Earl F. Colton, D.V.M., 85, passed away May 10, 2017, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center of heart complications.
Earl was born on Sept. 26, 1931, in Baker, Oregon, to Dan and Edna Colton. His family moved to Montana where he graduated from Missoula County High School in 1949.
Earl served in the U.S. Navy as a corpsman during the Korean War. He served on the USS Jackson and USS Mountrail as an operating room technician and surgical nurse.
Earl married Mary Ross on Oct. 17, 1952, in Bremerton, Washington. Together they had five children. During this time, he graduated from Carroll College in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in biology and chemistry. In 1962, he graduated from Washinton State University-Pullman with a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine.
Earl moved his family to Kalispell in 1962 and started what would be 50 years of private practice clinics to include Kalispell, Libby, Troy, Whitefish and Lakeside. He was also a relief veterinarian for several Western Montana clinics. In his retirement years, he served as a veterinarian for the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Animal Health Emergency Response Corps collecting specimens for the bird flu outbreak and research.
Earl held a life membership in the Montana Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) and served as president executive secretary, executive board member and served as president of MVMA from 1979 to 1980. He was appointed by Gov. Tom Judge to the State Board of Health and Environment Sciences from 1979 to 1981.
Earl was preceded in death by his wife Mary, his parents, sister Sharon, and son Andrew Colton.
He is survived by his daughter, Melissa (Randy) Henry of Montana; sons, Dan (Connie) Colton of Washing-ton, Mike (Theresa) Colton of Alaska, and Bill (Bonnie) Colton of Colorado; and several grandchildren.
Earl had many hobbies and interests, which included bird hunting, sailing, trap shooting, pilot, fly fisherman, fly tying, rock hound and faceting of gemstones. He also was a member and president of Buffalo Hill Golf Course. He was an entrepreneur at heart. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Earl spent the last 10 wonderful and happy years with his loving companion, Patti Ormiston, and her son Brian.
A memorial military Honor Guard service will be held at 3 p.m. on June 24 at the Lakeside Edgewater RV Resort. Family and close friends are invited, due to limited space.
The family suggests any memorials be given to the Lakeside QRU, P.O. Box 911 Lakeside, MT 59922.
Thanks to Mary Granger and her team of volunteer assistants for their professional help and support, also the Kalispell Regional Medical Center doctors, nurses and staff for their professional and loving care.
To send a note of condolence to the family, please visit www.buffalohillfh.com. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.