Edward Dahy Iii

On 2 May 2017 LtCol Edward J. Dahy III, USMC was ordered to report to his final duty station. He joins his father, Sgt Edward J. Dahy, Jr., on the duty roster of Marines who stand guard on the streets of Paradise.Edward John Dahy III was born in Los Angeles, California on June 21, 1930 to Edward Dahy, Jr. and June Thompson Dahy. He, his brother Mike and his mother moved to Spokane, Washington during the Depression and lived with his maternal grandmother until his father arrived a few months later. Ed attended St. Augustine School and graduated from Gonzaga High School in 1948. He received his BA from Gonzaga University, his masters from the University of Montana and his doctorate from Montana State University.While attending Gonzaga he met his future wife, Nancy Paul. They were married in 1952 in Quantico, Virginia after he was commissioned as a second lieutenant. They were together for more than 56 years. He loved her very much and always said she was in charge at home.Dr. Dahy joined the Marine Corps after graduating high school and received his commission after graduating from Gonzaga. He served his country for more than twenty years and was a Korean and Vietnam Veteran. In Vietnam, he commanded his own squadron and was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat V. He attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and was proud of his service and proud of the Corps.After leaving the Marine Corps in 1971, Dr. Dahy worked as a teacher and principal in the Montana school system while studying for his doctorate. After he was awarded his doctorate, he was hired by the Navy Recruiting Command to be their Education Specialist. The family moved to Butte, and he drove all over the state meeting with both educators and students until he retired in 1990.In Paradise, Dr. Dahy will be reunited with his wife, Nancy; grandma Elizabeth Thompson; parents Ed and June; brother Mike; in-laws Mike Paul, Babe, Jamesy, Virginia and Beulah; nephews and nieces, Ray, Linda, Kathy and Bobby; and grandson Barry.He is survived by his children, Ed in Lolo, Jim and Diane in Billings, Mary Beth in Bozeman and Paul and Cindy in Tacoma, Washington; grandchildren Brianne, Zachary, Lucian, Rachel, Meghan, Alexandra, Victoria, Chelsea, Noah and Serenity; great-grandchildren Jade, Ryann and Rylee; and his many nieces and nephews. He loved each of you and I wish I could list you all by name; and finally all his friends, from his fellow Marines to his buddies at the 4Bs and Wheat Montana, he cared for each of you very much.Dad was a true officer and a gentleman who treated everyone he met with kindness and respect. And all who knew him looked up to him and loved him very much. We will miss him more than I can express with words.A vigil service will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 7, 2017 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 201 44th St S, Great Falls, MT. We will pray the rosary and then share our favorite memories of Dad. A funeral liturgy will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, May 8, 2017 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Following the Mass, LtCol Dahy will be interred with full military honors at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Schnider Funeral Home is handling arrangements.Memorial donations can be sent to Holy Spirit Catholic Parish, 201 44th St So, Great Falls, MT, 59405 or St. Jude Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105. You may also donate online at www.stjude.org.The Dahy family would like to thank Bernadette, Sue and the rest of the staff at Peace Hospice of Montana for the care and compassion shown to our father in his final days.Condolences for the family may be posted online at www.SchniderFuneralHome.com.