Sylvan William 'Sy' Eccleston, 85

Sylvan William "Sy" Eccleston, 85, passed away Monday, May 19, 2008, at New Horizons Assisted Living, where he has lived since January 2007, making many new friends, and where he received excellent care.

A celebration of life service for Mr. Sylvan William "Sy" Eccleston will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 12, at Eccleston Bay on Georgetown Lake in Anaconda.

Sylvan was born July 23, 1922, in Anaconda to Hamilton Fish and Anna (Knapp) Eccleston. He was reared and educated in Anaconda, and started working for the Anaconda Company at the age of 17 as a bellhop for the Montana Hotel.

He was active in the Boy Scouts, and rode the train to Washington, D.C., to attend the first National Boy Scouts Jamboree at the age of 16.

On June 17, 1942, he married Lois Barnard in Anaconda. They made their home in Anaconda, where Sylvan was working for the Anaconda Company. In 1954, they moved to Columbia Falls, where he worked for the Anaconda Aluminum Company, retiring in 1985 as the transportation manager. He continued working as a consultant for the Aluminum Company in Everett, Wash., for eight years.

Sylvan and Lois would spend the next 18 years living in Yuma, Ariz., in the winter, and at Georgetown Lake in the summer at Eccleston Bay. Sy was an inspiration to everyone he had contact with, especially his daughter, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He taught them the value of education, the importance of life values, and how to be overall good people, always available to give out advice.

He served on the Montana State Hospital Board, and was on the Whitefish Hospital Board of Directors.

Sy enjoyed bowling, fishing, hunting and playing golf. He loved to be at Georgetown Lake, especially on the Fourth of July, and only missed three during his entire life.

Memorials are requested in his memory to Anaconda School District Special Olympics.

Survivors include his daughter and son-in-law, Diane Slobojan and Dr. Tim Slobojan, of Kalispell; grandchildren and spouses, Teresa Slobojan-Monaco and John of Anaconda, CWO3 David Slobojan, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Fir, of Astoria, Ore., Mike Slobojan and Lisa of Snohomish, Wash., and Jerome Slobojan and Jill of Kirkland, Wash.; great-grandchildren, Marcus, Michael, and Mitchell Monaco of Anaconda, Meagan Demers and Travis of Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Taylor and Connor Slobojan of Snohomish, Wash., and Courtney Slobojan of Kirkland, Wash.; a sister-in-law, Esther Eccleston, of Butte; and numerous nieces, nephews and their families.

Besides his parents, Sylvan was preceded in death by his wife, Lois, who died Feb.1, 2007; and siblings and their spouses, Clyde and Beth, Oran and Vi, Earl and Kay, Irvin, Glen, Jewel Klemann and John, and Marva and Betty.

Arrangements are under the care of the KT Riddle Funeral Homes in Anaconda.