CLAYTON MEJIE obituary

LIBBY - Clayton "Clayt" Irwin Mejie, 83, of Libby, formerly of Hogeland, died Monday, July 25, 2005, at a Libby care center of natural causes.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at American Lutheran Church in Turner with the Revs. Rowlie Hutton and Jack Siemens officiating. Inurnment with military honors will be at Wing Cemetery. Cremation has already taken place.

Clayt was born Jan. 25, 1922, in a squatter's shack in Tweet to Lottie Mae (Davis) Ward and Ernest Mejie. From the time he was 3, Clayt lived with his Aunt Rose and Uncle Clayt on the family farm near Hogeland. He was baptized and confirmed at American Lutheran Church in Turner. He attended Wing School and graduated from Turner High School in 1941.

After graduation, Clayt worked for the railroad for six months and then took a job offer at the local grain elevator. He joined the U.S. Navy on Dec. 9, 1943 and served as a machinist aboard the U.S. Macinac in the South Pacific and at Japan. Upon his discharge on Dec. 22, 1945, he returned to Montana to work for Lewiston Construction in Great Falls. After three months, he returned to make his home at the family farm.

He married Jennie and they worked the farm together for 66 years. They sold the farm in 1991 and moved to Libby to be closer to family.

Clayt loved horses and rodeos in his youth.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and wife, Jennie.

Survivors include his adopted Wagner sons, Michael (Sandy) Wagner and Wes (Debbie) Wagner, all of Libby, four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; half-sister, Mary; several nieces and nephews; and many friends in Libby and Turner.