Troy Michael Ament, 64

Troy Michael Ament was born in Ravenna, Ohio, and grew up in Anaheim, California, playing baseball, running cross-country, and appreciating the beauty of God’s creation through the lenses of his many cameras. At age 17, he met the love of his life, Colette, wearing a backpack, a camera around his neck, and a puffy coat. Troy turned his passion for photography to professional skill and recognition completing a Bachelor’s of Science in Photographic Sciences at the world-renowned Brooks Institute in Montecito. Troy then married Colette, starting their life together with an adventure to remember, sailing for a year with Colette’s family from Long Beach, CA, to the Caribbean.

Troy approached life with a joyful and indomitable spirit whether he was working the night shift stocking shelves in the grocery store, completing award-winning architectural photography projects all over California, saving and improving lives on the streets of Montclair as a paramedic Fire Chief, managing $700 million of construction projects for public education at Chaffey College, teaching Confirmation classes at St. Peter Chanel in Hawaiian Gardens, or fishing with Colette and his boys at Mono Village in the Eastern Sierras.

No matter what Troy was doing, he did it with love, humility, generosity, and selflessness. He loved God, his wife, his two sons, and his six grandchildren with everything he had to give, and he died living a life of service to his community. Troy literally gave his all to others, and is now pursuing the ultimate reward of the True, the Good, and the Beautiful in Eternity. He died on the Feast of the Holy Family, after spending his final Sunday with Colette as he did every Sunday: attending Mass, receiving Holy Communion, praying the Rosary, and wearing his relic Scapular of St. Jude the Apostle. He will be sorely missed having left so suddenly and unexpectedly, but leaves a legacy of love that will make him live on in the hearts of his wife, his family, and his friends forever. 

A graveside committal will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, Feb. 6, 2026 at St. Richard Catholic Cemetery in Columbia Falls. Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls is caring for the family. To send online condolences please visit columbiamortuary.com.