Pauline Bryan Wild Poore of Butte died from natural causes at the age of 91 in the home of her daughter, Jesse, of Hamilton.

      She was born Jan. 17, 1920, in Butte to Carolina Wharton Wild and Edgar Wild.   Both her parents were Butte natives.   Pauline’s grandfather, Jesse Wharton, had come from Greensborough, N.C., to work for W.A. Clark, the Copper King.   Under the auspices of Clark, Jesse Wharton established the Columbia Gardens where Pauline lived with her family for 15 years.

      Pauline attended Butte schools, taking the street car from the Gardens to Harrison Elementary School.   In 1935, Pauline’s family moved to Missoula where she graduated from Missoula County High School, and attended the University of Montana.   She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.

      In 1946, Pauline married Robert A. Poore of Butte.   With the exception of a short time in Boston when Robert was finishing Harvard Law School, the Poores made their home in Butte and their beloved Montana.   For 61 years Pauline and Bob enthusiastically participated in the community life of Butte.   Pauline was active in Junior League, the PTA and St. John’s Episcopal Church, and she worked in many elections.   She was also instrumental in the restoration of the Mother Lode Theatre.

      Pauline loved the natural world.   She worked to preserve wetlands for bird sanctuaries in Butte.   She was also an early advocate for the protection of Montana’s native plants, and wrote many letters to the Montana Legislature for this cause.

      Pauline’s friends and family were the greatest joy in her life.   She had many lifelong friends who continued to enrich her life into her final days.   Pauline enjoyed being part of the lives of her 15 grandchildren, and later in the lives of her seven great-grandchildren.

      Since the death of her husband, Robert, in 2007, Pauline has lived with her daughters in various locations.

      She was preceded in her death by her husband, Robert, and her sisters, Elizabeth Nelson and Jesse Poore.

      She is survived by her brother, John Wild and his wife, Muriel of Helena;   four daughters, Jesse Applebury (Alan) of Hamilton, Pauline Robertson (Jeff) of Augusta, Kathy Berkowitz (Alan) of Calabasas, Calif.,   Mary Poore (Mark) of Flagstaff, Ariz.;   numerous nieces and nephews;   15 grandchildren;   and seven great-grandchildren.

      The family is celebrating the life of Pauline in a private ceremony.   The family suggests that memorials may be made to Fox Hollow Animal Project, 155 Fox Hollow, Hamilton, MT;   the Community Concert, P.O. Box 745, Butte, MT 59701;   or Warm Springs Wildlife Management Area, P.O. Box A, Warm Springs, MT 59756.