Elisha Gene Garner, 85

Elisha Gene Garner, 85, passed away peacefully on Feb. 25, 2022, at home with family by his side — his last breath here and first breath in heaven.

Gene was born in Grand Junction, Colorado, on Nov. 7, 1936. After high school there he spent many years traveling and working in construction from Mexico to Canada.

While working in Montana after the 1964 flood with clean up he made Montana his home. He worked in Glacier Park for a few years, working inside the park at the time of the terrible grizzly attacks. When visiting his family in Grand Junction he met his future wife, Pamela Jeanne Carroll, and her four sons. They married there and brought the family back to the Flathead Valley.

Gene so enjoyed camping, fishing and hunting, as well as driving cars, landscaping and raising roses. He helped build Meadow Manor trailer court and then worked for Evergreen and later Kalispell water departments. After a severe heart attack, he was forced into retirement at the age of 54. As long as he was able, he was always busy with woodworking, repairing bicycles and helping people.

Gene had several heart attacks and many other health problems, but he never complained and always tried to make a little joke to brighten the days. When his wife retired from nursing, they spent many winters in California and Arizona.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers and four sisters.

He is survived by his sister Cathryn Hundman, wife Pamela Jeanne of 52 years, sons Michael, Paul and wife Mary, John and wife Laurel, Frank and wife Teresa, along with their adult children Seth, Chase and Meghan, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

A service celebrating his life will be held July 16 starting with urn burial at Glacier Memorial Gardens at 11 a.m., followed by a reception at the Community Hall in Village Greens from 1 until 3 p.m.

The family would like to thank hospice for their supporting care of Gene and our family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to the Montana Hope Project for Children, P.O. Box 5927, Helena, MT 59604.