Gloria Violette
POLSON — Gloria Violette was born on Jan. 20, 1930, to Carl and Marie Johnson. She attended Sunny Slope School and Polson High School. In high school, she played the trombone in the marching band and orchestra and was elected prom queen.
Gloria studied at the University of Montana in 1948 then transferred to Montana State College to obtain a teaching certificate. Her first teaching assignment was in Spring Hill, Montana.
Gloria married Edmond Violette, also a Polson High School graduate, in 1950. Their first child, Daniel, was born in 1951 and then Lynee was born in 1953. The family had a three-year stay at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, in Dayton, Ohio, where Edmond served as an officer.
In 1956 the family moved to Boulder, Colorado, where Ed worked at the National Bureau of Standards (now NIST). Gloria’s family increased with the addition of Susan in 1958 and Joey (Edmond Jr.) in 1964.
Gloria attended Colorado University and received her degree in education with a minor in geology. She used the degree to be a substitute teacher in special education and tutored challenged students.
Gloria loved western music and would play music on the piano, guitar and banjo. Because of her love for horses, she was also excited to volunteer in a therapeutic horse facility.
Accompanying her husband to work sites, Gloria visited Guam, Fiji and Saipan as well as trips to Mexico, South America and the Caribbean. Gloria also visited her Mother’s homeland Russia and her Father’s homeland Sweden to visit relatives.
Life was forever changed when her son Joey died in a car accident. Gloria dealt with her grief by painting and serving as the president of the Boulder Art Association in 1984. She also started a fundraiser to install a statue of Chief Niwot on a parkway.
Gloria is remembered by her husband, Edmond Violette; and children, Dan, Lynee and Susan; and siblings, Chet, Lillian, Helen and Gene. Her grandchildren are Jeremy, with wife and daughter Stacy and Reggie; Andy; Krista, with husband and son Jonny and Tommy; Jeff and many other relatives and friends.
There will be a memorial for Gloria on July 15, at 2 p.m. at the Masumola Club. Donations may be made to any animal charity in Gloria’s name.
