Loyal Murer, 88

Loyal "Pinky" Murer, of Bigfork, passed away Feb. 21, 2023. He was the eldest of four children born to Marion "Cy" and Florence Murer in 1934. He lived all his nearly 89 years in the Flathead Valley.

Pinky grew up in Mountain Brook helping on the family farm, hunting and fishing with his friends, and playing songs he and his family learned while listening to the Grand Ole Opry every Saturday night on the radio. He was the first in his family to graduate from high school even after quitting his senior year to work at Krause's Sawmill while his father recovered from a serious illness. Pinky returned to graduate the following year.

Pinky sang and played guitar for dances, house parties, and at the Dixie Inn and the Blue Moon. It was at a house party in Bigfork that he met his future wife Joelyn Wells. They married in 1955 and made their home in Mountain Brook, in the house Pinky built for them. There they raised their three children, Kayleen, John, and Keith.

Early in their marriage, Pinky worked at Kalispell Lumber Company "riding the carriage," a dangerous occupation in the sawmill. After a few years, he left that job to work as a carpenter. Over the next forty years, he built many homes throughout the valley. Pinky was known for his integrity and craftsmanship, qualities he passed on to his sons and grandsons.

Pinky and Joelyn were always involved in their children's activities — 4-H, sports, music lessons, plays and concerts. Many great family memories were made around camping, hunting and fishing. Pinky was an avid fisherman, and rarely left a fishing hole without his limit! Pinky's flower gardens were always showpieces boasting dinner plate-sized dahlias and massive begonias. In later years he also took up golf and bowling, sharing both with his grandchildren.

A new dimension entered Pinky and Joelyn's lives in the 1980s when they both received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. They regularly attended the Christian Center and gained a love for God's word which became the source of their strength and peace.

After living over 30 years in Mountain Brook, Pinky and Joelyn moved to Ferndale, next door to her childhood home. In 1998 Joelyn passed away after a lengthy illness. They were married 43 years. Also, that year Pinky lost a lung to cancer, but God blessed him with 25 more years.

In 2000 Pinky married Marilyn Nylander of Bigfork, a longtime family friend. They enjoyed attending church and Bible Study, going on picnics in Glacier Park and camping with Pinky's brother Jack and wife Diane at Thompson Lakes. They also had endless games of cribbage and pinochle. They were married 22 years when Marilyn passed away in 2022.

All his life Pinky never knew a stranger and later in years loved telling others what Jesus meant to him. He was a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather. A man true to his given name — Loyal.

Pinky was preceded in death by his parents; wife Joelyn; wife Marilyn; sister Arlene and her husband Wayne Hulford of Columbia Falls; brother Jack Murer of Libby; brother-in-law Bruce Barney of Missoula; and granddaughter Madison Murer of Kalispell.

He is survived by his brother Ted Murer (Dianne) of Kalispell; sister-in-law Diane Murer of Libby; sister-in-law Donetta Barney of Missoula; brother-in-law Doug Wells (Lori) of Kalispell; daughter Kayleen Kennedy (Steve) of Shelbyville, Tennessee; John Murer (Debbie) of Bigfork; and Keith Murer (Connie) of Kalispell; grandchildren Doc Kenney (Rebecca), Elise Erickson (Kurt), Ryan Murer (Tiffany), Cy Murer (Kendra), Alexis Murer, Micheala Goodson (Austin), Mackenna Parks (Shane), McKinlie Murer, and McCall Murer; along with 10 great-grandchildren.

We would like to thank Kamron and all the staff and residents of Rising Mountain Assisted Living Center for the love, care and friendship that Pinky and Marilyn received during their final years. It proved to be a wonderful home that they both enjoyed and appreciated. Thank you so very much.

A celebration of life will be held this summer.