Evagrace Garcia

EvaGrace (McLaughlin) Garcia



Born April 20, 1926 to Howard C. McLaughlin and Iona Phillips in Garneill, MT on her grandparents’ homestead by a midwife.



Mom passed away at 10:50 am May 11th in her sleep in a golden glow with a quiet breath, in comfort and in her own peaceful way. We are going to miss this pretty lady, dad’s constant companion, a friend to all she met and always the gracious host. We know mom is in heaven with dad and her other loved ones.



Mom was the oldest of six, three boys and three girls. She and her brother Herald would ride three miles bareback, on an old mare named Peaches, to a one room school house that still stands today.



At 13 years of age, her grandparents passed away and her father sold the homestead and moved the family to Lewistown, MT. There mom started cleaning homes to pay for materials to make dresses. Mom’s grandmother taught her how to sew and mom made dresses for herself and others to help the family make ends meet. She later started working in cafes as a waitress. Mom never shied away from work; she was always finding something to cook, clean, sew or grow.



Mom had a green thumb and our home was filled to the brim with house plants and outside flower beds. Us kids would bring our struggling plants over to mom and within a very short span, they would be healthy again.



At 19, mom ventured to the eastern part of Montana and landed a job at a local dry cleaner, sewing and pressing. While there she met her future sister-in-law, Mary Garcia, who set her up on a blind date with our father at a local dance club.



Mom met her future husband, Jack Garcia, on the dance floor at the Melody Inn outside Sidney, MT. They danced the night away to polka, western and swing music. Mom had found her kindred soul mate in dad. They were married September 7, 1950.



Mom and dad loved to camp, fish, travel, bowl, golf, ride horses and dance. They were always active, raising a family and being together.



Our family moved to Bozeman in 1967. Mom worked for Gallatin Dry Cleaners until she retired in 1991, sewing and pressing. She still did alterations and sewing up until her eyesight started to diminish in her late 80’s.



Mom was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Iona; her husband, Jack; brothers, Herald, Raymond and Charles; sisters, Darlene and Ilene and youngest daughter Janet. Survivors include her son, George (Beverly) Garcia; daughters, Jackie (Ray) Harrison, Janez (Mick) Moog and Judy McLaughlin. Mom and dad have eight grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, eight great-great grandchildren and mom’s true and faithful friends, Donna Edgerly and Maryann Nielson.



We wish to thank the wonderful personnel and staff from Mountain View Health Care and the personnel and staff of the Hospice of Bozeman Health, who were so considerate, kind and compassionate to our mother and family and friends during mom’s final days. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.



Mom always left a lasting impression and a full tummy to all who entered her home; to quote mom, “Come back when you can stay longer”!!



A graveside service will take place Friday, June 29, 2018 at Sunset Hills Cemetery. Please meet at Dahl Funeral & Cremation Service at 10:45 am to follow in procession to the cemetery..