Page 13 - Flathead Beacon // 12.25.13

FLATHEADBEACON.COM NEWS DECEMBER 25, 2013 | 13

Whiteish Says Goodbye to Cowboy Gerald

Facts

FIGURES
Downtown ixture

passes away after battle
Numbers in the news
with cancer

94.5 million
By MOLLY PRIDDY of the Beacon

Estimated Americans who As we traverse this planet and this life,
we will meet those indelible individuals
will journey 50 miles or who change us, those who make us better
more from home during or impact the way we see the world. For

the year-end holiday sea- Whiteish, the recent loss of Cowboy Ger-
son, according to AAA.
ald is indeed a community loss, a passing
of a local luminary who made life bright-
er and more interesting for those around
him.
40 million
Cowboy Gerald, whose full name was
Gerald Daymude, passed away Dec. 16 af-
ter a battle with cancer. Like the buckaroo
Credit and debit card
accounts that may be he was, the Cowboy left this world when he
afected by a data breach knew it was his time.
“He was ready to go,” Tom Gilillan,
at Target that occurred owner of Whiteish Pottery and the Cow-
just as the holiday boy’s friend, said.
Cowboy Gerald was a deeply religious
shopping season shifted man, Gilillan said, and was at peace to-
into high gear.
ward the end of his life. The only reason he
didn’t want to pass on was that he was sad
to leave his Whiteish friends behind, Gil-
7.3%
illan said.
“He said, ‘I don’t want to go, but if I go
I just want to take all of you, my friends,
Flathead County’s with me,’” Gilillan said.
non-seasonally adjusted The Cowboy became a ixture in down-

jobless rate in November, town Whiteish about 10 years ago, where
0.7 percentage points he would chat up businesspeople and tour-
higher than a month ists alike in his western duds and spify,
colorful cowboy boots.
ago but 1.7 percentage His love for cowboy boots and culture
points lower than a year started at an early age, and continued as
he grew up. Some of the boots in his vast A painting of Cowboy Gerald by Jessica Glenn of Columbia Falls. The painting was sold to raise money for
ago; Flathead’s rate was collection are from decades ago, and some Gerald, who recently passed away after a battle with cancer. FILE PHOTO BY LIDO VIZZUTTI | FLATHEAD BEACON
the eighth highest in the
feature intricate, handcrafted designs.
state.
The folks at the Backdoor General cowboys ever owned much. The primary the Cowboy, with a memorial service
Store took a shine to the Cowboy’s style, reward of being a cowboy was the pleasure planned for Jan. 7 at 1 p.m. at Austin Fu-
and displayed a dozen pairs of his boots at of living a cowboy’s life.”
neral Home, where folks can come and pay
5.2%
a time, always rotating so he could contin- The news of his cancer was a shock to their respects.
ue to wear the vast variety of his collection.
the community, which held fundraisers to “He was a great addition to Whiteish,
It wasn’t uncommon to see tourists support him through his illness. One of the and all the people who got to meet him he
Montana’s jobless rate in
stop and take photos with Cowboy Gerald, main events was a silent auction for a Jes- brought a lot of joy and love to,” Gilillan
November, holding steady and many of the downtown business own- sica A. Glenn watercolor painting of Cow- said.
from a month earlier.
ers were familiar with his open and expan- boy Gerald, which was originally priced at Austin Funeral Home is located at
sive personality. He seemed to live by the $1,100 and sold for $1,500.
6200 U.S. Highway 93 S in Whiteish.
Cowboy Code, part of which says, “Few
The community will keep caring for
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