Mardell West Schara

Mardell was raised in Lewiston, Idaho and graduated from Lewiston High School in 1944. She had a love of horses, and with her beloved quarter horse, Midge, was a barrel racer and rodeo queen for the 1947 Lewiston Roundup. She attended Washington State University in Pullman, WA where she received a degree in veterinary medicine and became Idaho State's first woman veterinarian. She worked as a self-employed veterinarian in Butte, Montana for more than 40 years.

Mardell married John (Jack) Vincent Schara in 1950 in Missoula, Montana. They were married for 47 years until Jack's death in 1997. Mardell was a member of the United Congregational Church and Marian White's Art Club in Butte, Montana. She excelled in art work (oil pastels and wood carving) and enjoyed playing bridge with longtime friends in Butte. She received numerous awards for her art work and participated in carving the carousel horses for the new Spirit of the Columbia Gardens carousel.

Mardell is survived by children Georganna (Craig) Clifford, Spokane, WA, Jodell (Butch) Allinger, Kelso, WA and William (Jill) Schara, Spokane, WA; grandchildren Keely (Jarrod) Lindquist, Kaila (Tim) Treto, Ryan (Sara) Clifford, Mitchel (Erica) Clifford, Drew Clifford, John (Camille) Clifford, Ana (Peter) Laffoon, Dr. Esther Schara, Valerie (Esteban) Barrientos, and John Schara. She was blessed with thirteen great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mardell was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Schara, parents Virgil and Doris West; and siblings Willetta Sutley and Louise Elmore.

A funeral service will be held at the Immaculate Heart Retreat Center in Spokane, Washington at 1:00 pm on Thursday, April 12th. The family will greet relatives and friends at the retreat center after the service. Burial will follow the funeral at the Queen of Peace Cemetery adjacent to the Immaculate Heart Retreat Center.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to The Spirit of the Columbia Gardens organization, P.O. Box 782, Butte, MT 59703.