James Benjamin Kehoe, 45
James Benjamin Kehoe, 45
James Benjamin Kehoe, age 45, of Bigfork, passed away at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell, Montana on Tuesday, May 27, 2008. He was born March 11, 1963 in Kalispell, Montana, the son of Jack and Louise (Willier) Kehoe.
James went to school and lived his life in Bigfork. At age six, James was already interested in cutting and polishing gems and stones at the family business, Kehoe's Agate Shop, opened by his father in 1932.
After high school, James went to the Gemological Society Institute of America in California to learn the trade his father had begun to teach him. He was passionate about his chosen vocation as anyone who knew him could attest. His sister, Leslie, and he continued to operate Kehoe's Agate Shop after their parents passed.
James loved nature and spent many hours hunting, fishing, and hiking in the mountains and prairies of Montana. He enjoyed gardening and his vegetable garden thrived in his care. He also had a gift for cooking and created unique and delicious fare. In 2007, he was elected to the Flathead Conservation District Board.
In the last years of his life, James met and married the love of his life, Kristen Kehoe, and had two beautiful daughters he adored — a doting father all children dream about. James was a wonderful man that will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
James is preceded in death by his parents and is now survived by his wife, Kristen Kehoe and two daughters, Nora, 3 and Stella, 1 all of Bigfork, MT; two sisters, Leslie Kehoe and Lynn Kehoe both of Bigfork, MT. An aunt and uncle in California and a cousin in Oregon.
Funeral services for James will be held on Monday, June 2, 2008 at 1 p.m. in the Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Chapel with burial to follow at Conrad Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 am to time of service at Johnson Gloschat Funeral Chapel.
The family requests that donations be sent to the Bigfork Quick Response Unit, PO Box 2020, Bigfork 59911, or to the college fund accounts for Nora and Stella Kehoe at Edward Jones, Inc., PO Box 2438, Bigfork, 59911. Johnson — Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for James' family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and sign James' guest book.