Myron Calvin Crouch, 81,

Myron Calvin Crouch, 81, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 2, 2006, at his Bigfork home with his daughter, Ginny, and friend, Megan, by his side.

He was born in Saco, to Edna and Calvin Crouch on Sept. 19, 1924, the second of six children. At the age of 10 months, he got polio. He was raised on a ranch north of Saco through the Depression years. The family then moved to town. He attended grade school in Saco, junior high in Hinsdale and graduated in 1942 from Malta High School.

While in high school, Cal applied for and received an opportunity to learn how to repair watches in an apprenticeship program with the local jeweler. He graduated from high school on a Saturday, got on the train (the old Empire Builder) on Sunday and went to work on Monday in Whitefish for Mr. Reed, the same employer he apprenticed with in Malta.

In the interim, he met a blonde Norwegian who he thought was pretty cute. She was a Whitefish girl by the name of Carol Joyce Christensen. Cal dated Carol, but then about a year later he was offered a better job in Bend, Ore., and moved. About a month or two later, Carol followed him to Bend and they married in 1943. They then moved to The Dalles where Cal got a better paying job. Following his father's death, they returned to Malta to open his own shop and help care for his two younger sisters.

In 1947, seeing the potential of Columbia Falls with the Hungry Horse Dam being built, they moved there and opened Crouch Jewelers. Times were tough and he had to work two jobs. Cal told of the early days of his business when he would work the graveyard shift as a bookkeeper and labor foreman for the construction of Hungry Horse Dam, come home, take a sponge bath, don a shirt, tie and sport coat, and open his store for the day. For the first 10 years, their living quarters were in the back of the jewelry store.

Cal and Carol raised five children, Robert, Buzz, Robin, Debbie and Ginny. They were married for 56 years. He loved camping, boating, fishing and swimming with his family. He was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church.

Cal took pride in the town of Columbia Falls. He was the first president of the Associated Chamber of Commerce of Flathead County, Chamber of Commerce president, and city treasurer. He wrote sports articles for Mel Ruder's Hungry Horse News. He helped organize Progress Days, now called Heritage Days. Cal was a Demolay dad for the Demolay boys, involved with the Shriners, Kiwanis Club, Key Club, Lions Club, Saddle Club, and manager of the boxing club.

Cal told of the times he and Dulane Fulton would drive the sports teams in their private cars to get them to games as there were no buses at that time. He was an announcer at local high school games and rodeos. He was on the city council from April 1975 to June 1980; in his last meeting, he served as mayor for that single meeting. He served on the board of trustees of Our Savior's Lutheran Church.

Sports were a daily staple for Cal. Ask him a question about a pro basketball or football team and he would give you accurate, up-to-date information. He loved being a part of the football pool with Scarff Auto.

Cal worked at Crouch Jewelers up until June 2005, when his health started to fail. The jewelry store has been in business for 57 years. Arla Wilson joined Cal in 1965 and currently manages the store. The business will continue as Crouch Jewelers.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Weston; sisters, Shirley and Greta; son, Buzz in 1987; and wife, Carol, in 1999.

He is survived by children, Robert Crouch and wife, Jennifer, of Prescott, Ariz., Debbie Hervol and Robin Crouch, both of Columbia Falls, and Ginny and husband, Don Hanson, of Bigfork; 11 grandchildren, Gina Ross of Kenai, Alaska, Jeff Washburn of Columbia Falls, Jennifer Trulson of Bellevue, Wash., Justin Crouch of Sedro Wooley, Wash., Angel Martin of Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, Cameron Hervol of Missoula, Daniel Hervol of Madagascar, Shawna Lankester of Washington, Amiee Gillig and Susan McCaskill of Kalispell, and Cy Hanson of Rifle, Colo.; 15 great-grandchildren, Jeffrey, Mishay, Samantha, Sevren, Kate, Shayla, Krystina, Kytrina, Kimberly, Karrie, Airean, Adrian, Ajay, Paschence, and Thai; and two sisters, Joyce Gilbert of Everett, Wash., and Betty Salois of Cut Bank.

Cal will be remembered by those who knew him as a self-reliant man with a strong work ethic and a strong commitment to family and friends. He enjoyed the many visits from friends who stopped in over the past nine months at his home on Echo Lake. He treasured time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He loved teaching them the games of dunk, concentration and cribbage. He lived up to his e-mail address of crib29forgramps by getting a 29 hand this last year. He loved playing cards with them right up to the last week before his death.

A celebration of his life will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, April 2, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Columbia Falls, with Pastor Darold Reiner officiating. Cal loved the Lord and when asked what advice he had for his family and friends, he said 'They should live the life of Jesus.'

Cal's wish was for memorials to be given to Home Options/Hospice.