Ervin F. Coy

Ervin F. Coy, 95, of Gardiner, Montana, passed away Sunday, November 6th, 2016 at the Hamilton House in Bozeman with his wife at his side. A viewing will take place at noon followed by a Funeral Service starting at 1:00 P.M., Saturday, November 12th, at the Franzen-Davis Chapel, 118 North 3rd Street, Livingston. A coffee and cookie reception will follow at Franzen-Davis. Following the reception we will then proceed to Park View Memorial Gardens in Paradise Valley for the graveside committal and burial. Veterans honors will be provided by the Park Post #23 American Legion and Active Duty Army Honor Guard. Memorials are preferred to: Gardiner Ambulance Service: Gateway Hose Co. Emergency Services: PO Box 307; Gardiner MT, 59030. Ervin was born on June 27th, 1921, in Willard, Utah. He was the son of Francis Joseph and Erma Ann (Hutchings) Coy. Ervins mother passed away in June of 1940; he took work as a ranch hand to help support his family. When he turned 20 he relocated to Mammoth, WY where he worked for the National Park Service. Ervin entered active military service in the United States Army on July 29th, 1942, and served his country during World War II. He received an Honorable Discharge on November 7th, 1945. Ervin returned to Mammoth to work for the park service. He later took a position with the U.S. Postal Service. He worked out of the Mammoth location as a Maintenance Engineer. He was charged with the upkeep and cleaning duties for all the park locations, was their boiler operator and maintained the equipment. On September 10th 1955, Ervin was united in marriage to Betty L. Anderson, in Livingston. Ervin and Betty resided in Gardiner their entire lives together sharing 61 years of marriage. After his retirement from the Post Office on November 30, 1977, you could find Ervin out visiting with local business people every day, sharing stories and the latest news about the town. He worked in his retirement for the Kremer Oil Co. delivering fuel, maintaining the fuel station and the car wash. He was a man with a strong work ethic who firmly believed you had to earn what you had. He instilled those ethics in his children, as his sons have followed his example now also employed by the Park Service. His passion in life was fly fishing the Gardner River. He would end a day of work heading to the river to fish his way back home. He was also a gifted gardener, growing some of the tastiest tomatoes around, and was always sending some home with neighbors and friends. He took the boys hunting when they were young and enjoyed many camping trips with Betty boating and fishing on the nearby lakes. Ervin is survived by his: wife Betty of 61 years. Children, Doug Coy and his wife Lynn of Gardiner, Shelby Coy of Gardiner, Lynnette Margol of White Cloud, MI and Debbie Bateson and her husband, Bruce of Gardiner. Grandchildren, Alex and Andy Coy, John Green, Jacob Bateson and Mike Margol. Nephew, Ed Peterson and his wife Nancy of Billings and many other relatives and friends. Ervin is preceded in death by his parents, son, Joseph Arthur who died at age three months and a stillborn boy, siblings, Francis Shelby Coy, Thelma Mae Peterson and her husband, Oscar, Rita Edith Coy and Mable Erma Coy. Arrangements are under the care of Franzen-Davis Funeral Home and Crematory.