Hamilton – Elizabeth K. Chilcote (Chase), 80, of Hamilton passed away after her 42-day battle with COVID-19. She departed peacefully on March 14, 2023, surrounded by family and love in Hamilton, Montana at her residence in the Sapphire Lutheran Homes. She was born October 27, 1942, in Jefferson City, Missouri, the daughter of Adelle and Allen Chase.
Elizabeth was raised in Jefferson City, and attended High School and Junior College there. She started Nursing school in Springfield, MO, and transferred to Deaconess Nursing school in St Louis, in 1964 to marry Wayne S. Chilcote Jr., M.D. They Moved to Hinsdale, Illinois in 1965, to Lombard, Illinois in 1966, and to Warrenville, Illinois in 1971 where they stayed until 1991 when they moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico. After 6 years in the high desert, they moved again, to Hamilton, Montana, where they settled and they called home for over 26 years.
Elizabeth was very active in Ravalli County serving as a volunteer with the Red Cross for many years as a dispatcher for Montana and Idaho, and as a dispatcher supervisor for 2 years. Elizabeth also volunteered with the Bitterroot Amateur Radio Club serving as President in 2012. Elizabeth enjoyed Quilting, reading Science Fiction, and tending her greenhouse.
Elizabeth is survived by her husband Wayne of Hamilton; son Hawk and wife Melissa of Hamilton, two daughters Gina Cox of Kansas City, Missouri, and Gwendolyn and spouse Raye of Butte, Montana, six grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Celebration of Life services are postponed at the request of the family acknowledging the cause of death, COVID-19, and to help keep all her friends and family safe. Consideration is being given for an outdoor gathering in warmer weather. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to the Ravalli County Search and Rescue ( Rcsar.org ) or your local volunteer Fire Department.
The following poem flowed through and was written down by Elizabeth’s daughter Gwendolyn the night Elizabeth passed.
The night my mother died the heavens rejoiced with their most cherished and beautiful creation, snow. For SHE was coming home.
The night my mother died the waters still flowed where the ducks and geese were playing joyfully in the nighttime falling snow. As if they were lifting HER to flight when SHE finally spread HER wings, to carry Herself home.
The night my mother died the deer all sat together in silence, silent as the snow, for one of their own was now going home.
The night my mother died even three red-winged blackbirds were singing in the nighttime falling snow, among the silent deer, and the joyful ducks and geese. They had been watching from the trees outside HER window for days looking in on HER as SHE lay, waiting for HER to finally take flight.
The night my mother died.