Francis Wayne Pettit passed away Jan. 27, 2014, in Forest Grove, Ore.

He was born Oct. 16, 1925, in Jackson, Mont., to George and Josephine Quigley Pettit. He lived in the Big Hole for 12 years and then moved to Dillon. He graduated from Beaverhead County High School in 1943.

He enlisted in the Marines that fall. He was in the Philippines for three years. After returning home, he enrolled in Montana State Normal College in Dillon because “they were playing football there.” While attending college, he was on the track and football teams. He was the captain of the 1948 championship football team. He graduated in 1949 with a degree in education.

Francis began his teaching career in Libby in 1949. He was called back to the Marines in 1950 for the Korean War. Upon returning in 1951, he continued his teaching career in Libby.

In August of 1953, he married Catherine Roberts in D’Aste, Mont. They had seven children, George, Elizabeth, Joan, Joe, Margee, Julie and Patty. Francis taught PE and coached football, basketball and track in Libby until his retirement in 1977. He will be remembered by many for having the gym open on Sunday afternoons during the winter for any student.

The Forest Service was his second career. He is fondly remembered by many as “Smokey,” as he was Smokey Bear in parades from Libby to Tucson, Ariz.

His wife, Catherine, died in 1990. He moved to Centralia, Wash., and married Helen Caulkins. They lived in Centralia and Tucson until her death in 2011. He then moved to Forest Grove to be near his daughter.

Francis enjoyed visiting with people most of all. If you didn’t know someone he knew, you hadn’t visited long enough. The only people that weren’t his friends were the people he hadn’t met. He also enjoyed reading, sports, getting wood with his friend Gary Elmore, spending time with his children and grandchildren and traveling. While living in Centralia, he became very active in the Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehalis, Wash.

Francis was preceded in death by his wife, Catherine, in 1990; son, George, in 2011; a brother, Dale, in 2008; sister, Margie, in 2011; and his second wife, Helen, in 2011.

 He is survived by his son, Joe Pettit, and Deb, of Gillette, Wyo.; and daughters,  Elizabeth Booth of Olympia, Wash., Joan Pettit of Tucson, Margee Bronec and Pat of Geraldine, Mont., Julie Long of Libby, Patty Harmon and Kevin of Cornelius, Ore., and daughter-in-law Debbie Pettit of Tucson. He has 13 grandchildren and one great-grandson, Alicia Long of Spokane, Sarah and Elias Long of Libby, Asa Toburen Pettit of Tucson, Katie and Lydia Pettit of Tucson, Avery Booth of Olympia, Wash., Trevor Pettit of Gillette, Wyo., Erin and Matt Harmon of Cornelius, and Hallie, Sam and Sean Bronec of Geraldine; and his great-grandson, Paul, of Spokane. He is also survived by stepchildren, Terry Caulkins, Larry Caulkins, Dennis Caulkins and Joe Caulkins of Washington.      

 Visitation will be from 1 to 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 3, at Schnackenberg Funeral Home in Libby. Rosary will be at 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 4, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Libby. Burial will follow at Libby Cemetery.