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Note: November 13, 2012 BEARCREEK � A lady of strong will, vivid opinions and generous heart, Cecil Pauline Blackler, 96, passed away at her Bearcreek home on Nov. 7, 2012, while under hospice care. She was born to Carlton and Oreta McCaughin on Nov. 6, 1916, in Winifred. During her youth she lived in the Lodge Grass area and graduated from Lodge Grass High School. As the senior class secretary and responsible for ordering graduation robes, her robe came back under the boys' style (since her name was Cecil) even though she had listed herself on the girls' list. In Idaho, Cecil married Kenneth Denny who died in 1943 while in military service. Later, she married Bill Gray and they farmed west of Red Lodge. After Bill's passing in 1958, Cecil and John Blackler married in 1959. The Blacklers lived in many locales as his road construction jobs required. When John retired, they moved to Bearcreek and maintained an enormous garden. For over 20 years Cecil served as the Bearcreek mayor. Many community upgrades were accomplished while she was in office, including water and sewage systems. Not only was Cecil a homemaker but very skilled at knitting, crocheting, quilting and crafts as she loved keeping her hands busy. Many family and friends were fortunate to receive her handiwork gifts. She enjoyed participating in Senior Center and Bearcreek Women's Club activities, as well as being a member of the Red Lodge Baptist and Mountain View Baptist Churches. Cecil was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Kenneth Ivan Denny, Wilfred (Bill) Gray, and John Blackler; brother Kenneth McCaughin; and stepdaughters, Susan Moody and Edna Mann. She is survived by son Kenneth (Shirley) Denny of Townsend; daughter Betty Cristan of Bearcreek; stepdaughters Jan (Leon) Bethea of Vancouver, Wash., and Janelle Scheller of Potomac; sisters Carol Wise of Thompson Falls and Maxine Lawrence of Hardin; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Cremation has taken place. No services are planned. Smith-Olcott Funeral Chapel in Red Lodge was in charge of arrangements.
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