Cloyde "Bill" Jones

Cloyde "Bill" Jones, 80, of Missoula passed away on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014, at St. Patrick Hospital, of natural causes.

Bill was born on July 15, 1933, in Wibaux, where his family ran a farm. When his folks lost the family farm in the Great Depression, they moved to Glendive. After graduating from High School, Bill enlisted in the Navy in 1951. He spent three years aboard a gasoline tanker in the Korean War. Following his honorable discharge in 1955, Bill worked in the oil fields around Glendive for Shell Oil for several years.

In 1962 he moved to Polson with his brother Jim and purchased the Pondera Bar. The start of a 52 year career in the bar business. Bill would later find another partner, Gloria, a Polson native who was home with her two sons Keith and Gregg for a summer visit in 1972 to see her parents. It was love at first sight and in three months they were married. Being a father was a natural fit for him and he loved his stepsons as if they were his own. He vowed to Gloria that he would tell her he loved her every day of his life and he kept that vow to the end.

In 1973 Bill and Gloria sold the Pondera to Jim and moved to Missoula to purchase Curley's Tavern, a working man's bar on the south side of town which has changed dramatically over the years as the landscape changed.

In 1974 Brian was born and completed the family. Although Bill didn't know it at the time, Brian would grow up to be his next partner and right hand man at Curley's. Bill believed that family comes first and were the light of his life. Bill loved his daughters-in-law as much as his boys and when the grandchildren came around it made his day.

Bill struggled with pain in his legs from the four different hip transplants over the years and leg surgery he had as a boy. Though he was not one to complain, those close to him could see it. We know that he is free from pain now and in heaven with his parents Ralph and Loretta; sister Theresa and brothers, Jim (Clara) and John (Sally)

Surviving him is his wife Gloria; son Keith (Suzy), three grandchildren, Sheryl, Shannon and Shaun and four great-grandchildren; son Gregg (Caryn); son Brian (Kathy), two grandchildren, Maddisyn and Bryson; sisters, Audrey and Marilyn (Scott); brother Bob (Ricki) and sister in law Sally (John).

Bill's Funeral Mass will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 8 at St. Anthony Catholic Church located at 217 Tremont. Immediately after the Mass there will be a no-host memorial at Curley's Broiler at 2915 Brooks St. Interment of his urn will be the Monday following in a private ceremony with immediate family at the Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery.

As he told us growing up: "What did he say? He said the only thing a fella could say....Do the kissin' bug boogie ..."

We Love and miss you Pops!!!
Read Cloyde Jones's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.