On Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, at the age of 96, our beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Mary Louise Eayrs, left her earthly body to be with God and reunite with her loving husband, Jesse Eayrs.
Her life was full of adventure, activities, family, and love. Born May 6, 1928, in Bend, Oregon to Louis and Mary Jeanette Koenig, Louise would move at a young age to Kalispell, Montana, where she would make her life and eventually raise her own family. Her early years were spent at Trinity Lutheran Church on Sundays and, during the week, walking the halls of Flathead High School where she not only was a majorette in the band, but also met her high school sweetheart and the love of her life, Jesse. They would in time celebrate 68 years of marriage.
After Jesse completed his service in the Navy, they settled into a joyful life and welcomed their three daughters, Jan, Kay, and Debbie. Louise was involved in many fulfilling activities, while also being mother to her girls, working at and supporting the family business, Meats Supply. Her sewing skills were legendary, making most of her own clothes, clothing for her daughters, and her grandchildren. She also sewed many FHS drill team costumes and even all of her daughters' wedding dresses!
Louise also loved the outdoors. Her list of activities was long, but her favorites included skiing, ice skating, and swimming at their home on Foy's Lake. She also loved gardening and was proud of her ability to grow strawberries, and would use little rubber snakes to scare the birds away from her garden (and inadvertently her granddaughter!). Later in life after Jesse retired, Louise learned to play golf and she and Jesse enjoyed being on the course together at Buffalo Hill. She and Jesse also traveled extensively - some of her most memorable trips included a visit to the Holy Land and a motorhome adventure to Alaska.
Louise didn't stop there! She was an active member of Beta Sigma Phi, which her grandkids jokingly called "grandma's sorority," involved with the United Way, and president of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League. Louise also sang for many years in the Trinity Lutheran Church Choir. Her many pursuits aside, Louise still somehow found time to be very involved in her grandchildren's lives. She baked countless cookies for them to decorate, made the BEST cinnamon rolls around, helped with one sewing project after another, and for weeks during the summers would host her grandkids visiting from out of town. She also regularly attended her grandchildren's sporting events, plays, and concerts around the valley, and would always greet her family at church on Sunday mornings with a big hug, a smile, and an "I love you." There is no doubt that Louise lived fully and loved greatly, and that her family equally appreciated and loved her in return.
Louise was preceded in death by her parents, "little brother" Albert Koenig, who towered over her in height, and her loving husband, Jesse Eayrs.
She is survived by her sister, Dorothy Fuller of Bend, Oregon, her daughters, Jan Joachim (Steve), Kay Torgison (Gary),  and Debbie Hadley (Larry), her seven grandchildren, Jamie Bonafe, Jake Joachim, Jerrad Smith, Cameron Smith, Jessica Johns, Shayla Hagburg, and Cole Hadley