GREAT FALLS —John Stafford "Jack" Dorrington passed away Sept 1, 2014 at the age of 94.
John was born January 2, 1920, in Kalispell, Montana, the 9th of 10 children of William J. and Geneva (Zimmerman) Dorrington. John spent the first 4 years of his life at East Glacier where his father was the chief ranger. At age 5, the family moved to Somers and then to Libby where John graduated from high school. During his years in Libby, he worked for the Grace Mill and as a lookout for the US Forest Service. John also worked as a wrangler for the Brewster family ranch in Banff, Alberta and never lost his love for the smell of a horse.
He joined the army in 1942, served in the signal corp in North Africa, France, Belgium and Germany. John, a master sergeant, was honorably discharged in 1945.
After the war, he completed business college in Spokane, WA. Returning to Montana, he began working for Normont Equipment throughout North Central Montana. During that time, he met Harriet Corrie and they married on June 25, 1950 at the Church of the Incarnation in Great Falls. John then worked for many years for Super Save stores, and later employed by Jensen Sales/Performance Systems. He also held part time jobs for a period of several years for Country Club Towers, Hempels Bakery and Whitehouse Market.
John and Harriet were blessed with three children.
John enjoyed golf (which he never mastered), square dancing, clogging, dancing (which he did master) and playing cards (at which he shamelessly cheated). He also enjoyed volunteering for reading programs at elementary schools and working for the Food Bank/Fish. He loved to work with wood and wood turning. John had a life-long love affair with Montana's outdoors knowing the best trails, streams and views. He was an avid reader, particularly enjoying Montana history. At 94, he was Montana history. He was a member of the Episcopal Church, Order of Eastern Star and Masonic Lodge.
He touched many lives with his winning crooked smile, sense of humor, storytelling, gentle strength, all-encompassing ingenuity and Do-It-Yourself attitude. With energy, enthusiasm and creativity, John made life more joyful and less stressful for people with whom he came in contact. His grandchildren fondly remember that he made the best date cookies and Cream Of Wheat without lumps.
John was preceded in death by his wife in 1964; son Jackie in 1994; and all of his brothers and sisters.
He is survived by his 2 daughters,; three grandchildren,; numerous nieces and nephews; as well as many friends.
John's recipe for staying young (which he did throughout his life) was hanging out with young people, racing kids to the lobster tank in Albertsons, having water fights, and backpacking in Glacier Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness area.
Complete obituary published in Great Falls Tribune on Sept. 7, 2014
John was born January 2, 1920, in Kalispell, Montana, the 9th of 10 children of William J. and Geneva (Zimmerman) Dorrington. John spent the first 4 years of his life at East Glacier where his father was the chief ranger. At age 5, the family moved to Somers and then to Libby where John graduated from high school. During his years in Libby, he worked for the Grace Mill and as a lookout for the US Forest Service. John also worked as a wrangler for the Brewster family ranch in Banff, Alberta and never lost his love for the smell of a horse.
He joined the army in 1942, served in the signal corp in North Africa, France, Belgium and Germany. John, a master sergeant, was honorably discharged in 1945.
After the war, he completed business college in Spokane, WA. Returning to Montana, he began working for Normont Equipment throughout North Central Montana. During that time, he met Harriet Corrie and they married on June 25, 1950 at the Church of the Incarnation in Great Falls. John then worked for many years for Super Save stores, and later employed by Jensen Sales/Performance Systems. He also held part time jobs for a period of several years for Country Club Towers, Hempels Bakery and Whitehouse Market.
John and Harriet were blessed with three children.
John enjoyed golf (which he never mastered), square dancing, clogging, dancing (which he did master) and playing cards (at which he shamelessly cheated). He also enjoyed volunteering for reading programs at elementary schools and working for the Food Bank/Fish. He loved to work with wood and wood turning. John had a life-long love affair with Montana's outdoors knowing the best trails, streams and views. He was an avid reader, particularly enjoying Montana history. At 94, he was Montana history. He was a member of the Episcopal Church, Order of Eastern Star and Masonic Lodge.
He touched many lives with his winning crooked smile, sense of humor, storytelling, gentle strength, all-encompassing ingenuity and Do-It-Yourself attitude. With energy, enthusiasm and creativity, John made life more joyful and less stressful for people with whom he came in contact. His grandchildren fondly remember that he made the best date cookies and Cream Of Wheat without lumps.
John was preceded in death by his wife in 1964; son Jackie in 1994; and all of his brothers and sisters.
He is survived by his 2 daughters,; three grandchildren,; numerous nieces and nephews; as well as many friends.
John's recipe for staying young (which he did throughout his life) was hanging out with young people, racing kids to the lobster tank in Albertsons, having water fights, and backpacking in Glacier Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness area.
Complete obituary published in Great Falls Tribune on Sept. 7, 2014
GREAT FALLS —John Stafford "Jack" Dorrington passed away Sept 1, 2014 at the age of 94.
John was born January 2, 1920, in Kalispell, Montana, the 9th of 10 children of William J. and Geneva (Zimmerman) Dorrington. John spent the first 4 years of his life at East Glacier where his father was the chief ranger. At age 5, the family moved to Somers and then to Libby where John graduated from high school. During his years in Libby, he worked for the Grace Mill and as a lookout for the US Forest Service. John also worked as a wrangler for the Brewster family ranch in Banff, Alberta and never lost his love for the smell of a horse.
He joined the army in 1942, served in the signal corp in North Africa, France, Belgium and Germany. John, a master sergeant, was honorably discharged in 1945.
After the war, he completed business college in Spokane, WA. Returning to Montana, he began working for Normont Equipment throughout North Central Montana. During that time, he met Harriet Corrie and they married on June 25, 1950 at the Church of the Incarnation in Great Falls. John then worked for many years for Super Save stores, and later employed by Jensen Sales/Performance Systems. He also held part time jobs for a period of several years for Country Club Towers, Hempels Bakery and Whitehouse Market.
John and Harriet were blessed with three children.
John enjoyed golf (which he never mastered), square dancing, clogging, dancing (which he did master) and playing cards (at which he shamelessly cheated). He also enjoyed volunteering for reading programs at elementary schools and working for the Food Bank/Fish. He loved to work with wood and wood turning. John had a life-long love affair with Montana's outdoors knowing the best trails, streams and views. He was an avid reader, particularly enjoying Montana history. At 94, he was Montana history. He was a member of the Episcopal Church, Order of Eastern Star and Masonic Lodge.
He touched many lives with his winning crooked smile, sense of humor, storytelling, gentle strength, all-encompassing ingenuity and Do-It-Yourself attitude. With energy, enthusiasm and creativity, John made life more joyful and less stressful for people with whom he came in contact. His grandchildren fondly remember that he made the best date cookies and Cream Of Wheat without lumps.
John was preceded in death by his wife in 1964; son Jackie in 1994; and all of his brothers and sisters.
He is survived by his 2 daughters,; three grandchildren,; numerous nieces and nephews; as well as many friends.
John's recipe for staying young (which he did throughout his life) was hanging out with young people, racing kids to the lobster tank in Albertsons, having water fights, and backpacking in Glacier Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness area.
Complete obituary published in Great Falls Tribune on Sept. 7, 2014
John was born January 2, 1920, in Kalispell, Montana, the 9th of 10 children of William J. and Geneva (Zimmerman) Dorrington. John spent the first 4 years of his life at East Glacier where his father was the chief ranger. At age 5, the family moved to Somers and then to Libby where John graduated from high school. During his years in Libby, he worked for the Grace Mill and as a lookout for the US Forest Service. John also worked as a wrangler for the Brewster family ranch in Banff, Alberta and never lost his love for the smell of a horse.
He joined the army in 1942, served in the signal corp in North Africa, France, Belgium and Germany. John, a master sergeant, was honorably discharged in 1945.
After the war, he completed business college in Spokane, WA. Returning to Montana, he began working for Normont Equipment throughout North Central Montana. During that time, he met Harriet Corrie and they married on June 25, 1950 at the Church of the Incarnation in Great Falls. John then worked for many years for Super Save stores, and later employed by Jensen Sales/Performance Systems. He also held part time jobs for a period of several years for Country Club Towers, Hempels Bakery and Whitehouse Market.
John and Harriet were blessed with three children.
John enjoyed golf (which he never mastered), square dancing, clogging, dancing (which he did master) and playing cards (at which he shamelessly cheated). He also enjoyed volunteering for reading programs at elementary schools and working for the Food Bank/Fish. He loved to work with wood and wood turning. John had a life-long love affair with Montana's outdoors knowing the best trails, streams and views. He was an avid reader, particularly enjoying Montana history. At 94, he was Montana history. He was a member of the Episcopal Church, Order of Eastern Star and Masonic Lodge.
He touched many lives with his winning crooked smile, sense of humor, storytelling, gentle strength, all-encompassing ingenuity and Do-It-Yourself attitude. With energy, enthusiasm and creativity, John made life more joyful and less stressful for people with whom he came in contact. His grandchildren fondly remember that he made the best date cookies and Cream Of Wheat without lumps.
John was preceded in death by his wife in 1964; son Jackie in 1994; and all of his brothers and sisters.
He is survived by his 2 daughters,; three grandchildren,; numerous nieces and nephews; as well as many friends.
John's recipe for staying young (which he did throughout his life) was hanging out with young people, racing kids to the lobster tank in Albertsons, having water fights, and backpacking in Glacier Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness area.
Complete obituary published in Great Falls Tribune on Sept. 7, 2014
Family Members
Siblings
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Benjamin Dorrington
1902–1978
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Ruth Estelle Dorrington Brewster
1904–1988
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Lichfield J Dorrington
1908–1995
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Dorothy Evangeline Dorrington Staton
1910–2001
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Mabel Lee Dorrington Ackerman
1911–1990
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Friend Dorrington
1912–1936
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Billy James Dorrington
1914–1992
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Alma Edith "Ede" Dorrington Austin
1918–1999
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Kenneth Geoffrey Dorrington
1924–1999
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