Gerald Lakes

Gerard Anthony Lakes, 27, passed away Friday, Aug. 14, 2009, in Brooks, Alberta, Canada. The cause of death is still unknown at this time. Gerard was born June 20, 1982, to Mike and Lucie Ann (Purdy) Lakes. He spent his childhood riding dirt bike with his father Mike and brother Mark, and hunting and fishing with his grandpa Clarence.

He spent many happy hours with his Poppy and Gram Lakes, as well as his grandma Purdy. He was always running free with his sidekick cousin Katie Purdy. As a young adult he enjoyed mountain biking, skiing and rock climbing. He had many occupations including owning his own construction business "Climb on Construction." The last year of his life he spent several months with his mother Lucie Ann, where he helped her with upgrades to her home in Kalispell.

Gerard traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada, always being a footloose and fancy-free lover of life and adventure. His greatest love was his son Jude Lakes of Missoula. He was exceptionally proud of his brother Mark, and always worried about him during his tour of duty overseas with the U.S. Marine Corps. Gerard was very proud of his sister Molly, and he was elated when her son Kaeden was born. Gerard was very artistic. He loved to draw, hitch horsehair and tattoo. He was a very kind, loving young man.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Clarence and Lucy Purdy; his namesake and uncle Gerard Raymond Purdy; his great-uncle Charlie Urschel; and great-grandparents Sidney and Martha Lakes and Buck and Poovey Urschel.

Gerard is survived by his son Jude Lakes and Jude's mother Chelsey Curtis of Missoula; his parents Mike Lakes of Coram, and Craig and Lucie Ann Davis of Kalispell; sister Molly Lakes and Blaine Childers and their son Kaeden Childers of Kalispell; brother Lance Corporal Mark Lakes of the USMC and Cortny Westgard, Mark's fiance, and stepbrother Jake Davis, Seaman 3rd Class of the U.S. Navy, currently serving in Guam; his grandparents Jerry and Delores Lakes of Coram; and many other family members and friends too numerous to list. Climb on my son, climb on.

A graveside service, officiated by the Reverend Darrell Newby, will be held Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m. at St. Richard's Cemetery in Columbia Falls. A reception will follow at his mother's home in Kalispell. Johnson-Gloschat Mortuary is taking care of the arrangements.