Larry L. Schmautz, passed away suddenly at his home in Columbia Falls on June 18, 2005.

Larry left this life too early, but he touched so many lives. Larry will be remembered as a gentle-hearted father, husband, grandfather, coach, teacher, friend and mentor.

Larry was born in Missoula, on Jan. 2, 1943, to Rudolph (Rudy) and Lydia Schmautz. He was the youngest child and only son in a family with three sisters, Marie (Roberts), Glenda (Armstrong), and Marlene (Davis).

Following high school, Larry earned a full-ride basketball scholarship to Western Montana College in Dillon. He married Margaret Bue of Missoula in 1964 and daughter Patti was born in 1965. After graduating in 1966, the family moved to Gildford where Larry taught and coached for two years.

In the summer of 1968, son Todd was born. That fall, Larry began his teaching career at Columbia Falls High School. He taught American history and government there for 26 years as well as coaching basketball and track. Larry spent summers as a ranger in Glacier Park and later took over his in-laws' cherry orchard on Flathead Lake. His business card read "Larry's Cherries," and he sold them to local grocers for "50 cents/lb. orchard run."

In 20 years as the coach of the Kats, Larry was the third-winningest coach in Montana girls's high school basketball history with a 322-116 record which included winning eight divisional tourneys. Highlighting this record was winning the 1983 State Championship.

In June 1993, Larry married his best friend Dorothy Chatlain.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, his brother-in-law Delbert Roberts, and nephew Dobbie Roberts.

He is survived by his wife Dorothy; his daughter Patti and husband Bob Kaufmann; son Todd and wife Kristin; his sisters Marie Roberts, Glenda Armstrong and husband Gerry, and Marlene Davis and husband Glenn; grandchildren Nicholas and Rose Kaufmann, and Anna Schmautz; Dorothy's sister Carol and husband Joe Blades, sister Kathy and husband Don Hewitt, sister Myrna and husband Scott Wright, and brother Denny and wife Jane Chatlain; as well as numerous beloved nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Larry's life was held June 22, 2005, at the Columbia Falls High School gym. The family suggests in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Columbia Falls High School Athletic Endowment Fund.