Duane M. Emond, 85

Duane M. Emond, 85, passed away Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009, at Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d’Alene.   A memorial service will be held 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov.15, at Bonners Ferry Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Duane was born May 16, 1924, in Weskan, Kansas, to Thomas and Dora Christina Emond. His family lived in several small towns before moving to Emmett, Idaho.

Duane attended Emmett High School, serving as the baseball team's manager, while excelling as an amateur boxer. He was the Idaho State Golden Gloves bantamweight champion in 1941.

Later, Duane joined his father at the Stibnite Mine where they worked in construction.

Shortly thereafter, he enlisted in the Marine Corps early in World War II. Duane served as a military police officer before transferring. He became an amphibious truck driver and saw action on the Pacific islands of Guam, Tinian and Saipan.

After the war, Duane moved to Seattle, embarking on a professional boxing career. He lived with his mentor, Harry "Kid" Matthews, and his family. Matthews was a tough middleweight who later fought for the heavyweight championship.

Duane also boxed in Los Angeles, where sportswriters marveled at his height of 6-foot-1 height despite weighing only 126 pounds.

Duane lived in Los Angeles for several years, working for Russell & Russell Scaffolding Co.

While in Los Angeles, he married Jackie Barnett. They later adopted a son, Tom, and divorced in 1973.

Moving to Bonners Ferry in 1965, Duane worked at Pack River Lumber Co. as a lumber grader until he retired in 1977 due to health problems.

In the mid-1980s Duane moved to the South Fork of the Salmon River, where he lived for two years. Tom joined him there for one year.

An avid outdoorsman, Duane hunted, fished, mined a little gold and raised an incredible garden, all the while loving the Salmon River-of-no-return country.

He moved back to Bonners Ferry and married Ruby Purington.

Duane was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses and served loyally until his death.

He was a master leather-worker, gunsmith, woodworker and photographer. Duane also loved fine foods and was an accomplished cook. He was also a voracious reader with an impressive book collection.

Duane was preceded in death by his parents and ex-wife Jackie Emond.

Duane is survived by his son, Thomas Emond, of Bonners Ferry; sisters Nadine Wallace of Bonners Ferry, Arlene Emond of Phoenix and Norma Lee Crosby, Pendleton, Ore.; his wife, Ruby, of Billings, Mont.; and numerous cousins and relatives.