecting. Marlene and Bill spent many weekends traveling to different places in Montana and Washington to participate in antique shows to show and sell their treasures.

One of Marlene's favorite vacation spots, besides her beloved farm, was the home on Echo Lake in Bigfork. She loved entertaining friends and family there, and everyone was assured that there would be music, dancing, food, visiting and fun.

Her home was always decorated for Christmas. Decorations included three Christmas trees and multiple antique Christmas items and dishes. It always took her weeks to set it up just right and months to finally put it all away.

Marlene is survived by her husband of 33 years, Bill Doyle; her sisters, Sandra and Ted Harke of Columbia Falls, and Rita Graham of Bigfork; her nieces, Tawnia and Barry Harke Ramstad of Columbia Falls, Sonja and Shane Harke Steele of Spokane, Lisa Graham of Seattle, and Jill Graham of Spokane; five great-nieces, Ariel, Olivia, Kaitlyn and Taylor Ramstad, and Shelby Steele; and one great-nephew, Zach Steele. She also leaves behind her cats, Maggie, Daisy, Dolly and Duke. Other relatives include her aunt, Delia Atkinson, of Sweet Grass; uncle, Stan, and Gladys Bunyak, of Sunburst; uncle, Steve, and Helen Angyal, of Milk River, Alberta; and aunt, Marion Angyal, of Lethbridge; along with numerous cousins; as well as her many friends, whom she loved and considered her extended family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Woodrow and Mary Bunyak; her grandparents, Mike and Mary Angyal, and Steve and Katherine Bunyak; aunt, Vera, and uncle, Virgil Dye, and uncle, Mike Angyal.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Bigfork.

Memorials may be sent in her name to the Great Falls Animal Shelter, the Kidney Cancer Foundation or the American Cancer Society.

To send condolences to the family, please go to www.buffalohillfh.com. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.