Mary J. "Toots" Vandervoort/Sarrazin

Mary J. “Toots” (Kremper) VanderVoort/Sarrazin, 85, of Clyde Park and Livingston, passed away on February 9, 2019 at the Frontier Assisted Living and Memory Care Center, where she had spent the last nine years.



Toots was born February 8, 1934 in Big Timber, MT, to parents John and Chloe (Jones) Kremper. She attended grade school at Otter Creek and high school in Big Timber. She worked at the Fowell-Neimi store in Big Timber before marrying Edward “Ed” VanderVoort in 1953. Toots and Ed had three sons John, Jim and Edward “Charlie”. She worked with Ed in the logging business, driving the logging truck. She and Ed later divorced. She then owned and operated the Clyde Park Tavern for several years.



She married Robert “Bob” Sarrazin in 1969. They had a daughter Bobbi Jo “BJ”. Toots and Bob had the Sarrazin Lumber in Clyde Park, where she worked daily on the green chain, tending bar on week nights and weekends at Reds Bar, Shield River Inn, The Clyde Park Tavern and had a brief stint as a flagger and a pilot car driver. Toots and Bob were later divorced.



Toots also worked for the Roche Juane Art Gallery, Clarence Morrison Gallery and managed Cotttonwood Apartments in Clyde Park several years, often bringing a resident to Livingston for their needs. She gave back to the community by serving on the Clyde Park City Council, Clyde Park Volunteer Fire Department and was involved with charities and community events.



Toots loved people and had a great sense of humor. She pitched for the women’s softball league, loved playing horseshoes, cards of any kind, pool, dice and was a very good dart player. Her favorite trips were to Wendover, Nevada annually on Mother’s Day with the gals on the Karst Stage. She enjoyed Bingo Night at the Senior Citizen Center and did win quite often.



She was one of a kind with a quick wit and one in a million smile. When asked how she was that day, she would reply “Fat and Sassy” then she would smile, and you couldn’t help but smile too. She was a strong woman from the day she was born until the day she died. She loved life and fought for every second she could have. She loved people and people loved her. Dementia might have taken away a lot from her, but it never took her spirt. She was all sass until the end.



She will be missed by family and friends, however Toot’s health for quite some time had not been good.



Survivors include her children: John (Debbie) VanderVoort of Midwest, WY; Edward “Charlie” (Robin) VanderVoort of Helena, MT; Bobbi Jo Sarrazin-Jarvis (John) of Clyde Park; her “Seester” Betty Juhnke/Brewer of Livingston; many grandchildren; great grandchildren; nieces and nephews.



Toots was preceded in death by both husbands, her son Jim, her brother Bill and parents.



A memorial service will be held 2:00 PM Thursday, February 14, 2019 at Holbrook Methodist Church, 424 W. Lewis Street in Livingston. A private family burial will be held in Big Timber at a later date.



Memorials may be made in her name to the Clyde Park Volunteer Fire Department, Alzheimer Association, Dementia Society or charity of your choice.