Raymond Duane McGrew, 75

Raymond Duane McGrew, 75, passed away Sunday, May 11, 2008, at his Kalispell residence. Ray was born Aug. 31, 1932, in Bismarck, N.D. He was raised in Bismarck and graduated from high school in Yakima, Wash.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1948 and served in the Korean conflict. He was honorably discharged in 1951 after earning a Bronze Star with three campaign stars.

After the war he became a mechanic, working for Montgomery Ward, Evergreen Texaco, Kalispell Feed and Grain as a general laborer, and again as a mechanic for Billmayer's, and the Rocky Mountain Marine.

He retired in 1985.

He married Viola Harding in Kalispell in 1968.

Ray was a member of the VFW and the Military Order of the Cooties.

He enjoyed fishing, hunting and feeding the squirrels.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Eleanor (Leibe) McGrew; sister, Viola Smithson; two brothers-in-law; daughter, Shelly McGrew; and another sister, Betty McGrew.

Ray is survived by his wife of 39 years, Viola, of Kalispell; daughter, Deborah McGrew; son, Raymond McGrew, and wife, Brandy; sister, Marcy Hurley; grandchildren, Brianna and Austin McGrew, and Tyson and Jesse Cuchine; niece, Linda Kessler; and other numerous nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at Glacier Memorial Gardens.

The family requests memorial contributions be made to the McGrew family, 120 S. Cedar Drive, Kalispell, MT 59901.

Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.