Hugh Joseph "Joe" McNamer

MISSOULA ~ Hugh Joseph “Joe” McNamer died in Missoula, MT, on July 11 of an apparent heart attack at his home. He was 67.

 Joe was born on Aug. 7, 1956, in Conrad, MT, the youngest of the five children of Hugh and Patricia McNamer. The family moved to Cut Bank at the end of 1960, and Joe attended public schools there, graduating from Cut Bank High School in 1974. He was a standout cross-country runner, and an accomplished horseman and skier.

 He attended college at the University of Montana and graduated from Southern Oregon State College with a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology in 1983.

 Much of his adult work life was related to aviation, first in airplane maintenance services in Phoenix, AZ, and, from 1996 to 2015, as a weather observer (reporting weather information and tracking major changes) at airports in Lincoln, NE, Lufkin, TX, Burley, ID, and, from 2002 until his retirement, at Spokane International Airport.

 In 2016, he moved to Missoula to be closer to family, and supplemented his retirement income with employment at the Cracker Barrel restaurant, where he enjoyed the company of the staff and made several friendships. He also valued the company and friendship of fellow tenants at his apartment building, Aspen Place.

 Joe was a reserved, kind man who remained interested, his entire life, in the peculiarities of history, human behavior, and what the future might look like. He had a photographic memory with regard to particular interests, like the U.S. space program and who was involved in each venture into space, as well as for dates and people who particularly engaged him over the course of his life.

 He is survived by his sisters Megan McNamer (John Carter), Kate Gadbow (Daryl Gadbow) and Deirdre McNamer; niece Alison Gadbow (Jason McMackin), nephews Grady Gadbow (Betty Gadbow), Patrick Carter and Willy Carter, and grand-nephew Wells McMackin.

 He was preceded in death by his brother Burke, parents Hugh and Patricia, and brother-in-law Bryan Di Salvatore.

 Cremation has taken place, and his remains will be interred at a family plot in Shelby, facing the Sweet Grass Hills.

 Arrangements are under the care of Sunset Memorial Funeral Home and Crematory in Missoula.