Paul Coolidge

Henry Paul Coolidge, 80, of Great Falls, a retired petroleum producer, died Sunday, July 22, 2012 following a courageous 8 year battle with cancer at a local hospice facility.A vigil service will be held at Holy Spirit Parish on Wednesday, July 25, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. His funeral liturgy will also be held at Holy Spirit Parish on Thursday, July 26, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. Committal with military honors will follow in Mount Olivet Cemetery. Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.Henry Paul Coolidge II was born in Lander, Wyoming on August 18, 1931 to Henry Paul and Cecilia (Barrett) Coolidge. Paul spent his first years in the Dallas and Derby oilfield near Lander, Wyoming then moved with his parents to Sunburst, Montana. Paul grew up at the Coolidge oilfield camp and spent countless hours with his dad in the oil patch. He attended school in Sunburst and The Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana where he was a member of the Black Horse Brigade. Paul lost his father in 1949 and him and his mom moved to Bozeman where he graduated from high school in 1950. Paul began his lifelong career in the oilfield at this time. The proudest part of Pauls life, aside from his family, was his service to his country in the United States Marine Corps. He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1948 and his unit was activated and sent to Korea in August of 1950. Paul served with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines from 1950 to 1952. He received the Purple Heart when he was wounded in action on Hill 749. He was honorably discharged in November of 1952, but since he lived by the mantra Once a MarineAlways a Marine he remained active in the Marine Corps League and Honor Guard until the time of his death. On January 10th, 1953, Paul married the love of his life, Patricia Pattie McNaught; a love affair that would last almost 60 years. To this union, Pattie and Paul were blessed with five children: Hank, Mary Pat, Tim, Dan and Dianne. Paul was a long time oil and gas producer and operated Homestake Oil & Gas Company for many years, a company his father started and his son carries on today. He was very active in the community and civic organizations. He served on the Sunburst School Board of Trustees, was an active member of the VFW, Knights of Columbus, Elks Club, Sons of the Pioneers, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Sunburst and Holy Spirit Parish in Great Falls. He was active in scouting and served as a leader for many years. Paul was an avid hunter, water skier and camper and passed these passions on to his children. He was a wonderful father and husband and will be fondly remembered by his survivors: wife, Pattie, of Great Falls; sons and daughters-in-law Hank and Jacque Coolidge and Tim and Billiette Coolidge all of Sunburst, Dan and JoAnne Coolidge of Gillette, WY; daughters and sons-in-law Mary Pat and Howard Maxwell of Cascade and Dianne and Bob Nagy of Billings; grandchildren Joe Coolidge of Sunburst, Sarah (Chuck) Cloud of Cascade, Matthew Steveson of Billings, Rebecca (Don Schweitzer) Steveson of Lewistown, Dave (Aubree) Steveson of Great Falls, Matthew(Ashley) Maxwell of Spearfish, SD, Charles Maxwell of Cascade, Tyrel Maxwell of Spokane, WA , Jake Coolidge (Rhian Clark) of Missoula, Alex Coolidge of Mt. Vernon, IA, Nicole (Chris) Ramstead of Helena, Brent (Callan) Nagy of Bozeman; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents. Memorials in Pauls name can be made to Peace Hospice House, 1101 26 S S, Great Falls, MT 59405, Holy Spirit Parish, 201 44 St So, Great Falls, MT 59405 or a charity of your choice.