Eldon Loomis

Eldon Al Loomis, 91, of Great Falls, a retired lumberman, passed on to a better place Thursday, June 14, 2012.Viewing will be held at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Monday, June 18, 2012 with the funeral service to immediately follow at 3:00 p.m.Burial will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.Eldon Al Loomis was born on May 4, 1921, to the Sun River Valley pioneer family of Esther (Strasberger) and George Loomis of Simms, MT.Al was one of five children, and his mother died at an early age. That fact and hard work helped forge his independent character. As a teenager, he cowboyed on the Floweree Ranch (now Broken-O). He often spoke of range riding and driving cattle from the Sun River north to Shelby cross-country.Al met, courted, and married the prettiest girl (in Dads words) in the Sun River Valley, Mildred Milly Green. They had two sons, Gerald Jerry Eldon Loomis and Larry Bart Loomis of Great Falls.During WWII he served with the US Coast Guard near Tillamook, Oregon. He enjoyed the experience, especially boxing, the coastal area, and using his culinary skills.Al was truly a jack of all trades guy who did many things well. His lifetime project was building/maintaining his house. The house was built one step at a time, as money allowed, to avoid a dreaded mortgage. He was a very thrifty man, an original recycler, using things until beyond any use. He always said, If you cant eat it or wear it, you dont need it.He worked for General Mills in Great Falls a short time before becoming a yard man for Grogan Robinson Lumber Company.He soon moved up into sales at the main store. He moved to the west side yard and took over management there until retirement.He also gave his time to helping others. In his spare time he drove combine and grain trucks for his brother-in-law. He helped remodel his in-laws home, building a go-cart for the boys, and constructing the family cabin west of Augusta, Montana.He enjoyed the outdoors by fishing and hunting with the boys. He always had a garden so the family had plenty of fresh produce and a freezer full of wild meat.He is survived by sons Jerry (Judy) Loomis and Larry (Leah) Loomis; grandchildren Amy Jackson, Monica Loomis, Lindsay (Edmond) Lowe, and Robert Loomis; great-grandchildren Neva Lowe and Alec Jackson; and numerous nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents; loving wife Milly; sisters Eleanor Lee and Helen Preston; brothers George Loomis and Jim Loomis.In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Peace Hospice, 1101 26th St S, Great Falls, MT59405.Condolences may be left for the family at www.schniderfuneralhome.com