Gloria Joan Harrison Cartan, 84, died suddenly on April 17 at her home in Canyon Creek.
She was born in Helena on September 9, 1931 to Eva Milliron Harrison and Henry Thomas Harrison. She had one older brother, Harold H. Harrison.
She attended Wilborn School, which became Canyon Creek School, through eighth grade. She thrived in the one room school and completed sixth through eighth grades in a single year. Her parents insisted she repeat the eighth grade so that she wouldn’t have to start high school at age 11.
She graduated Helena High in 1948 at age 16 and got a History scholarship which she used to attend Montana State College, now MSU in Bozeman. An active Kappa Delta and Spurs member, she graduated with a B.S. in Chemistry in 1952.
After graduation she worked at the Veterans Hospital in Helena and then, in 1954, became a chemist at what is now the Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Here she met and married Fred Cartan on July 9, 1955. The couple then moved to Bozeman so that Fred could complete his Ph.D.
After their son, John, was born they moved back to Idaho Falls where they lived for the next thirty years, raising him and daughter, Joan. Gloria became active in the Democratic Party and was an advisor to Senator Frank Church, Governor Cecil Andrus, and Representative Richard Stallings. In 1968 she was an alternative delegate to the raucous convention in Chicago.
Governor Andrus appointed her to the Alcohol Safety Action Program to help reduce drunk driving. She became a health manager for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and devoted herself to alcohol and drug treatment. She developed CARES, Combined Alcohol Referral and Education Services, and then became the executive director of the Alcohol Rehabilitation Association.
Upon retirement she returned to her family ranch in Canyon Creek to a house she designed. Her husband Fred died there in 1998 after a long illness.
In 2001 she reconnected with an old college friend, Fred “Fritz” Schilling, who had recently lost his wife. They fell in love and became companions for the next 13 years, traveling the world together, until Fritz’s death.
In her final years Gloria was active with Montana Democrats and served as a precinct committee woman. She volunteered at the Lewis and Clark Humane Society and was a member of the Elks. She was an enthusiastic supporter of MSU and enjoyed visiting with her Kappa Delta sisters and her high school and college classmates.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Eva and Henry; parents-in-law Fred and Irene Cartan; brother Harold; husband Fred; companion Fritz; sister-in-law Carol Getzinger; and brother-in-law Roger Cartan.
Survivors include brother-in-law Dick Getzinger of Gaithersburg, MD; sister-in-law Rose Anne White of Alameda, CA; son John F. Cartan, his wife, Betsy Brazy of Alameda; daughter Joan Cartan-Hansen, her husband, Jim Hansen of Boise; nephew David Getzinger, his wife Claire Chen of Hong Kong; niece Kari Getzinger of DeSmet, SD; granddaughter Samantha Hansen of Boise; grandson Harrison Hansen of Bozeman; granddaughter Sarah Cartan of Alameda; and the children and grandchildren of Fritz Shilling.
An informal celebration of Gloria’s life will be held at the Elks Lodge on 330 Lola St. from 2 to 4 PM on Tuesday, April 26. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Montana Democratic Party, the Lewis and Clark Humane Society, or the charity of your choice.
Please visit below to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Gloria.
Service Schedule
Celebration of Her Life
2:00 to 4:00
Tuesday April 26, 2016
Elks Lodge
330 Lola Street
Helena, Montana 59601
Service Schedule
Celebration of Her Life
2:00 to 4:00
Tuesday April 26, 2016
Elks Lodge
330 Lola Street
Helena, Montana 59601
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Deziah says
What a wonderful lady Canyon Creek lost, She will be missed by many. May she rest in peace and find her loved ones up high with her new Beautiful wings.
Cindy Lacsina says
I was very sad to hear the news of Gloria’s passing. She was a spunky, energetic, full of love woman. From the moment we met her, she treated us as family. My children, husband and I really enjoyed the time we got to spend with her. She always had a kind word to say, and encouraged everyone on whatever their dreams may be. She touched the lives of many.
Cindy, Paul, Andre and Adrian (Fritz’s niece)
Mary Van Dyken says
My deepest sympathies to the family. Gloria was a remarkable woman, so full of energy and purpose. I always admired her devotion to her family, her gift of hospitality and willingness to help others. She was a dear friend to our family and will be missed very much. Gloria always seemed invincible …her sudden passing is a reminder not to procrastinate in telling others how much they are appreciated and thought of.
Linda Grady says
Another part of history of Canyon Creek gone. I loved going to her mother’s house in the evening where we would have tea and cookies, and while my folks visited, my brothers and I would stare at the picture of Judge Harrison as he seemed very domineering. Of course, I was just a little girl at the time. Gloria is the woman I want to be; tough, tackle any job, and not take any gruff. The history of Wilborn, and Wilborn school is not known by many these days and as I go by every weekend in the summer, I look at the house on the corner and remember. I loved the story written on her in the book by Charlotte Caldwell of her days at the Wilborn school. http://www.cartania.com/history/oneroom.html
tori says
I only met her once years ago but that impression has lasted to this day. She welcomed me as a generous and adventurous woman who was the embodiment of graceful strength and intelligent independence. Such an inspiration!
Gayle Graber/Salon 655 says
I throughly enjoyed Gloria..always upbeat, intelligent..she tried to talk me into going to governor Bullocks birthday/fund raiser Thursday evening..she didn’t think there would be cake so I wasn’t bribe able. .I’m sorry for your loss..