Marie Moddrell

Marie Moddrell, 49

The Flathead Valley has lost one of their own. Marie Moddrell, 49, passed on Sept 19, 2025. Her heath issues intensified recently and she passed quickly.

Marie was born in Reno, Nevada on July 15, 1976, to Gaylene Henderson. Gaylene moved to the Flathead on Dec 23, 1977, to start a new life for her and the family, teenage brothers Mike, Tim and toddler Marie. They were greeted by a snowstorm and a Christmas tree left by the new neighbors, a sign of their new life.

In time Gaylene married Randy "Mo" Moddrell, and he became the only father Marie ever knew or needed. The adoption papers cemented them as inseparable, giving both a relationship of the type that are made into Hallmark movies. Growing up on 5th Ave West with parents that loved her but found great pleasure in embarrassing her to her friends; something about dropping her off at high school in a wood paneled minivan while acting out the Blues Brothers, may have been the start of her catch phrase, "Oh Mylanta". We have all heard it.

The family moved to Egan Slough and Marie married Rusty Weber. Their marriage ended amicably and they remained friends.

Define Marie.

First were the dogs. Her license plate said it all, "DOGCRZY". Working after graduation from Flathead High as a vet tech, then later as the owner of Four Footers Training and Boarding, she was totally passionate about keeping all the valley's puppies happy and behaving. Clients became friends and she gained standing training celebrity's dogs that she couldn't talk about, but we all knew who the owners were. She even made a few national TV appearances with those unnamed pet owner's dogs.

Second were the San Francisco 49ers and the Grizzlies. Did she ever wear anything else but team colors? Fanatical is not a strong enough word to describe her and her football. Game days were sacred and even to the family in another state, the games had to be shared, no screamed about, good or bad. Pity the nephew that once considered attending Bozeman. She was having none of that 'Bozo' idea. He went elsewhere.

Mostly it was her family and friends. They were everything and she gave us her all. Softball, her place at Swan Lake, wheelchair basketball, floating the river, the games at the Scoreboard, that was her. Friends and family first. And because of that, she hid the severity of her condition for years as to not burden. She gave, not took. That was just her. Her circles defined her. She was there for us until she could no longer and then she was gone.

She is now with her parents and leaves behind brothers Bill, Mike, and Tim, nieces and nephews Lythia, Catie, Tia, Buck, Harold, Shane, Colin and Scotty, extend family TR plus all of their spouses and the next generation she would have totally spoiled as a fantastic great aunt. She also leaves behind her friends in Flathead Valley, which made her life so wonderful. We all have lost so much.

A gathering to celebrate Marie will be held Oct. 11, from 1-5 pm at the Lawrence Park Pavillion, Kalispell. For information or to help call Lythia at 775-530-0415

Wear your Griz Gear! No flowers please - go save a dog in her memory.