Harold A. “Tony” Bacon, 75, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 11, 2014, at HealthCenter Northwest in Kalispell.

Tony, as he was known to family and friends, was the eldest child of three, born to Harold E. Bacon and Victoria E. Bacon on March 16, 1939, in Morristown, N.J.

Tony grew up in Mountain Lakes, N.J., and it was here as a little boy that his love for the fire service began. He lived across from the Mountain Lakes Rural Fire Department and considered the fire house his second home. As he got older, the firemen would teach him how to operate fire trucks and equipment, and ultimately he joined the fire department as a volunteer firefighter, beginning what would become a dream career in the fire service.

In the mid 1960s, Tony moved from New Jersey to California to begin a job with Western Fire Equipment Company. While working there he became a volunteer firefighter in the town of Novato, Calif. After nearly two decades of working for Western Fire, he decided to become a full-time firefighter. He worked for Novato Fire Protection District for 22 years, rising to the rank of captain.

Tony's love of teaching, promoting and mentoring safe and effective firefighting techniques ultimately grew into a passion. He partnered with other firefighters to start Fire Management Systems which taught various fire suppression techniques to other fire agencies throughout the western United States. It is through the many years of teaching fire behavior classes that Tony made an unimaginable amount of great friends, co-workers, brothers and sisters in the fire service.

He retired from Novato Fire Protection District in 2002 and moved to Libby and continued to teach through Fire Management Systems. He joined numerous rural volunteer fire departments in the greater northwest territory of Montana, ultimately becoming the battalion chief of Bull Lake Volunteer Fire Department. He played an integral part in developing an inter-agency firefighter academy and integrating the mutual aid system throughout the volunteer firefighting community.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and a sister, Jacqueline M. Clemens.

Survivors include his wife, Alene R. Bacon, of Libby; a daughter, Suzanne L. Bacon of Elk Grove, Calif.; a son, Thomas M. Bacon of Lewiston, Idaho; grandsons, Robert A. Ashford and Tristan K.T. Bacon-Deming; a brother, James R. Bacon of Massachusetts; in-laws, Jerry and Margaret Wallace of Troy, and Keith and Ruth Aguirre of Petaluma, Calif.; and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.

Private family services were held on June 17 at the City of Libby Cemetery.

Public services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 28, at the Troy Activity Center. Contact Fire Chief Clyde Miller of the Bull Lake Volunteer Fire Dept. for details at www.majesticview@frontiernet.net or fire business phone 406-295-4791.

Memorials may be made to The Tony Bacon Memorial Fund to provide learning opportunities for firefighting training. A PayPal account has been set up at www.bulllakevfd@yahoo.com or checks may be sent to Kootenai Valley Credit Union, 1010 Minnesota Ave., Libby, MT  59923; the memo line should read Tony Bacon Memorial Fund.

Arrangements are by Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Libby. Condolences may be made online at www.schnackenbergfh.com.