Larry W. McCauley, 75

Larry W. McCauley died at his home in Kalispell on Dec. 29, 2010, after a long series of sicknesses that was finally determined to be lymphatic cancer.

His ashes will be spread during a celebration of his life in July.

He was born Nov. 2, 1935, in Hansboro, N.D.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Ruth; and his siblings, Myron, Vera Kieffer, Lila McGuire, Lorene Ouellette, Ruth King, Robert and Allen.

He started his single life doing carpentry and working for Great Northern Railroad while developing a close relationship with his sister Ruth’s older children, Robbie and Cary King.

Larry enlisted in the Marines and achieved the honor of being named a marksman. He received an honorable discharge.

His love of the outdoors brought him back to the Flathead Valley where he went to work for the U.S. Forest Service.

He married his first wife, Pam Tellesch, after she was widowed with an infant, Sheila Welch. Together they had one child, Sharla, before they divorced. He built a house from the ground up, which he later sold.

Larry then met and married Iris, with whom he spent the last 34 years as a couple. Iris had four children, Sean, Angie Mayer, Jill and Duane, all of whom he quickly adopted. This union provided two more children, Heather McDonald and Teague. Larry remained in the area working for various lumber mills and in his later years for the Park Service.

He had many hobbies, most of which enabled him to be out in nature. He could name any tree, bird and darned near about every insect. His hobbies included hunting, fishing, fly tying, photography, gardening, gold panning, rock collecting, taxidermy, bee keeping, cribbage, cooking, candy making and conceiving inventions to make the world easier for others.

Though he was never much for expressing his love, it shone through in his actions. He was ever willing to give of himself in so many ways. He will be greatly missed. Condolences may be posted online at m.sharla@yahoo.com.