Joan Claire Cavanaugh, 85
Joan Claire Cavanaugh passed away Saturday, May 28, 2016, at St. James Hospital in Butte, surrounded by family and friends.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 9, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Duggan Dolan Mortuary. A rosary will be held at 7:00 p.m.
Mass will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 10, at St. Ann's Catholic Church. A reception will immediately follow at St. Ann's Hall, 2100 Farragut Ave.
Private entombment will take place on Saturday, June 11.
Joan was born April 10, 1931, in Butte to Daniel and Ready Williams. She graduated from Butte High School, class of 1949. At the age of 19, she became a Catholic nun, working at an orphanage in Kansas City, Kansas. Six years later, she returned to Butte and worked as a school teacher in rural Montana, teaching all eight elementary grades in a one-room schoolhouse. On August 23, 1958, she married John Hyland 'Jack' Cavanaugh. They adopted four children from the Catholic Charities. She devoted her life to raising her children, always believing in the power of prayer, and instilling this belief in her children and grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Jack Cavanaugh, her parents Daniel Williams and Ready Redfern, and both of her brothers, Edward Williams and Donald 'Rocky' Williams.
Joan is survived by her children, Alisa Davis and BJ, Fort Worth,Texas; Joseph Cavanaugh, Iowa City, Iowa; Lynda Lea Cavanaugh and Gus Wetherall, Butte; Tricia Clayton and Ted, Bozeman; grandchildren, Genevieve Easterday and Jacob Easterday, Bozeman; and many nieces and nephews.