On 3 August 1985, Lila Lifely saved the life of a 10-year-old girl attacked by a cougar during a camping trip. Two of the seven girls in Miss Lifely's care were playing near the campsite when a cougar leaped from the forest. Unable to run fast enough to evade the cat's claws, one girl fell and was immediately mauled. Alerted by the girls, Lila Lifely ran to help. Disregarding the danger to herself, she grabbed a fallen branch and, yelling, attacked the animal. It ran off, but returned to the victim as soon as Miss Lifely moved away to get a first-aid kit. She again charge the cougar, beating it on the head and forcing it to retreat. Despite serious injury, the young girl recovered.