James Flaherty

James Joseph Flaherty, Jr., 82, of Great Falls, a veteran, retired wholesale paper salesman and former owner of Great Falls Paper Company, died on Friday, January 27, 2012 of natural causes.A vigil will be held at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel on Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Anns Cathedral on Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.James Joseph Flaherty was born in Great Falls on December 13, 1929.He died of natural causes on January 27, 2012.Jim graduated from Great Falls High School, class of 1947 and from the College of Saint Thomas in St, Paul, MN, with a degree in Economics in 1951.He married Helen Florence McCabe on June 25, 1951.They celebrated their 60th anniversary in June 2011.After graduating from college and serving in the US Army at Fort Bliss, TX, during the Korean War, Jim joined his father, James J. Flaherty, in the family business, the Great Falls Paper Company (now Great Falls Paper & Supply).Jim was a natural as a salesman and eventually managed the business. He belonged to many business groups, including The United Group, International Sanitary Supply Association, Great Falls Chamber of Commerce and the Retail Packaging Association.He was proud of earning the 1997 Montana Family Business Award from MSU-Bozeman. Jim was an avid community volunteer, particularly through the Uptown Optimist Club.He participated in fundraising activities supporting youth scholarships and activities. He served as Distinguished Governor of the Alberta, Montana and Saskatchewan Optimist District.He volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America, in which he was an Eagle Scout.Throughout the years, he also served University of Great Falls, Ancient Order of the Hibernians, Cascade Historical Society, now the History Museum, Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and Portage Route Chapter of the Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation.He loved history and supported institutions where others could learn about the rich heritage in the Great Falls area. Helping to restore St. Peters Mission in 1976-77 and helping to fundraise for the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center remained two of his star projects.He passed on his love of the outdoors and his keen knowledge of the Lewis & Clark journey and encouraged his children to hike and camp, float the Missouri River, and dig for sapphires.Diamond Jim and Helen loved singing and dancing. He often woke his children in the morning with a rendition of The Red, Red Robin Comes Bob Bobbin Along.It may be said that not all of his children appreciated that red robin bobbin along so early in the morning!We fondly recall his jazzy rendition of The Three Bears.Whether planning a trip for his river rats through the Missouris White Cliffs or exploring foreign lands, he loved to travel. He and Helen particularly enjoyed Ireland, Turkey and China. Jim celebrated his Irish heritage with a great brogue and an endless supply of good jokes.His kind heart, goodwill and quick smile will be sorely missed.He is survived by his wife, Helen and their five children, Nora Gray (Randy) and Michael Flaherty (Valerie) of Great Falls; Colleen Biehl (Randy) of Missoula; Stacy (Marc Ledbetter) of Portland, OR; Kevin (JoAnn) of Spokane, WA;14 grandchildren, Jason (Linda Barrera), Ian, and Spencer Gray; Molly, Daniel, Eric, and Heidi Biehl; Julia and Meredith Ledbetter; Sean (Cassie), Katherine and Megan Flaherty; Liam and Ciara Flaherty and great-grandchild, Reagan Flaherty. He was preceded in death by his parents, James J. and Sibyl (Fogarty) Flaherty; his sister, Sybil Warren and brother, John P. (Jack) Flaherty.Memorials are suggested to the Uptown Optimist Club, Jim Flaherty Scholarship Fund, P.O Box 462, Great Falls, MT59403; St. Anns Cathedral Restoration Fund, 715 3rd Ave No, Great Falls, MT 59401, or Peace Hospice of Montana, 1101 26th St S, Great Falls, MT59405A toast to Life from Diamond Jim FlahertyHeres to life with its crooked streets, heres to death that we all must meet.If life were a thing that money could buy, the rich would live and the poor would die.But God in his wisdom has willed it so that the rich and the poor alike must go.So heres to life and lets enjoy it.Jim certainly did.Condolences for the family may be posted online at www.schniderfuneralhome.com.