Darla (DeMars) Czyz, 60

Darla Jean Czyz, 60, passed away on Feb. 18, 2018, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center, leaving a legacy of living life on her own terms despite the many challenges thrown in her way.

Darla, the eldest and perhaps most mischievous daughter of David and Elsie (James) DeMars, was born in Libby on July 9, 1957, causing a second independence day that year. Darla often served as the ringleader of her four younger siblings, first in Libby and then in Bigfork where the family later settled. Darla graduated from Bigfork High School in 1976 where she ran track and went on to receive an Associate in Business Administration degree from Flathead Valley Community College later in life.

In 1980 Darla welcomed her only child, Daveleen, to whom she passed on her love of mischief and the culinary arts. When she wasn’t busy keeping her dear daughter on the straight and narrow (not always the easiest task), she most enjoyed being out in her many gardens or making the world a more beautiful place through her hobbies of poetry, stained glass and quilting.

She was preceded in death by her father, David F. DeMars; a brother, Russell DeMars; and a sister, Cindy Cory. She was twice widowed, but was lucky to have found a companion in Harry Ihms (and son Alan) in her final years.

She is survived by her mother, Elsie DeMars; daughter, Daveleen J. McHenry (husband Trevor) and grandsons, Maxwell and Finnegan McHenry; sister, Ginny Weber; brother, Dale DeMars (wife Cherri); grandmother, Mavis DeMars; nieces, Nichole O’Masters, Cassandra DeMars and Misty Lengstorf; and nephews, Johnathan Cory, Dalton DeMars and Dustin DeMars. Her family will miss her dearly but vows to continue to raise hell in Darla’s name.

A memorial will follow at a later date.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for the family.