Francis W. Pettit, 88, formerly of Libby
Obit Pettit
Francis Wayne Pettit, 88, passed away Jan. 27, 2014, in Forest Grove, Ore.
He was born Oct. 16, 1925, in Jackson to George and Josephine Quigley Pettit. He lived in the big hole for 12 years and then moved to Dillon.
Francis graduated from Beaverhead County High School in 1943. Francis enlisted in the Marines that fall. He was in the Phillippines for three years.
After returning home, he enrolled in Montana State Normal College in Dillon because “they were playing football there.” While attending college, he was on the track and football teams. He was the captain of the 1948 championship football team. He graduated in 1949 with a degree in education.
Francis began his teaching career in Libby in 1949. He was called back to the Marines in 1950 for the Korean War. Upon returning in 1951, he continued his teaching career in Libby.
In August 1953, he married Catherine Roberts in D’Aste. They had seven children, George, Elizabeth, Joan, Joe, Margee, Julie and Patty. Francis taught PE and coached football, basketball and track in Libby until his retirement in 1977.
The U.S. Forest Service was his second career. He is fondly remembered by many as “Smokey” as he was Smokey Bear in parades from Libby to Tucson. His wife, Catherine, died in 1990. He moved to Centralia, Wash., and married Helen Caulkins. They lived in Centralia and Tucson, Ariz., until her death in 2011.
He then moved to Forest Grove, Ore., to be near his daughter.
Francis, most of all, enjoyed visiting with people. If you didn’t know someone he knew, you hadn’t visited long enough. The only people who weren’t his friends were the people he hadn’t met.
He also enjoyed reading, sports, getting wood with his friend, Gary Elmore, spending time with his children and grandchildren and traveling.
Francis was preceded in death by his wife, Catherine in 1990; son, George in 2011; brother, Dale in 2008; sister, Margie in 2011; and his second wife, Helen in 2011.
He is survived by his son, Joe (Deb) Pettit of Gillette, Wyo.; and daughters, Elizabeth Booth of Olympia, Wash., Joan Pettit of Tucson, Ariz., Margee (Pat) Bronec of Geraldine, Julie Long of Libby, Patty (Kevin) Harmon of Cornelius, Ore., and daughter-in-law, Debbie Pettit of Tucson, Ariz.
He has 13 grandchildren, Alicia Long of Spokane, Wash., Sarah and Elias Long of Libby, Asa Toburen Pettit of Tucson, Ariz., Katie and Lydia Pettit also of Tucson, Avery Booth of Olympia, Wash., Trevor Pettit of Gillette, Wyo., Erin and Matt Harmon of Cornelius, Ore., and Hallie, Sam, and Sean Bronec of Geraldine. He has one great-grandson, Paul of Spokane, Wash.
He is also survived by step-children Terry Caulkins, Larry Caulkins, Dennis Caulkins, and Joe Caulkins.
Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 3, 2014, at Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home. Rosary will be at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Funeral will be at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Libby at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2014. Burial to follow at Libby Cemetery.