John D'Arcy

John E. Bricks D'Arcy, 93,ofGreat Falls, aveteran of WWII in the Army Corp and retired manager for W.P. Fuller Paint and Glass, died of complications of influenza on Tuesday, January8, 2013 at Peace Hospice.Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at Schnider Funeral Home.A vigil will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church.A funeral liturgy will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church with cremation to follow the services.Schnider Funeral Home is handling arrangements.John was born on September 16, 1919 to Frank and Mary DArcy and raised in Anaconda. After losing 5 of their 10 children there, Frank and Mary moved the family to Butte.With 5 children remaining they made a life there.They lived in uptown Butte on Gannon Street raising the children in a two bedroom home near the mine.He was a lightweight champion boxer where he got the nickname Bricks. He attended a business college for bookkeeping, was a florist in Butte, and a car man in Great Falls. He loved to fly fish with his waders and tube on the Madison River and Bean Lake, tying his own flies. He hunted with close friends and family.He married Laura Montana Flood in Boulder on October 5, 1957.They moved to Great Falls where they were the first row of houses on a prairie of gumbo. They were delighted to bring a cherished daughter into the world, spending time raising Annette in their new home, establishing a fenced yard, garden, swing set, and huge tire trampoline. The new neighborhood brought in new families that grew up together. They spent 55 years in that same home, having a great view of the mountains, river, and sunsets.He worked for W.P. Fuller in Butte as a bookkeeper and transferred to Great Falls on 10th Ave South to open a new franchise.In the building, the staff slept in sleeping bags to stand watch as the merchandise arrived because the windows, doors and roof were not completed. He traveled the region as a salesman, estimated glass jobs and worked his way to store manager.His largest job was all of the glass on the American Red Cross, black box building near Benefis.He displayed fairness and generosity to his employees. He was thoughtful and professional to customers, painters and glaziers alike.He went above and beyond, which built the business trust in him.He strived to always do the right thing.He had the knack for salesmanship.Family and friends have loved him for years and appreciated the qualities he possessed.He retired in 1984.He was a grand man with a dazzling smile and an upbeat attitude that was contagious. You may have met him, the unforgettable man whistling a tune or his favorite response, I never had a bad day in my life. His whistling went on even until the last few days.He paved his way to heavens gate all his life, with his good deeds and strong Catholic faith.At the wise old age of 93, our next generation always seemed to remember his Old Bee Buzzer Under the Arm song that the children adored. Every weekend the family took the 63 Chevy truck to Butte to visit family.The trips included song ditties and Irish stories of his childhood. John was raised a devout Catholic and lived half a block down from St. Marys Church in Butte. He served mass as an altar boy. Since he was so close to the church he was called in on short notice when an altar boy was unable to serve.As an adult, if he was unable to attend mass, he called the priest to notify him. He attended Blessed Sacrament Church in Black Eagle, was a member of the Veteran of Foreign Wars, a charter member of St. Lukes Catholic Church, and a member of the Elks for 55 years.He loved to have children around.Every time that Dave and Annette announced the arrival of a new grandchild, he would grin.John and Laura helped care for many children until the grandchildren came along staying many hours before and after school.Grandpa would walk the kids to and from school.They would be greeted with a bowl of ice cream, as it was Grandpas favorite.Grandma would always have homemade cookies, warm from the oven.John is survived by his wife, Laura DArcy of Great Falls; daughter Annette Chandler of Great Falls; sisters Catherine Thrasher of Missoula and Betty McGarry of Whitefish; brother Charles DArcy of Polson; two granddaughters, Karena (Brad) and Megan; two grandsons, Gunner and Tiller; his namesake, granddaughter, Darcy; and great grandson Alexander.Loving Grandpa so much, it just hurts their hearts to have him gone.We were so fortunate to be near him for so long.He was preceded in death by his brother, Gerald.Memorials can be made in his honor to Lady of the Rockies, Cascade County 4-H or Peace Hospice