Cecil X. Exelby, 75
Cecil X. Exelby, 75, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2005, in Port Townsend, Wash., after a long and diligent struggle with cancer.
He was born Oct. 2, 1930, in Calgary, Alberta, where he attended St. Mary's Boy's School.
He served in the Royal Canadian Air Force after high school as an air frame mechanic, but left to come to the United States as part of a legal intern program. Believe it or not, there was a shortage of lawyers at the time.
He moved his young family to San Diego, Calif., in 1959, where he coincidentally began a life-long career in title insurance. He moved his family to Kalispell in 1963, when he assumed a position as manager of the Flathead County Title Insurance Company.
Cecil acquired his law degree in 1972 and was one of the last lawyers to be admitted to the Bar through private study. He was a member of the American Bar Association and the Bar Association of Montana. He maintained a private law practice in Kalispell for several years, simultaneously continuing his career as a real property specialist. He was acknowledged as an expert in real property law in the courts of Montana and Washington State.
In his later years, he served with the Washington State Department of Transportation in Olympia, Wash., working exclusively with railroad land grants. He remained there until his retirement was compelled by cancer in 2003 at the age of 73. He returned to his home in Kalispell and remained there until October 2005, when his health required that he move to Port Townsend to reside with his son, Don, at which time he entered a hospice program.
His earlier wife, Helen, predeceased him in March 1993.
He is survived by his wife, Jean, of Heritage Place Nursing Home in Kalispell; his son and daughter-in-law, Allen "Len" and Christine Exelby of Newark, Del.; his son, Don Exelby of Port Townsend; his brothers and sisters-in-law, George and Rose Exelby and Sidney and Shirley Exelby, of Calgary; his sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and Clare Copeland of Victoria, British Columbia; several nephews and nieces; and his two grandchildren, Tighe Exelby and Anne Exelby, both of Newark, Del.
Cecil had been a member of Lodge 725 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks in Kalispell for over 30 years, and had also been involved in Scouting, coaching intramural ice hockey, Toastmasters, Rotary, and was an avid golfer. He had been an elder of the First Presbyterian Church and particularly enjoyed singing in the choir.
The family wishes to express its gratitude to hospice workers everywhere as they are indeed 'Angels of Mercy' and made his final days much more comfortable and pleasant.
Please make donations to your local hospice organization in lieu of flowers.