Fay Buck

Fay Louis Buck, 84, of Choteau, a Navy veteran, coach and teacher, died of natural causes Thursday, Dec. 8, at Teton Medical Center.

Services are 1 p.m. Saturday at Choteau Methodist Church. Gorder Jensen Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Fay was born Sept. 6, 1927, in Hamilton, Mont., to Louis Clinton Buck and Blanche May Lord. He was raised and attended school in Hamilton, where he participated in football, basketball and track.

After graduating from high school he joined the Navy, serving two years as a Seaman 1st class on the troop transport USS General G.M. Randal. Upon discharge he moved to Shelby, Mont., where he worked as a truck driver and was a member of the Marine Corps Reserves for two years. He then moved to Alaska, where he worked in a Navy depot and on a commercial fishing boat for eight months. He returned to Montana and started college at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, later transferring to Missoula, graduating with honors in 1952 from the University of Montana, with a B.A. in mathematics and a minor in physical education.

During his time in Missoula he met and married Georgiana Bruce on July 2, 1952, in Hamilton, Mont. They moved to Hobson, Mont., where he began a long teaching and coaching career that took him next to Charlo, Mont., and then finally to Choteau in 1958, where Fay retired with a total of 35 years of teaching. He attended the University of Wyoming in Laramie for two summers, and the University of Utah for one summer, obtaining a master's equivalency in mathematics.

He was a past member of the Elks, the Lions, and Kiwanis clubs. He was a member of the Choteau United Methodist Church, where he served as chairperson of the Administrative Board, on the Board of Trustees, President of the Men's Brotherhood, and nine years as the Methodist representative on the Skyline Board.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters; four brothers; and a granddaughter, Deserae.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 59 years, Georgia of Choteau; a daughter, Diane (Chuck) Crane of Laurel, Mont.; two sons, Steve (Linda) of Fort Benton and John (Laura) of Choteau; a nephew, Dr. Freddie (Gayle) Stout of Missoula; grandchildren, Lindy, Nick, Clint, Sheena, Kyle, Cali, Jeff, Taylor, Jocara, Amara, Tara, Joe and Chad; and great-grandchildren Joshua, McCann, Jorja and one on the way.

He enjoyed golfing, reading, fishing, hunting, crossword and jigsaw puzzles. He was a good dancer and enjoyed waltzing. He played cribbage nearly every day with Georgia as long as he could. He loved sports and especially any that his children and grandchildren were involved in. During the last years of his life he especially liked eating out with family and friends, especially desserts, and rides in their Explorer.

Memorials may be made to the Choteau Lions Swimming Pool; Choteau United Methodist Church; Bright Eyes; or a charity of the donor's choice.

Condolences may be left online at www.gorderjensenfuneralhome.com and/or www.gftribune.com/obituaries.