JOHN WILSON obituary

MISSOULA - John P. Wilson Sr., 61, died Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2004, at his home in Missoula due to cancer.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Missoula. A reception will follow at the Inn on Broadway, 1609 W. Broadway.

John was

born on Feb. 21, 19423, to Robert and Esther Wilson. He attended grade schools in Harlem, Roundup, Terry and Chinook as he followed his father's oil drilling career. His father bought the Cozy Corner in Chinook in the late 1950s and John helped in the confectionery and graduated from Chinook High School in 1962.

John enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 19562 and was stationed in Watertown, N.Y. There he met Bonnie Loson and they were married in 1965. After an honorable discharge, they moved to Green River, Utah, where John worked as the White Sands Missile Base. A year later they moved to Missoula, where John enrolled at the University of Montana. John's professional career began at UBC as a picture framer while attending college.

In 1969, John opened the Art Attic with partner, Al Hamm. The business included picture framing, antiques, an art gallery and supplies for the trade. In 1971, John became sole-proprietor of the Art Attic. In 1976, he became an independent sales representative covering seven Rocky Mountain States and Western Canada. He sold the Art Attic in 1978 to concentrate on selling. He started the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Professional Picture Framers Association and won numerous sales excellence awards as he continuously wrote the largest sales volume from the biggest territory with the fewest amount of people. He was sure to be home on Friday nights from 1980-88 to watch his sons participate in athletics.

John invented a product called the Band-It that is still used in the framing industry. He also began an oval and circle wood picture frame manufacturing company in Missoula. He continued traveling and selling until 1995, during which time he also entered into a partnership in the Old Dairy building in Missoula.

John and Bonnie separated in 1984, and he married Goldie Indreland in 1989. They lived in Grant Creek, where John thoroughly enjoyed his time with the Indreland family until their lives grew apart in 1999.

John enjoyed hard work, creativity and ingenuity. He also enjoyed taking something old and making it new, including houses, cars, buildings, furniture, etc.

John was preceded in death by his mother and father, Robert and Esther Wilson; brother, Bill; and sister, Helen.

Survivors include his sons, John (Laura) Wilson Jr. of Denver, Colo., and Brian Wilson of Portland, Ore.; sisters, Lois Butcher of Chinook, Phyllis Rouland and Marilyn Kinzle of Missoula, Judy Bacon and Candy Wilson of Bigfork; brother, Robert (Hazel) Wilson of Sandy Hook, Conn.; three grandchildren; companion, Carol Handy; numerous nephews and nieces; and dog, Underfoot.

Memorials may be sent to Hospice of Missoula, 800 Kensington Ave., Missoula, MT 59801.