Julia Florence Wilson

Julia Florence Wilson, 84, of Great Falls, passed away January 14, 2019. A celebration of life will be Saturday, January 19, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. at New Hope Christian Church. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Schnider Funeral Home. Julia was born on May 9, 1934 in Glasgow, Montana to Byron and Bertha (Holter) Wagar. She attended Glasgow High School and after graduation went to MSU-COT. She received her Associate’s Degree and went to work as a deputy clerk for the US Bankruptcy Court. In the 70's and early 80's she and her husband owned Yellow Cab, Wilson's Answering Service and the Texaco Station on Gore Hill. She was also co-owner of the Used Car Lot and The Wrecking Yard. After her husband passed away, Julia moved to Butte to continue her work as the Deputy Clerk for U. S. Bankruptcy Court until her retirement in 1997, when she returned to Great Falls to be closer to her family. She was involved in many activities during her retirement. She was active and took her granddaughter, Aprill's, Zumba class several times a week. Her faith was very important to her and she attended New Hope Christian Church for almost 20 years, where she was baptized at the same time as her grandson, Andrew. When she was able she volunteered to help with the church bulletin and other church activities. She was an avid reader and even after stroke she read books daily. Julia loved to travel and was able to take many vacations with her children. She often spent her time babysitting her grandson Josh Ryan and Great-grandson Rowdy Barber and they loved going to grandma's house. In 2010, she lost two of her children within two weeks of each other. That summer she suffered a heart attack that she fully recovered from. That Thanksgiving day she suffered a stroke, after which she struggled for years but was still strong and continued to do as much as possible. She was a member of the Eagles and Moose Lodges here in Great Falls, as well as a member of New Hope Christian Church. She was the Star Recorder with the Ladies of the Moose and volunteered there for many years. She had many good friends in this organization. Julia loved to read, crochet, work on plastic canvas, and crafts. She adored her grandkids and spent as much time with them as she possibly could. She is survived by her daughters, Alice (Gaylord) Houle of Great Falls, Neta Percifield of Spokane, WA, and Lloyal (Gregg “Tilt”) Kennedy-Kline of Great Falls; son David (Darla) Ryan of Great Falls; sister Lois Chinadle of Missoula; 12 grandchildren, Ronnie Tessman, Anthony Birchfield, Faith Lee, Willie Smock, Ryan Stice, Ty Birchfield, Samantha Jo Birchfield, April Barber, Andrew Miller, Elizabeth Watson, Josh Ryan, and Beverly Ryan and many great-grandchildren. Julia is preceded in death by her husband, Alfred; mother Bertha Vukasin; father Byron Wagar; sisters Clara Robinson and Rita Maze; daughter Gail Jackson; son Peter Birchfield; and grandson Davey Hayes. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Peace Hospice, 1101 26th St S, Great Falls, MT 59405.