Alvin J. Flory
Alvin J. Flory passed away Saturday, April 18, 2009, with family by his side at Boundary Community Hospital in Bonners Ferry.
Services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, May 2, at United Methodist Church in Bonners Ferry with interment following at Porthill Cemetery.
Dad lived a full and rewarding life, enjoying outdoor activities the most,
Al was born in New Rockford, N.D., the fourth of eight children to Earl LeRoy and Susan Betsy Parker Flory.
When Dad was 2, the family moved to Porthill and later to Bonners Ferry. He attended grade school and high school in Bonners Ferry, where he participated in sports, setting records and achieving local and state recognition in track.
On June 1, 1939, Al and Janita Rivera Huffman married in Bonners Ferry, spending their honeymoon at the West Fork Cabin and their lives raising their family.
They were together 50 years before Janita passed in 1990. During their marriage, Al joined the Seabees in World War II and was stationed in Okinawa, Japan, until his discharge on Feb. 16, 1946.
The couple raised a son and three daughters, spending many extended summers at Snyder Guard Station.
At age 16, Al started fighting forest fires; he worked for the U.S. Forest Service, working his way up to alternate ranger and then fire control officer for Bonners Ferry Ranger District of Kaniksu National Forest. Al retired in 1970 at age 55, with 30 years of full-time service.
In 1972, Dad and Mom were the driving force to start South Hill Water and Sewer District. Dad served as president and was head of maintenance until 1995.
Dad was the Boundary County Planning and Zoning coordinator for several years after his retirement from the Forest Service. He also did surveying in the county for numerous years.
Dad was a member of United Methodist Church; a proud life-time member of American Legion, helping with the Oratorical Contest; Toastmasters; Badger Boosters, helping build the stadium bleachers and raising the flag at many of the games; and was master of ceremonies for numerous events.
Dad spoke often and showed his slides at schools and public functions, sharing his experiences.
He was a member of the early Sheriff's Posse, which he enjoyed greatly and was a first aid instructor through the Forest Service.
He loved to hike, ride horses, fly fish the Moyie River and all the mountain lakes, pick huckleberries, traveled to Alaska with a boat and camper and cut firewood. His elk hunting camps were the best.
Dad will be greatly missed by friends and family. His grandchildren will always remember the picnics and fishing trips with grandpa and grandma.
Al is survived by brother Delbert (Rojean), Spokane, Wash.; daughters Carol Christensen of Plains, Mont., Laurel Christopher, Osburn, Idaho; and Sue (John) Lozier, Bonners Ferry; sons Jim (Susie) Flory of Plains; grandchildren Terresa (Ed) Smith Tensen, Nyssa, Ore.; Dallas (Nita) Deardorff and Casey Christensen, al l of Plains, Alan Smith of Spirit Lake, Travis (Tammy) Deardorff of Phelan, Calif., Mishelle (Shon) Solt Parks of Boise; Cory (Debbie) Smith of Bonners Ferry; Tammy (Wayne) Flory Heeres of Ellsworth, Mich., Tim (Julie) Flory, Caldwell, and Larri-Jo (Rich) Brockman of Rockford, Calif., Tyler Solt, Post Falls, and Amy (Jeff) Solt Byrne of Costa Mesa, Calif.; 32 great-grandchildren, special friend, Kay Maring; nieces and nephews; and a beloved aunt's extended family in Canada.
Al was preceded in death by his parents, wife, granddaughter Sarah Lynn Dudley, sister Violet Sprague, and brothers Earl “Roy” Jr., Lester, Ralph, Floyd and Edward Flory.
Family and friends can sign Al’s memorial book at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com.
Bonners Ferry Funeral Home handled arrangements.