Vida Fisher

Vida Fisher passed away peacefully at Auberge Memory Care Center in Peoria, Ariz., on Saturday, October 30, 2021. She would have turned 96 on November 27.

"I hate to leave this life, but I've had a great life and I'm ok to go anytime," are words family and friends heard Vida say often her whole life, and we know she definitely made the best life possible out of what she was handed as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, great, great-grandmother, aunt and friend.

Her life started in Thermopolis, Wyo., on the family farm at Owl Creek, where Vida was the fifth child of seven born to Jesse Foster Ready and Vola Bell Dockery Ready. She lost her mother at age 4 and father and a baby brother at an early age and was raised by her older sisters. She and her brother Forrest were known as the Owl Creek Kids as they traveled from rodeo to rodeo entertaining fans as they sang and played while riding horseback.

Vida's musical prowess doubled when she met and fell in love with Clyde Fisher, who gifted her with his love and song as he played his guitar and sang love songs to her throughout their 26-year marriage. They were married August 1, 1942, and their love of music and entertaining continued as they played together in amateur hours in the park and were joined by family and friends on weekends to play and sing. They were wonderful dancers, and their gift of music was passed on to their children and grandchildren.

Vida and Clyde worked at Big Trails in Wyoming for Clyde's brother-in-law before Clyde was called into the Army. This young couple lived in California and Colorado before the Army sent Clyde to New Guinea, and Vida and their first child, Carol, waited for his return in Thermopolis. When he returned, he worked for the Icebox Grocery, Grants, and Sawyers, and they had three more children, all the time continuing their music. They moved to Miles City, Mont., in 1956, and Clyde managed Jack's Foodtown and sold life insurance for New York Life. Clyde passed away in 1970 after a long-fought battle with heart disease. Vida was his constant loving caregiver during those years. After his death, she worked avidly raising funds for the Montana Heart Association and was voted Miles City Heart Queen during a fundraiser one year.

Vida's first job was at Reesy's Drugstore in Thermopolis. In Miles City, after Clyde got sick, she worked at J.M. McDonald's clothing store and eventually started her work in the kitchen at the VA Hospital in Miles City, which resulted in a 22-year career there. She retired in 1990 from the VA and was accompanied by family and friends on a Caribbean cruise to celebrate, which was her second cruise.

Vida loved to dance and entertain with the Granny Tappers in Miles City for years. She walked and swam for exercise and always kept her yard in tiptop shape. She loved entertaining and hosting dinners. She was a member of the VFW and was active in the Singles Club for some years.

Vida had a strong Christian faith and enjoyed her church life. She said she first met God when playing in the hills behind the family farm in Wyoming when she was growing up. She said she had many talks with God as a young child among the rocks and sagebrush in those hills.

The Fisher family were active members of the First Methodist Church in Miles City. Vida enjoyed 60 years of service and had many friends in that church before her move to Port Orchard, Wash., in September of 2016, at which time she joined the Port Orchard United Methodist Church and had many friends there. While living with her daughter Carol in Port Orchard, Vida enjoyed the waters of the Puget Sound and the many trees. She always looked forward to an occasional trip to the Washington Coast to walk the ocean beaches and picked blackberries and made jam every year.

In October of 2019, Vida moved to Sun City West, Ariz., to live with her youngest daughter, Anita, and really enjoyed that. She loved the sun and spent many days watching the birds and squirrels and admiring the palm trees and pine trees in her back yard. She liked the pool and especially loved it when family would visit her there and have big dinners.

Vida's greatest joy was her family. They were very important to her and that's why she lived so long, because she loved and cared for us all. Because she lived so long, she made our lives better, warmer, more meaningful and special. That was her mission. That was her heartbeat. And if we listen close enough, we can hear that heartbeat even now because it's the heartbeat of a woman who not only led us but loved us. She never lost her humor or her beautiful smile.

Vida is survived by her children, Carol Wright, Port Orchard, Wash.; Charles (Chuck) Fisher (Laura), Bozeman, Mont.; Anita Wahlund, Sun City West, Ariz.;

She was preceded in life by daughter, Linda May Life (Gene) on Nov. 5, 2018; and grandson, Justin Duane Skin, April 21, 1990.

She was adored and admired by 10 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren, and 5 great, great- grandchildren, all who called her GG. She was the last of her six siblings to pass, but she leaves many nieces and nephews that she always enjoyed and who loved her very much. Many of her friends have gone, but she was always making new friends everywhere she went.

There are tears being shed, and one might say, "How could you cry that much for a woman who had God's gift of 96 years?" It's because she was forever young, and we wish she'd lived to be 196.

There will be a Celebration of her life in Miles City the weekend of July 4, 2022, Vida's favorite holiday.