Wayne Bryant

Wayne A. Bryant, 61, of Eureka, died Oct. 24, 2008, at Kalispell Medical Center in Kalispell due to complications from cancer.

He was born July 9, 1947, at Sutter Creek, Calif., to David and Mary (Pooler) Bryant. Along with his mother, Wayne is survived by his wife Rebecca, his son, Wayne Jr. of Kansas City, Miss.; daughter Shawneen Goladay of Lincoln; and three grandchildren. Also surviving are two brothers, John Bryant of Redding, Calif., and Dave of Cookeville, Tenn.; seven sisters, Virginia Holoway of Viola, Ark., Patricia Chambers of West Sacramento, Calif., Madeline Smith of Cookeville, Georgia Hitchcock of Middletown, Calif., Cathy Frabasilio of Yuma, Ariz., Colleen Brown of Klamath, Ore., and Gail Heffler of Red Bluff, Calif.

Wayne moved his young family from California to Columbia Falls in 1968 where he was employed for a number of years at the aluminum plant as a crane operator. He also worked as a logger. During this time Wayne also was a contractor and built four homes. Later they moved to Sunburst where he worked the oil fields as a well puller.

Wayne was an avid fisherman, snowmobiler and guitar musician. However, his main love was for his animals. For years he raised dogs and horses, supplying the Fish and Game Department with horses for the Bob Marshall area. In Eureka, he was president of the Great Northern Racing Pigeon Club and enjoyed the "race horses of the sky."

He was preceded in death by his father.

Wayne will be greatly missed but now he is free from pain and living with the Lord.

Private graveside services will be held Saturday, Nov. 1.

For more information, call Becky Sprague, 889-5626.