MARIE HOUTZ obituary

GREAT FALLS - Marie Elizabeth Houtz, 78, of Great Falls and formerly of Havre, died Saturday, Nov. 12, 2005, of natural causes.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at First Alliance Church, 908 47th St. S., Great Falls.

Marie was born April 14, 1927, in London, England, to Alfred and Rosina Court. She graduated from St. Michaels School on Buckingham Palace Road. She was employed by the British Red Cross, then by Harrods of London, and later worked for the British Army Air Force and Navy Family Relations Service.

Marie married Earl Houtz on Sept. 17, 1944, in Hemsby, England. She moved to the United States in April 1946 and became a U.S. citizen in January 1958.

Marie was a member of the Evangelical Church of North America.

Marie was preceded in death by her husband, Earl, in 1996; brother, Robert Court, in 1988; and sister, Elsie Jeffries, in 1993.

Survivors include her children, Earl Robert (Karla) Houtz of Kalispell, Rosina Joan (Stephen) Smith of Wichita, Kan., David Ross (Luci) Houtz of Great Falls and Douglas Charles (Denise) Houtz of Kalispell; sisters, May Mumford and Joan Day of England; 10 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Billy Graham Association and Moody Bible Institute.

Croxford Funeral Home & Crematory Inc. in Great Falls is in charge of arrangements.