The disability community mourns the loss of two great advocates.
Gay Moddrell was a former board member for Summit Independent Living Center and Disability Rights Montana. She was also the longtime director of the Special Friends advocacy program in Kalispell, and served with numerous other disability organizations. Her fire and kindness touched the lives of many people across Montana.
Elizabeth Varnum was an Independent Living Specialist in Summit’s Hamilton office since 2011, and served as a peer advocate there for several years beforehand. She was an avid photographer, and her spirit and enthusiasm will be missed by her coworkers and the many people she helped.
And while this is a time of grief, disability advocates all over Montana and the United States will do well to carry the spirit of these two great women forward as we continue to fight for the rights of people everywhere.
Elizabeth and Gay, you will be missed.
