Vernon W. Bunyea, 78

Vernon W. Bunyea, 78, went to be with his Lord Jesus Christ on Feb. 1, 2010, after spending his last seven months at the Hospice Care Program at the Spokane VA Medical Center. Vern was born on Aug. 1, 1931, and graduated from Flathead High School in 1949. While in high school he played for the Braves and was picked to play in the East-West Shriner game in Great Falls, where he was First Team, All State. Vern joined the U.S. Army in 1951 and served in Korea. While serving, he received two Bronze Stars, the United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Combat Infantry Badge and Good Conduct Medal. He returned home in 1953 as sergeant first class. In 1956, he met and married Sharon Lou Parkison and together they raised their four children. The family moved to Omak, Wash., in 1960, where he owned Vern s McCulloch Shop for many years. The family has many happy memories of Omak, including time spent at horse shows, fairs and rodeos. He brought his family back to Kalispell in 1973 to be under the Big Sky and beautiful mountains where he loved to fish and hunt with his family and friends. After moving to Kalispell, Vern worked for Columbia Falls Aluminum Company, in the logging industry, and Pioneer Northwest. One of the greatest joys in Vern and Sharon s life was their family at Bible Baptist Church. They were one of the first families to help establish the church and their love for Pastor and Louise Bemis was tremendous. Vern was preceded in death by his wife, Sharon; his father, Vernon C. Bunyea; mother, Grace G. Bunyea; and brother, Leroy Bunyea. He is survived by his two sons, Steve and his wife, Jolene Raybourn, of Kalispell, and Rick Raybourn of Vicksburg, Miss.; and daughters, Joni Bunyea, Patty (Bunyea) Foster and husband, Todd Foster, of Kalispell, and Shaunna Hill of Missoula; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Also surviving are Vern s brothers, Gene Bunyea and wife, Barbara, of Bigfork, and Melvin Bunyea of Santa Maria, Calif.; sister, Nancy Fryer, of Kalispell; brother-in-law, Larry Parkison and his wife, Shelley; sister-in-law, Jean Halverson, and husband, Ron; and numerous nieces and nephews. Vern is also survived by his loving companion of the last eight years, Geraldine Wagner, who took such good care of him. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Hazen & Jaeger Funeral Home in Spokane. Memorial services are at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, at Bible Baptist Church, 64 Dove Lane, in Evergreen.