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Grace Lucille (Fouts) DeSaye

Grace Lucille (Fouts) DeSaye

Grace Lucille (Fouts) DeSaye, 81, of Prescott, Ariz., passed away on Dec. 3, 2012, peacefully at home of natural causes.

Grace was born on Jan. 17, 1931, to her parents, Roy and Margaret Fouts, who were homesteading in the northern Montana prairie. They welcomed their daughter in the nearest hospital, which was located in Climax, Saskatchewan, Canada. Grace enjoyed growing up with her older brother Walt on their family farm and attended the small country Petrie School in their rural community. She later completed high school in Turner and attended Northern Montana College in Havre, Mont.

In June 1949, Grace married Joe DeSaye and moved to the DeSaye farm, just down the dirt road from her parents. She loved living on the farm and over the next 18 years, welcomed six children: a son, a daughter, and then two sets of twins. Grace's memoirs are full of stories from these days with a full household where she served as a loving mother, a talented cook and a dear friend to many.

In addition to farming, Grace helped her husband start a sporting good business from scratch. As this grew from a barn-based hobby into the large retail and nationwide wholesaler, J&G Sales, the DeSayes moved the business and their family to Prescott, Ariz., in 1977. Investing years of work, counsel and encouragement, Grace contributed greatly to the success of the family business and to the lives of each of her family members.

Grace was always happiest with her children and their families. She also enjoyed singing in the choir at the Sacred Heart Church, reading volumes of books, and every opportunity to travel. Grace was thankful that she was able to explore Alaska, Hawaii, Europe, New Zealand, Israel, and Africa as she traveled with members of her family throughout the years, while summers in Montana were treasured as she was able to reunite with lifelong friends.

Grace is survived by six children, Greg (Patty) DeSaye of Whitehall, Mont., Diane (Les) Paulson of Bowman, N.D., Greta (Greg) Newell of Phoenix, Ariz., Grant (Silver) DeSaye of Glendive, Mont., Brad (Vicki) DeSaye of Prescott, Ariz., and Brent (Melissa) DeSaye of Prescott, Ariz. ; 11 grandchildren, Bridget (Mike) Welch, Karmen (John) Vonbergen, Troy (Megan) Paulson, Robyn Paulson, Jordan (Taycee) DeSaye, Shona DeSaye, Colton and Conner DeSaye, Abigail, Samuel and Ethan DeSaye; seven great-grandchildren, Tyler and Zane Vonbergen, Bryant, Ashley and Blake Welch, Ryan and Jace DeSaye. Grace was also blessed with many beloved cousins and nephews.

Grace was preceeded in death by her parents, Roy Fouts and Margaret (Brown) Fouts; and her brother, Walt Fouts.

A funeral Mass will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Turner, Mont., on Saturday Dec. 15, 2012, at 11 a. m., with graveside burial following. A gathering for family and friends will immediately follow. Arrangements are made by Sunrise Funeral Home in Prescott Valley, Ariz., and Holland & Bonine in Havre.

The family would also like to share their sincere appreciation for Cecil and Suzanne Warinner and the wonderful care they provided for Grace during her last three years. Any memorials can be made to the Good Samaritan Hospice at 1065 Ruth St., Prescott, AZ 86301, as the staff graciously assisted with expert medical care during the past several weeks.

 

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