Earl Cameron passed away at his home Feb. 15, 2013, surrounded by his family and friends.
Earl was born May 17, 1938, in Hot Springs. He was the ninth of 10 children born to Archie and Hazel Cameron. Growing up, Earl stated that he lived and worked in every state west of the Mississippi as the family followed work.
Earl's heart was always in Montana and he felt most at home in the town of Kila and the surrounding hills. Earl and his family returned often to the Kila area. He attended school there and many other places, including Eureka and Fortine.
Earl was a hardworking country boy. Most of his work life was spent in the timber industries. Beginning at age 6, he helped his dad skid logs with Buster, the family work horse. Earl had a very strong work ethic throughout his life. He worked until declining health forced him into retirement two years ago.
Earl left home at age 17. He followed construction work for some time. He met his future wife, Carol "Pat" McCann, when he worked at the Noxon Rapids Dam site and attended a community dance in nearby Trout Creek.
Earl was a talented equipment operator and repairman. He drove semi-trucks on the highway and log trucks for several companies. He also owned and operated several businesses of his own.
Earl also enjoyed doing initial attack fire suppression work with the fine folks at the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.
Earl was very loyal to family. All his family was very much loved and very special to him.
Earl was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Ken Cameron, Archie Cameron and Fred Cameron; and sisters, Goldie Tremis, Josephine Bouton and infant sister, Dorothy.
Earl is survived by sisters, Vivian Workman and Cecil "Nibs" Whitehead; and brother, Don, and Dana Cameron.
Also surviving are his wife, Pat, of 55 years; sons, Jeff Cameron, and Jim and Sue Cameron; daughters, Donna and Dennis Thornton, and Carrie Miller, all of Kalispell; grandchildren, Lee Cameron, Cameron Barker, Jeff Barker, Parker Cameron, Story Cameron, Cable Cameron, Carol Dent and Morgan Sutton; great-grandchildren, Cameron "Cami" Barker, Ava Chorn, Lola Dent, Lily Sutton and Nolan Sutton; and many nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, at the Red Lion Hotel in Kalispell. A graveside service will follow at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery. A buffet reception will immediately follow burial, at the Red Lion Hotel.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Earl Cameron, please visit our flower store.
Earl was born May 17, 1938, in Hot Springs. He was the ninth of 10 children born to Archie and Hazel Cameron. Growing up, Earl stated that he lived and worked in every state west of the Mississippi as the family followed work.
Earl's heart was always in Montana and he felt most at home in the town of Kila and the surrounding hills. Earl and his family returned often to the Kila area. He attended school there and many other places, including Eureka and Fortine.
Earl was a hardworking country boy. Most of his work life was spent in the timber industries. Beginning at age 6, he helped his dad skid logs with Buster, the family work horse. Earl had a very strong work ethic throughout his life. He worked until declining health forced him into retirement two years ago.
Earl left home at age 17. He followed construction work for some time. He met his future wife, Carol "Pat" McCann, when he worked at the Noxon Rapids Dam site and attended a community dance in nearby Trout Creek.
Earl was a talented equipment operator and repairman. He drove semi-trucks on the highway and log trucks for several companies. He also owned and operated several businesses of his own.
Earl also enjoyed doing initial attack fire suppression work with the fine folks at the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.
Earl was very loyal to family. All his family was very much loved and very special to him.
Earl was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Ken Cameron, Archie Cameron and Fred Cameron; and sisters, Goldie Tremis, Josephine Bouton and infant sister, Dorothy.
Earl is survived by sisters, Vivian Workman and Cecil "Nibs" Whitehead; and brother, Don, and Dana Cameron.
Also surviving are his wife, Pat, of 55 years; sons, Jeff Cameron, and Jim and Sue Cameron; daughters, Donna and Dennis Thornton, and Carrie Miller, all of Kalispell; grandchildren, Lee Cameron, Cameron Barker, Jeff Barker, Parker Cameron, Story Cameron, Cable Cameron, Carol Dent and Morgan Sutton; great-grandchildren, Cameron "Cami" Barker, Ava Chorn, Lola Dent, Lily Sutton and Nolan Sutton; and many nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, at the Red Lion Hotel in Kalispell. A graveside service will follow at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery. A buffet reception will immediately follow burial, at the Red Lion Hotel.