Audrey May (Arrison) Hagan

Audrey May (Arrison) Hagan

Big Sandy resident, Audrey May (Arrison) Hagan, 91, passed away on Tuesday, April 2, at Great Falls Benefis Hospital.

She was born in the Great Falls Deaconess Hospital on June 30, 1921, to George Proctor Arrison and Ethel Buelah (Wilson) Arrison. She grew up in the Bear's Paw Mountains, attending school at Warrick, Eagleton and Dog Creek. Her favorite childhood pastime was horseback riding and killing rattlesnakes in the hills. Her least favorite pastime was herding turkeys for her mother. To her last day she despised any meal that included fowl or eggs. However, she always cooked those items (fried chicken, roast turkey, eggs to order, and wild game birds) for her family and did a very fine job of it.

Her friends in the Bear's Paw included Nick Bush (her turkey herding buddy), Dick Bush, the Faber's, the Hokanson's, the Weaver's and the Kane's. When she moved to town for high school, staying at the girls dorm, she spent her time with good friends Jenny Turner, Gladys Marlow, Irene Pratt (Smith), Art Svennungsen, and Keith Edwards. She graduated from Big Sandy High School in 1939.

She met Kenneth Hagan in school, and they were married in October 1939. Although divorced in 1968, they continued their friendship while living in Big Sandy. They farmed the Hagan place, which they subsequently purchased from Kenny's father. Audrey spent many a day hauling lunches to the fields both near and far. Whether it was on the home place, at Verona or during a haying project at Kenilworth, she always delivered the crew a hot lunch. She was the all-round ranch hand — riding cutting horses for roundup, driving truck for harvest, milking cows, butchering hogs, cows and chickens and whatever else was needed. No matter how much outside work was on her plate, she always managed to have a great meal on the family plate when they came to the table. The smell of fresh bread was a regular in her kitchen. Flour was bought by the 50-pound sack and she went through a lot.

In the late 1940s and early 1950s Audrey and Kenny, who loved to dance, traveled throughout the state, attending square dance festivals. They also taught square dancing at the Big Sandy schools. She was instrumental in starting dance classes held at the VFW Club in the early 1960s for dancers of all ages. She and Kenny worked on early homecoming committees and other community efforts. She served many years on the Women's Bowling League as secretary. She ran a huge mixed-doubles tournament for Pep's Lanes in the early 1960s, running several weeks each winter. She was one of several instructors, teaching junior high and high school students the finer techniques of bowling.

There were several camping trips to the Bear's Paw with the Deane Courtnage's, Red Sohm's, Lawrence Ophus,' Bob Cornett's, and Lucy Secora (Courtnage). Audrey was right in the middle of the planning and feeding, taking time to enjoy horseshoe competition along the way and telling a few jokes as well. She had a great sense of humor. There was a lot of campfire singing and she carried that singing on to every trip in the car she made with the kids. Music and her artistic abilities were amazing and they made for fond memories. She encouraged her kids to belong and participate and was always at their concerts, recitals, competitions and plays to show her support.

After moving to town, Audrey worked for Irene Smith at the Big Store, Corky Harlen at the Pastime, Bill and Monie Brady at Pep's and Walt and Judy Sivertsen at the Mint. She enjoyed her retirement, taking travel cruises with her daughter and rides with her kids through her home area in the Bear's Paw Mountains. Special friends were Walt and Judy Sivertsen and Tammy Houle.

Audrey was preceded in death by her father and mother; her former husband, Kenny; her granddaughter, Laura Hagan; and her daughter-in-law, Dorrie.

She is survived by her daughter, Gail (Jared) Brandt, of Cameron Park, Calif.; and sons, Gary (Linda) Hagan, of Mustang, Okla.,; Curt (Bonnie) Hagan, of Sandpoint, Idaho; and Roger, of Great Falls, Mont.; seven grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at the Big Sandy United Methodist Church in Big Sandy at 2 p.m., Monday, April 8. Interment will follow at the Big Sandy Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home in Havre.