Home > United States of America > Montana > Lincoln County > Eureka > Tobacco Valley Cemetery > William Guy “Bill” Gwynn

William Guy “Bill” Gwynn

View larger map

1 / 5

2 / 5

3 / 5

4 / 5

5 / 5

❮ ❯

William Guy “Bill” Gwynn

Birth	:	5 Mar 1927 Logan County, Ohio, USA
Death	:	9 Apr 2012 Eureka, Lincoln County, Montana, USA
Burial	:	Tobacco Valley Cemetery, Eureka, Lincoln County, USA
Coordinate	:	48.9052600, -115.1003850
Description	:	William Guy Gwynn died at home the evening of April 9, 2012, after a lingering illness. His devoted wife Edna and daughters were with him. A private funeral service will be held for the family at St. Michael's and All Angels' Episcopal Church in Eureka Saturday, April 14, with public graveside services following at 2:30 p.m. A public reception to celebrate Bill's life will follow at Four Corner's Restaurant. Known to all as Bill, he had served the community as a school board member, mayor and state representative. He also coached hundreds of Tobacco Valley youngsters in Little League, Babe Ruth and... Read More	William Guy Gwynn died at home the evening of April 9, 2012, after a lingering illness. His devoted wife Edna and daughters were with him. A private funeral service will be held for the family at St. Michael's and All Angels' Episcopal Church in Eureka Saturday, April 14, with public graveside services following at 2:30 p.m. A public reception to celebrate Bill's life will follow at Four Corner's Restaurant. Known to all as Bill, he had served the community as a school board member, mayor and state representative. He also coached hundreds of Tobacco Valley youngsters in Little League, Babe Ruth and American Legion baseball. He helped organize and played "town team" baseball and basketball in the ‘50s. He was a faithful fan of the Lions of Lincoln County High School, and was part of the Booster Club and one of few who attended the first games played at the three "new" gymnasiums in Eureka. Bill was born March 5, 1927, in Logan County, Ohio, on his Uncle Guy Oder's birthday. Years later, "Unc" lived at Bill's residence alongside the 50-yard line in Eureka. The son of Thurman and Edna Gwynn, Bill came west via Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks in a Model T Ford touring car driven by Thurman with a sewing machine strapped on the back and pickup driven by his mother's brother Unc. Bill recalled they drove by the school yard to pick up his older brother Kenny, and at times Kenny would take the wheel. Years later, Bill could recall leaning over the front seat to hear Thurman say, "Slow her down, Kenneth, you know Unc won't drive over 15 miles an hour." The trip was slowed by stops to purchase baseballs for Bill who occasionally pitched them out of the open-sided Model T. Bill was about 2 years old, Kenneth about 14. The family settled in the Tobacco Valley, and at an early age Bill developed a passion for fishing, baseball and basketball. He interrupted his schooling to enlist in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and returned to Eureka to graduate in 1948 and play on the championship basketball team. He attended college at Centralia, Wash., but soon returned home to work in the woods. Bill married Edna McKenzie in June 1950, and they developed a Christmas tree business, putting out as many as 10 railcar loads per year. A car load consisted of about 10,000 Christmas trees. In addition to a lifetime of woods work, Gwynn built several houses. He continued to cut a few trees and boughs for wreaths until age 80. He provided jobs for many youth over the years and taught them how to work hard. He was a good steward of the land, and learned early that recently logged over ground was future Christmas tree land. Plagued by narrow tunnel vision by mid-life, Bill's daughters would say "Dad was a blind man but didn't know it." He continued to fall trees in the woods, take care of yard work at home and the cabin on Marl Lake and help prepare his collection of antique cars for parades. He refurbished a car for each daughter and also took great pride in their 1930 Lincoln Limousine which originally was a Glacier National Park VIP car. The family holds fond memories of weekly camping trips in the truck camper he designed and built, and Bell Campers in Kalispell later called to copy his design of the queen bed over the cab. Bill usually coached at least a couple baseball teams at a time, and the coaching tips he handed out are still being passed on by grandchildren of his players yet today. During school years, he seldom missed a ball game or track meet. He taught kids that a strong handshake was important. Honesty was a vital virtue, and a man must be as good as his word. Hobbies included singing to his kids and grandkids, and he was a favorite dancing partner at area community hall dances. Bill also loved to play cribbage, pinochle and bridge. Bill is survived by his wife Edna daughter Cindy and husband Larry Viano of Kalispell, granddaughter Marci Davis and husband Phil and great-grandson Wilbur, of Milwaukee, Ore., and grandson Tim Viano and wife Nina of Kalispell; daughter Susie of Bozeman and grandson Christopher J. Hibbert, great-granddaughters Risa Faith and Kayla Hope of Great Falls, granddaughter McKenzie Gwynn Camp and husband Nick and great-grandson Aaden and great-granddaughters Zoey and Gracie, all of Belgrade, and grandson Michael Angus McRae of Big Sky; daughter Shelley and husband Tom Shay of Eureka, and grandson Andrew and wife Anna, and great-granddaughter Selah, great-grandson Trent, and great-granddaughter Hattie; and daughter Kelley and husband Terry Comstock of Eureka, granddaughter Tara Patterson and husband Jason, great-grandsons Ty, Kale, Dayne and Nick and two great-granddaughters Emma and Abby, of Escondido Calif., grandsons Telten of Missoula, Cade and wife Samantha of Bozeman, and Colter and wife Amanda of Worland, Wyo. He also leaves behind his dog Lizzie at the family home. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions go to the Kootenai Valley Rangers American Legion baseball team, P.O. Box 1666, Eureka, 59917.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is William Guy “Bill” Gwynn's memorial?
William Guy “Bill” Gwynn's memorial is located at: Tobacco Valley Cemetery, Eureka, Lincoln County, USA.
When did William Guy “Bill” Gwynn death?
William Guy “Bill” Gwynn death on 9 Apr 2012 in Eureka, Lincoln County, Montana, USA
Where are the coordinates of the William Guy “Bill” Gwynn's memorial?
Latitude: 48.9052600
Longitude: -115.1003850

Family Members:

Parent

Thurman Henry Gwynn

(1888 - 1974)

Edna B Oder Gwynn

(1884 - 1972)

Spouse

Edna Yvonne McKenzie Gwynn

(1932 - 2015)

Siblings

Kenneth Order Gwynn

(1915 - 1998)

Children

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Tobacco Valley Cemetery
Eureka, Lincoln County, USA
Coordinate: 48.9052600, -115.1003850

2. Roosville Cemetery
Roosville, East Kootenay Regional District, Canada
Coordinate: 49.0034200, -115.0523000

3. Pine Ridge Memorial Park and Cemetery
Fortine, Lincoln County, USA
Coordinate: 48.7395840, -115.0119910

4. Fortine Cemetery
Fortine, Lincoln County, USA
Coordinate: 48.7670550, -114.8930050

5. Boyd Cemetery
Libby, Lincoln County, USA
Coordinate: 48.9543991, -115.6046982

6. Baynes Lake Cemetery
Baynes Lake, East Kootenay Regional District, Canada
Coordinate: 49.2369900, -115.2106000

7. Frank Day home burial location
Trego, Lincoln County, USA
Coordinate: 48.5841340, -114.9115700

8. Elko Cemetery
Elko, East Kootenay Regional District, Canada
Coordinate: 49.2978200, -115.1353500

9. Sand Creek Cemetery
Jaffray, East Kootenay Regional District, Canada
Coordinate: 49.3362250, -115.2909390

10. Hannah Robinson Gravesite
Morrissey, East Kootenay Regional District, Canada
Coordinate: 49.3725000, -114.9913800

11. Morrissey Cemetery
Morrissey, East Kootenay Regional District, Canada
Coordinate: 49.3751030, -114.9941990

12. Sylvanite Cemetery
Lincoln County, USA
Coordinate: 48.7210000, -115.8745000

13. Saint Margaret's Cemetery
Fernie, East Kootenay Regional District, Canada
Coordinate: 49.4989900, -115.0550900

14. Fernie Cemetery
Fernie, East Kootenay Regional District, Canada
Coordinate: 49.5002240, -115.0579050

15. East Fernie Cemetery
Fernie, East Kootenay Regional District, Canada
Coordinate: 49.5018590, -115.0566640

16. Libby Cemetery
Libby, Lincoln County, USA
Coordinate: 48.3893540, -115.5646380

17. Moyie Cemetery
Moyie, East Kootenay Regional District, Canada
Coordinate: 49.2743920, -115.8350350

18. Yahk Cemetery
Yahk, Central Kootenay Regional District, Canada
Coordinate: 49.0885510, -116.0776230

19. Winn Family Cemetery
Lincoln County, USA
Coordinate: 48.5488590, -115.9644710

20. Corbin Cemetery
Corbin, East Kootenay Regional District, Canada
Coordinate: 49.5217700, -114.6785500

21. Troy Cemetery
Troy, Lincoln County, USA
Coordinate: 48.4752330, -115.8992710

22. Milnor Lake Cemetery
Troy, Lincoln County, USA
Coordinate: 48.4181150, -115.8259500

23. Larchwood Cemetery
Lincoln County, USA
Coordinate: 48.4178009, -115.8257980

24. Hosmer Cemetery
Hosmer, East Kootenay Regional District, Canada
Coordinate: 49.5863580, -114.9565980