Cecil Zachary, 74

Cecil Zachary, 74, died Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2006, at his Bigfork home.

He was born Aug. 25, 1932, in Kalispell. He was the youngest child of R.H. (Bob) and Georgia Zachary. Cecil attended grade school in the old Elrod School in Kalispell, middle school in Ferndale, and high school in Bigfork.

The same week that Cecil turned 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. In 1950, he received a medical discharge from the Air Force. At the outbreak of the Korean War, Cecil was called to active duty in the U.S. Army through the Army Reserve. After serving 22 years in the Army, Cecil retired in January 1972 as a first sergeant.

Cecil spent three tours of duty in Germany during the occupation of Germany and Berlin. While serving in Germany, he attended the coronation of Queen Juliana of Holland. Cecil served with the Second infantry Division in Korea and the Americal 23rd Infantry Division in Vietnam. During Cecil's military career, he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Silver Star, three Bronze Stars with V device, the Purple Heart, three Air Medals, the Meritorious Service Medal and several other service medals.

Cecil taught at the Eighth Division NCO Academy in Germany. He taught ROTC and coached the Women's Rifle Team at the University of Montana. Cecil taught at, and helped establish, the Army's first Drill Sergeant's Academy at Fort Polk, La. Cecil also served as an Army recruiter for two years in Butte. Cecil was a life member of the VFW, DAV and the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

After retiring from the Army, Cecil worked for the Flathead County Sheriff's Office as a patrolman, detective and shift sergeant. In 1976, Cecil retired from the Sheriff's Office due to injuries received in the line of duty.

Cecil married young and often. During his earlier marriages, he was blessed with seven children: Douglas, Rebecca, Randy, Shannon, Cecil Jr., Dale and Georgann. In 1987, Cecil married Patricia Conley in Bigfork. This provided him with five stepchildren: Ron, Donna, Marlene, Phyllis and Glen. This new grouping of 12 children often was referred to as 'The Dirty Dozen.' His clan grew to include 15 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Cecil was preceded in death by his father, mother, five brothers, two sons and one stepson.

Cecil loved to travel. While in the Army, he traveled throughout most of Europe. In his later years, Cecil traveled with Patricia throughout the Western United States and Mexico.

Among Cecil's many interests, he was a novice jeweler and coin dealer. He loved fishing and hunting. Cecil loved dogs, and during his final years, he derived much pleasure from the company of his Boston terrier, Cookie. Cecil was an avid reader who often said, 'If you can read and you don't, you are as bad off as a person who can't read.'

A celebration of Cecil's life will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17, at Thelma Kirby's, 2750 Swan Highway, on the Swan River in Bigfork.

Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.