GORDON PUCKETT obituary

SUNBURST - Gordon Ross Puckett, 63, a long-time educator and insurance agent from Sunburst, died at his home on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2003, due to natural causes.

Visitation was Sunday afternoon with a prayer service Sunday evening at the Whitted Funeral Chapel. Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at the Sunburst Elementary

gymnasium with burial following in the Sunburst Cemetery.

He was born Jan. 4, 1940, at Scobey to Edwin and Norma (Jacobson) Puckett. Gordon grew up in Peerless, where he graduated from high school 1957.

He married Judy Motschenbacher Sept. 26, 1959, at Peerless.

He attended summer school at Northern Montana College for 13 summers and then received a master's in education degree from the University of Montana. Gordon also worked for the Immigration and Naturalization Service at the Sweet Grass border for several summers. He devoted 32 years to education. He started teaching in the '60s on the Kevin Rim, then at Fairview, Devon, Oilmont and finally at Sunburst Elementary School, where he was principal for 19 years before retiring in 1992. He then started the Puckett Insurance Agency, which he was still operating at the time of his death.

He was a member of the Sunburst Lutheran Church and had served on the church council, served as president of the Coutts-Sweet Grass Lions Club, Jaycees and the Toole County Credit Union. He was instrumental in starting the Sunburst Christmas Fund, which helped buy and distribute gifts to the needy. Gordon volunteered to be the community auctioneer for several events, such as Sunburst Gala Days and benefits for local accident victims.

He had a deep love and interest for his family, friends and people in general. He enjoyed golf, reading and setting up betting pools for his friends. He also loved sports and enjoyed coaching several basketball and softball teams in North Toole County.

He was preceded in death by his father, Edwin Puckett, and brother, Duane Puckett.

Survivors include his mother, Norma Puckett of Plentywood; wife, Judy of Sunburst; daughters, Pam (Gerry) Veis of Havre and Carmen (Kelly) Schafer of Havre; son, Ed (Edna) Puckett of Kennewick, Wash.; sister, Geraldine Girard of Peerless; and grandchildren, Mikyla and Tanner Veis and Pete Puckett.