Earl Grey McPike, 73

Earl Grey McPike, 73, an owner and operator of Two Bears Trading Company in Bigfork, passed away on Sept. 17, 2011, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell.

Earl was born in Worland, Wyo., on July 23, 1938, the son of Earl and Nora McPike. Earl was of Irish and Cree Indian heritage and active in the Native American industry, and had stores in Bigfork; Palm Desert, Calif.; Estes Park, Colo.; and Cody, Wyo.

He was an All American in high school football three years in a row, and after serving his country in the U.S. Army, attended the University of Arkansas on a football scholarship. In the early 1960s, he was on the roster of the San Diego Chargers until he was injured. Football remained important  to him until the day he passed.

He had a personality as big as he was, and will be greatly missed by his family and friends. To Earl, life was all about family, friends, food, football, fireworks and just plain fun. 

“Earl, we miss you and love you.”

 Earl is survived by his partner in life, Jill Pratt; sons, Earl “Macky” Sentar, Brian McPike and Sid Pratt; daughters, Denise McPike, Kimberly McPike and Pamela Pratt Hinrichs; grandsons, Matthew Sentar, Peter and Matthew Pratt, and Mark Marcus; granddaughters, Makayla Sentar and Madison Hinrichs; and one great-grandson. He also leaves behind his chow dog, Pookie Bear.      

A celebration of life service for Earl will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Pocketstone Cafe in downtown Bigfork.

Friends are encouraged to visit the website, www.buffalohillfh.com, to leave notes of condolence for the family.

Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.