ALLEN JIMISON obituary

GLENDIVE - Allen Lee "Coach" Jimison, 55, died at his home surrounded by his loved ones on Monday, March 14, 2005, after a long fight with cancer.

A vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Friday in the Chapel of the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10

a.m. Saturday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glendive with the Rev. Denis Fournier officiating. A rite of committal will be at the Dawson County Cemetery in Glendive.

Allen was born to Ray and Ethel (Edam) Jimison on Sept. 10, 1949, in Sidney. Allen was raised in Glendive and attended Sacred Heart Catholic School and Dawson County High School, graduating with the class of 1967. He went on to attend Eastern Montana College in Billings on a wrestling scholarship. He graduated from Eastern in 1973.

On Jan. 27, 1973, Allen married the love of his life, Pam Kinsey. Allen taught for two years at the Sidney Junior High. He then worked with the Montana Department of Transportation in Glendive for 28 years, retiring as section man in May 2004. Allen had served as president of AFSCME Local 852 for several years.

Allen's passions were spending time with his loving family and the sport of wrestling. He started the families' annual Labor Day camp out at Sleepy Hollow in Makoshika Park and was a great host to all who attended, making sure everybody had a fun time and lots to eat. Allen was a 32-year member of the Montana Officials Association and a lifetime member of AAU wrestling. He coached AAU wrestling for 12 years and coached for the Dawson County High School Red Devils for 12 years. He officiated wrestling at the high school level for 32 years and at the NAIA college level for two years. Throughout his wrestling associations, Allen positively touched the lives of many young people. Allen volunteered at various community sporting activities throughout his life. He enjoyed coaching and watching his children, nephews and nieces in wrestling, basketball, football, track, baseball and softball. His shared stories of son Travis playing college football for the Dickinson Blue Hawks always brought a smile to everyone. Allen set the role model for his family as being a positive thinker, always had something good to say to everyone he met, was willing to lend a helping hand, and never judged anyone.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Ethel Marie Jimison, and infant daughter, Heather Marie Jimison.

Survivors include his wife Pam of Glendive; daughters, Candi (Harley) Kirkegard of Havre and Brandi (Bart) Austby of Glendive; son, Travis and his girlfriend, Marya Binek, of Bismarck, N.D .; four grandchildren; father and stepmother, Ray and Olivia Jimison; sisters, Linda (Randy) Baldwin, Karen (Wilbur) Wallace and Paula (Clyde) Gorder, all of Glendive; brothers, Jerry (LaDonna) Jimison of Glendive, Ralph (Micki) Jimison of Havre; and foster brother, Kip (Mary) Braden of Glendive; three god daughters; and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews.

Memorials are suggested to Northern Rockies Radiation Oncology Center, c/o Meadowlark House, 1041 N. 29th St., Billings, MT 59101, or to the Home on the Range Big Sky Ranch, 622 Highway 16, Glendive, MT 59330. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at http://www.silvernale-silhafuneralhome.com.

Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Glendive is entrusted with arrangements