James Gary Sloan, 87

James “Gary” Sloan died on June 11, 2019, at his home in Whitefish with his wife Mary O’Neill Sloan at his side.

Born on March 31, 1932, in Troy to Jim and Bonnie Sloan, Gary was raised during the Depression on a small farm with his sisters Gail and Diane (both deceased). After deciding to quit high school, Gary logged for his father for a year, using a crosscut saw and horses, and falling into bed each night exhausted. When September came, without a word he returned to school, graduating with his class in 1951.

During the Korean War, he joined the U.S. Air Force. After studying Russian at Army Language School, he served as a Russian military radio monitor on Saint Lawrence Island and later trained as an interrogator. He was honorably discharged in 1956. He attended the University of Montana from 1956 to 1960 on the GI bill, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in library science.

From 1958 to 1970 Gary worked summers for the United States Forest Service as a fireman, fire prevention tech, aerial observer and fire dispatcher. The Forest Service often used Gary’s outstanding abilities in the woods to get fire crews to the right place.

Gary taught English at Whitefish High School from 1960 to 1984. Gary was a teacher with a reputation. One story remembered by students and teachers was the day he burned a student’s essay over the trash can. He loved to tell this kind of story, but, in reality, Gary was a very kind and understanding teacher. While perspective students might be afraid of having Mr. Sloan, the students of his Composition, Seminar and Ideas, and Basic English classes had great respect for him, learning to understand English grammar, write essays, think critically, and appreciate literature and ideas. Former student Jim Mohn stated, “Mr. Sloan, you may never receive an award for your lifetime as an educator. Please remember that your legacy walks streets all across the country. You taught us lessons that are indelible.”

After his retirement, he and Mary (his wife of 51 years) enjoyed hiking and camping in the great outdoors. Both formed a long-term commitment to conservation as volunteers for Montana’s wild country, wildlife and outdoor recreation. Volunteering included Flathead National Forest, Montana Loon Society, Native Plant Society and other conservation organizations in the valley. They received numerous awards for their work, including the Danny On Conservation Award, and, recently, the Audubon Conservation Achievement Award.

Gary’s passion was the out of doors and hunting. In 1965, a student journalist asked him if he had had any outstanding experiences during his hunting expeditions. He replied, “Hundreds!” These stories of hunting moose, deer, elk and antelope only multiplied over the years. After retirement, he wrote articles for shooting, hunting and camping magazines. He also introduced many novices to the art of hunting and working with firearms.

Gary will be greatly missed by his wife, Mary, and close friends.