Philip Alan Coote, 78

Philip Alan Coote passed away Aug. 13, 2014, in Kalispell.

He was born Nov. 11, 1935, in Michigan City, Indiana, to Richard and Lois (Hileman) Coote. He attended schools there and in Valparaiso, Indiana, graduating from Valparaiso High School and going on to get his degree in civil engineering from Valparaiso University. The love of his life in those days was playing trombone in the marching bands from late elementary through college, and being a member of the high school swing band.

During college he worked as a surveyor and draftsman for the county surveyor. He met his future wife, Ann Sells, who was working that summer as a bookkeeper in the surveyor's office. They were married March 10, 1959, after she had completed work for her college degree.

In those days being in college usually meant a draft deferment for young men, but often, graduating from college meant a draft notice. Phil entered the Army that spring. During his time spent in the laboratories at the Army Chemical Center, Maryland, he applied for and received a commission as a second lieutenant.

Phil became the superintendent of the Valparaiso Water Works and oversaw both the expansion of the water works and also the technological development of their own computer program. While there he was active in community affairs, serving as United Way Public Service chairman and Center Township chairman. He assisted in the Valparaiso University Community Campaign and received the Valparaiso University Alumni Service Award. He was active in Rotary as president and was a Paul Harris fellow. Through the Chamber of Commerce he worked hard to get a new post office for Valparaiso and received the Greater Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service Award. Phil was also active in the Indiana Section of the American Water Works Association, receiving the IWWA Award for Exceptional Community Service, the Water Wheel Award from the Indiana Section and the John N. Hurly Service Award from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

He and his wife enjoyed sailing on Lake Michigan for a number of years and racing competitively in the Michigan City Yacht Club races. He crewed in the Mac Races from Chicago to Mackinaw Island and in the Tri-State Races from Chicago to Saugatuck, Michigan to Michigan City, Indiana. Phil took up backpacking and vacationed from Texas to White Horse, Yukon. He also golfed for a number of years but was "his own worst enemy" on the links.

He and his wife retired to Montana in 1994.

The service for Phil will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Kalispell.