Gerald Joseph Huff

Dad was born in Baker, Oregon, but lived in the town of Sumpter. His father, Rolland Huff, worked for the Forest Service in different capacities so the family moved occasionally during Dad's younger years. Enterprise, Oregon, Republic, Washington, and Modesto, California, were other towns Dad lived in before settling in Missoula.

Dad moved here with his parents after he was honorably discharged from the Navy, where he was a gunner and radioman. Dad had an older brother, Donald Huff, that served as a pilot in both World War II and the Korean conflict.

Dad worked for Starr's Conoco on East Broadway, it was there that he met my mother, Inga Greta Huff; they married a couple years later. Mom, Dad and my uncle, Jack Nelson, Mom's brother, spent lots of time together in the Missoula area and the Swan Valley. Dad and Mom loved being out in the country and the three would collect cones from squirrel cashes, extract the seeds and sell them; they also collected conks, a fungus off old dead standing larch trees; they would clean, process and sell the product to companies that would make medical grade Quinine. All the time was not spent working, there was a lot of fun mixed in. Dad was always full of surprises, Jack tells the story that shortly after meeting Jerry they were riding in the car, Dad just pulled the steering wheel, from the steering column, handed it to Jack and said, "You drive for awhile."

My parents loved to dance. He was a member of the American Legion, life member of the Elks Club and a group called Formal Dancing. Most Saturday nights were spent dancing. They were very good dancers. We stopped in a disco club in Oregon while visiting grandmother Huff; after a couple dances the 30 or more patrons stopped dancing to just watch them.

Dad worked as a salesman six days a week for Lucy's Furniture and The Furniture Mart. They bought Gerhardt Floors on West Broadway where they worked before retiring. Both enjoyed their loyal customers; some became dear friends. Their employees were also their friends, one in particular, Lorrie Beaulieu. She and her husband Dan had been out to lunch with Dad a few days before his stroke. They were close friends for over 35 years.

My parents retired at their home in the Rattlesnake with a view of the creek. Mom's poor health confined her to home and short hops around town. Dad was the devoted caregiver for over 25 years. She passed away in November 2013. They loved where they lived every day for over 30 years.

Though Dad missed her he was excited to do some fishing. My wife Barbara and I had recently bought a motor home just right for the three of us, with boat in tow we set out for lakes in the area. Dad caught his first fish in 30 plus years; he was excited. Many trips and lots of fish later, Dad wanted to visit places of his youth in Sumpter, where Dad spent the first six years of his life: a mining town where a dredge had completely turned the ground for miles in all directions. On to Enterprise where the family lived right across the street from the school in a very nice three story home with two stairways that is still in wonderful condition today. We stayed at Wallowa Lake where the family spent time fishing. Chef Joseph of the Nez Perce was born at Wallowa Lake and was my father's namesake. The next trip was to Republic, where we toured the town, found the home he lived in and moved on to Curlew Lake a short drive. Dad spent his teen years there, only a few cabins existed on the lake at that time; now it has been discovered. We found plenty of fish to catch and stories told about summer love and a lot of bike riding chasing a teen girl. Rain drove us away form Curlew and we spent the rest of the week driving and camping along the Columbia River and checking out some areas Dad had never seen before.

There were several trips to the Swan Valley and the Thomson Falls, Libby area. Bull Lake and Lindberg were two of the favorites we visited way into the fall, when the snow came to the mountains and the larch turned. Early spring brought a trip to the great state of Texas to visit with friends in Austin. Hank and Jeanette showed us a very warm Texas welcome; Dad had a great time. We experienced a town of over a million people, big barbecue, time on the coast Padre Island where we used a sand wheelchair on the beach, we watched ships at Port Aransas, tried surf fishing and enjoyed fresh seafood. Next the trip took us northwest through the town of Sedona the tunnels and roads of Zion National Park, the South rim of the Grand Canyon, 6, 500 miles and almost a month. We had the time of our lives.

Two weeks before my father passed we spent three days fishing at Holter and caught some nice rainbows. Dad loved to fish and never tired of the sport even at the age of 88. Dad wanted as much time on the water as he could get.

The day before his stroke, Dad went for a ride to Hamilton, Skalkaho Falls and Philipsburg with a dear friend, Cletus Watson. He was happy to the end.

Gerald is survived by his son Rodney (Barbara); brother in-law Jack Nelson (Mary Jean); nephew Ronald Huff in St. Petersburg, Florida; nephew Tracy Nelson; niece Tina Liest (Jurgan).

My father was the nicest, kindest, most loving man I have ever known. He was that way with everyone he met. In his latter years it was Barbara and my pleasure to care for him.

As per his wishes there will be no service.
Read Gerald Huff's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.