James H. Foley

James H. Foley passed away Friday morning, Sept. 9, 2005, at St. Patrick's Hospital in Missoula. James, the son of Bernard and Winifred Foley, was born in Carrington, N.D., on Nov. 14, 1920. His grandparents, Hugh and Celia, natives of Ireland, immigrated to the United States in 1826. Ben and Winnie moved the family to Anaconda in the spring of 1922 and Jim grew up and went to school there. He married Margaret O'Neill of Butte, the love of his life, on Feb. 16, 1946, and they were blessed with five children. Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret, in 2002, his brother, Bobby, and his parents, Ben and Winnie.

Jim Foley graduated from Anaconda's St. Paul Grade School and St. Peter's High School. He majored in philosophy and biology while attending Carroll College from 1938 to 1942. He then joined the United States Air Force in 1942. He served with the 11th Bomber Group as a flight engineer for three years during World War II. After serving his nation, Jim returned to Carroll College and earned a degree in zoology. Later in his life, he returned to Carroll College and earned a second degree in contemporary English.

Carroll College has benefited greatly from Jim's service. He was a member of the Saints Athletic Association and the President's Council for many years. He served as the president of the National Association of Carroll College Alumni, as founder and president of the Carroll College Century Club, and founder and president of the Carroll College Hall of Fame. In 1991, he received the Warren Nelson Award for his support of Carroll Athletics and was also given the Carroll College Community Appreciation Award in 1988 for his service to the Helena community. Jim was also one of the founders and early directors who raised funds for the display in the Carroll PE Center to honor members of the Carroll Athletic Hall of Fame.

Along with his service to Carroll College, Jim also served the Helena area and the State of Montana his entire life. He was a member of the Helena City Council for many years, interim mayor of Helena, on the Civil Service Commission for testing and pension fund, vice president and president of the Montana Lung Association, chairman of the board of Valley Bank of Helena, board of directors of the Montana Catholic Conference, and was chairman of the board of Shodair Children's Hospital.

Few people can claim to have impacted their community as much as Jim Foley. His entire life has been dedicated to helping others through civic service and appointments. His service includes being past president and chairman of St. John's Hospital board, past president of St. Peter's Community Hospital, and administrator of the Lewis and Clark Children's Youth Project for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years. In the 1970's, he was the director of the Southwest Area Health Planning Council, where he supervised the planning of health programs in Montana's Lewis and Clark, Powell, Granite, Deer Lodge, Silver Bow, Beaverhead, Jefferson, Madison, Gallatin, Park, Meagher and Broadwater counties. Jim also recognized that several counties did not have nursing homes, and he led a public drive which raised more than $1 million to alleviate the problem.

Much of Jim's commitment to the community and other citizens was done silently. It was never his way to broadcast his good acts. In fact, much of his goodness escaped the knowledge even of his family members.

He is survived by his five children, Kathy (Pat) McCarthy of Yakima, Wash., Dr. Dan (Judy) Foley of Boulder, Colo., James Patrick (Julie) Foley of Missoula, Sheila Updike of Helena, and Tom (Shauna) Foley of Helena. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Kevin (Joan) McCarthy, Kara McCarthy, Katie, Ben and Nick Foley, T. J. and Shea Foley, Ann Updike, and great-grandchildren, Colin and Meghan McCarthy. He is also survived by his sister, Ann Marie (Alan) Fryberger, of Cathlamet, Wash., his brother Reverend Bernard (Pat) Foley at the University of Notre Dame, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Jim's love of life, fierce pride in his Irish heritage, strong religious belief, and sparking sense of humor, were all qualities associated with him his entire life. His example and friendship will always be cherished. "If you're lucky enough to be Irish, you're lucky enough."

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 13, at Retz Funeral Home. A Vigil service is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the Cathedral of St. Helena. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 14, at the Cathedral of St. Helena. Interment with military honors will follow at Resurrection Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family wishes memorials to be sent to the James H. and Margaret O'Neill Foley Scholarship Fund, Carroll