Marla Marie McKinnis was born in Helena, Montana, on March 10, 1956. Marla passed away peacefully, after a long illness, at her home in Helena on July 9, 2026, at the age of 70.

Marla was the daughter of Fritz Smith of Chico, and Beverly Jean (Gibson) Smith, a third generation East Helenan. After they divorced, Bev married Morris “Mac” McKinnis of Tupelo, Mississippi. During the 1960s, Daddy Mac and Bev vacationed every summer in Mississippi, along with Marla, her siblings Mike, Mitch and Jody, and neighborhood Debbie Purdom.

Marla attended schools at Broadwater Elementary, Helena Junior High and Helena High, graduating in 1974.

During her time at HHS, she became renouned as the scourge of Mr. Mike Murphy, school truant officer. Apparently Mr. Murphy worked double overtime, being tasked with tracking the whereabouts of one Marla McKinnis, as she chose her own schedule during normal class hours. But he never did catch her – he was always one step behind.

Marla started working at the RB Drive In as a carhop, at the minimum wage of $1.79 per hour. Then she found nursing to be her calling. A 2-year nursing graduate from the Helena College of Technology, her patients care became her main priority.

Always a caring and nurturing person, all of her nieces and nephews relied on Marla for moral and personal support.

Marla met Jay Synness in 1982 at Hap’s Happy House. They soon hooked up and remained a couple for the next 34 years, sharing adventures through life until her passing. Her best friends were friends for life. Cheryl “Greenie” Green and Lori Ann “Lor” Early had each other’s backs for a half-century.

Marla is predeceased by her parents, Mac and Bev McKinnis, biological father Fritz Smith, and brother Lanny O’Leary.

She is survived by husband Jay; brothers Monty and Mark Simenson, and Mitch and Mike McKinnis; and sister Jody Peterson. At the time of her death, Marla was surrounded by her favorite nieces and nephews Dakotah, Dawson and Destin, and great nephew Damian Hand; Levi Clausen and family; and Brandi Lorenz and family. Nieces Teresa Ellis and Katie O’Leary stayed in contact by phone daily.

A celebration of Marla’s life will take place on Saturday, August 1, at 11:00 a.m., at the Little Red School House on Sierra Road.