James Benjamin Kehoe, 45
James Benjamin Kehoe, 45, of Bigfork passed away Tuesday, May 27, 2008, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell. He was born March 11, 1963, in Kalispell, the son of Jack and Louise (Willier) Kehoe.
James went to school and lived his life in Bigfork. At age 6, James already was interested in cutting and polishing gems and stones at the family business, Kehoe's Agate Shop, opened by his father in 1932.
After high school, James went to the Gemological Society Institute of America in California to learn the trade his father had begun to teach him. He was passionate about his chosen vocation, as anyone who knew him could attest. His sister, Leslie, and he continued to operate Kehoe's Agate Shop after their parents passed.
James loved nature and spent many hours hunting, fishing and hiking in the mountains and prairies of Montana. He enjoyed gardening, and his vegetable garden thrived in his care. He also had a gift for cooking and created unique and delicious fare. In 2007, he was elected to the Flathead Conservation District board.
In the last years of his life, James met and married the love of his life, Kristen Kehoe, and had two beautiful daughters he adored - a doting father all children dream about. James was a wonderful man who will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
James was preceded in death by his parents.
He is now survived by his wife, Kristen Kehoe, and two daughters, Nora, 3, and Stella, 1, all of Bigfork; two sisters, Leslie Kehoe and Lynn Kehoe, both of Bigfork; an aunt and uncle in California; and a cousin in Oregon.
Funeral services for James will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, June 2, in the Johnson-Gloschat Funeral chapel, with burial afterward at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to time of service in the Johnson-Gloschat Funeral chapel.
The family requests that donations be sent to the Bigfork Quick Response Unit, P.O. Box 2020, Bigfork, MT 59911; or to the college-fund accounts for Nora and Stella Kehoe at Edward Jones Inc., P.O. Box 2438, Bigfork, MT 59911. Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for James' family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and sign James' guest book.