Jewell Carman Tracey, 85

Jewell was born in Duncan, Okla., on July 2, 1921, and departed Jan. 21, 2007. She spent most of her life in Santa Clara County in California.

She married Thomas Joseph Tracey Sr., in 1944, and together they opened Tracey's Morgan Hill Bakery in 1953. The bakery was under their ownership for nearly 30 years.

They had four children, Thomas J. Tracey of Bigfork, Daniel P. Tracey of Reno Nev., Sharlene A. Davis of Hollister, Calif., and Karen E. Howard of Atascadero, Calif.

Jewell has five grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She displayed great pride as a mother and grandmother. Jewell also loved many sons and daughters who adopted her.

When she and her husband retired in 1981 they moved to Bigfork. Jewell was preceded in death by her husband, Tom, in 1989.

Jewell had a fun-loving, independent spirit. She enjoyed dancing, Big Band music and two-step country when gathering with friends.

Jewell enjoyed the company of her friends in the Red Hat Society, aka the Red Hot Mamas of Bigfork; as well as the VFW Lady's Auxiliary No. 4042, Bigfork, and the Moose Lodge, Kalispell.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, at the Bigfork Funeral Home. A wake will follow at the VFW in Bigfork.

Emmet Ray Embody, 81

Emmet Ray Embody, 81, a World War II Army veteran and retired Union Oil Company employee, died Saturday, Jan. 20, 2007, at Pondera Medical Center after a short illness.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, at Pondera Medical Center-Extended Care Day Room in Conrad, with burial following at a later date. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Pondera Funeral Home in Conrad.

Emmet leaves behind his loving wife of 56 years, Billie Margaret, of Conrad; son, Mark Embody, of Kalispell; son and daughter-in-law, Doug and Marla Embody, of Cut Bank; five grandchildren, Michelle, Zach, Jessica (Nate), Matt (Abby), and Tyler; four great-grandchildren, Nathan, Jaycee, Asher and Rafe; sister, Shirley Embody, of Waynesville, N.C.; nephews, Terry and Evelyn Embody of Napa, Calif., David Cambra of California, and Josh Embody of Browning; nieces, Joy and Rick Smith of Monument, Colo., Karen Woodall of Dallas, Sharon Sharp of Richardson, Texas, Judy Conrad of Albany, Ore., Jill Anderson of Granbury, Texas, Penny and Andy Jariabka and Justin of Pasadena, Calif., and Linda Crawford of Kalispell; and family friend, Pat Banka, of Great Falls.

Emmet was born in Valier, on April 6, 1925, to Anna and Carl M. Embody. He attended schools in Valier and Conrad and, in 1943, left high school to enlist in the Army during WWII. He served in the European Theater as a squad leader in the 3rd Battalion, 13th Infantry. After his military service, he re-entered high school and graduated from Conrad High School in 1947.

On Dec. 15, 1950, he married Billie Margaret Beringer, in Conrad, where they resided for five years before moving to Cut Bank in 1955. He worked for E-Line Acid, under Hugh McNamer, for several years before beginning his long tenure with Union Oil Company in the Cut Bank area as a field pumper. He retired in 1986 and the couple moved west of the mountains to Coram, where they resided until 2004.

Emmet was a self-taught artist and an avid Cut Bank Wolves and Griz fan. He enjoyed camping, golfing, traveling to his grandchildren's sporting events, taking drives with his sons, and reminiscing about WWII events and old family history with his siblings. He was very involved in the Cut Bank community as a past member of Cut Bank Elks Club, Golf and Country Club, Booster Club, and president of Little League Association.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl M. and Anna Embody; sisters, Hattie Embody, Maggie Dupler, Verna Warwick, Stella Kenny, Anna Pearl Evans, Bonnie Embody and Eily Gene Kelly; brothers, Carl, Arlie and Orbie; and an infant granddaughter, Brittany Embody.

Due to the compassion and kindness shown to Emmet during his illness, the family suggests memorials may be given to St. Michael's Catholic Church, 110 S. Maryland, Conrad, MT. 59425; Pondera Medical Center, 805 Sunset Blvd., Conrad, MT 59425; or Cut Bank Booster Club, c/o Kent Shaffer, 238 Third Ave. SE, Cut Bank, MT 59427.

Emmet will be remembered for his immense love and compassion for family, devotion to his wife, and his wonderful smile and sense of humor.

Jack M. Tyree, 68

Jack M. Tyree, 68, died Dec. 13, 2006, at his comfortable, beautifully landscaped home in West Glacier.

Survivors include his daughter, Jackie Lynn Hatcher, and grandson, Travis, of Liberty Lake, Wash.; son, James Tyree, of Spokane; brothers, Dick and Doug Tyree, of Kalispell; sisters, Shirley Howard of Spokane, and Barbara Layson, of Hayden Lake, Idaho; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held at his home in West Glacier, sometime in the spring. The date will be announced later.

Charles Alfred Wegener, 89

Charles Alfred Wegener, 89, passed away on Friday, Jan. 19, 2007, in the Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook, Neb. He was born on Oct. 15, 1917, in Estavan, Saskatchewan, to Anton C. and Clara Amanda (Lippman) Wegener.

At an early age Charles moved to North Dakota with his family where he received his early education. He graduated from Granville High School in Granville, N.D., in the class of 1936. He then attended Minot State Teachers College for one year.

Charles entered the U.S. Army on Nov. 20, 1937, in Lincoln, N.D., and separated on May 18, 1939.

During his military service, he married Bertha Mary Teppo on March 3, 1939, in Bismarck, N.D.

During his career, Charles had worked in the petroleum industry, being product superintendent for the British-American Oil Company. He had also been employed as chief and field inspector for the Nebraska Oil and Gas Commission for 19 years, prior to retiring in 1980.

Charles moved to Bigfork, where he was a member of the Bigfork Methodist Church and enjoyed his retirement. He had lived in McCook, Neb., for the past 15 years.

Charles was preceded in death by his wife, Bertha, in 1990; and one son, Wayne.

He is survived by a daughter, Karen Miller, and husband, Ray, of McCook; a son, Ronald Wegener, and wife, Sherry, of Klamath Falls, Ore.; a son, James Wegener, and Patti, of Kalispell; and his adopted grandchildren, Donald Wegener, Tina Wegener, and Rhonda Wegener and husband Jamie. He is also survived by nine other grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; along with numerous other relatives and friends.

Graveside services for Charles will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 25, at the Lonepine Cemetery in Bigfork.

Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Charles' family.