Elsie Garcia

Elsie Irene Garcia, 84, of Great Falls, passed peacefully into the presence of her Savior, Jesus, surrounded by her family in her assisted-living home of natural causes on Tuesday, February 21, 2012.A memorial service will be held at Fairview Baptist Church on Saturday, March 3, 2012, at 1:00 p. m. Schnider Funeral Home is handling arrangements.Elsie was born November 2, 1927, to Charles and Selma Oja. She lived most of her life in Great Falls.In the 1940's she met and married Antonio Tony Garcia, who arrived in Great Falls from El Sauz, Texas, with the Army Air Corps. Together they raised four children. Tony preceded her in death in 2007.She was a homemaker and worked outside the home occasionally. Elsie worked at the Rexall Drug Store Fountain and the Sanitary Bakery both on Central Avenue. She was an elevator operator at the Rainbow Hotel. Then she worked for the Montana Deaconess Hospital in several different departments; her last job was in the bakery department at Buttrey's Food Store inHoliday Village.In the 1950's Elsie became a committed Christian and served her Lord wholeheartedly and was the last charter member of Fairview Baptist Church. Elsie was preceded in death by her husband, her parents and her great-grandson, Ryan Albiston.She is survived by her daughters:Louisa (T.C.) Richardson of Stevensville, MT, Mary Decker of Auburn, WA; sons, Michael Garcia of Redmond, WA, Chris (Karen) Garcia of Billings, MT; a sister, Arleen Elliston of Great Falls; brothers, Carl Oja, and John (Carol) Oja, all of Great Falls; grandchildren, Robbie Richardson of Tacoma, WA, Brenda (Wade) Albiston of Colville, WA, Jephrey (Lisa) Richardson of Spring, TX, Brett Coleman of Auburn, WA, Brooks (Cristina) Coleman of Kent, WA, Peter (Tracy) Garcia of Seattle, WA, Luke (Ashley) Garcia of Folsom, CA, Chaz and Jalen Garcia of Billings, MT, a niece and nephew,Cobie Oja and Jay (Juanita) Oja both of Phoenix, AZ. She has eight great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren and one on the way. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Elsie's memory to Fairview Baptist Church, 216 9thSt. N, Great Falls, Mt. 59401.