James Wesley "Jim" Chilcote

LOLO ~ James “Jim” Chilcote, 74, of Lolo passed away on Sunday, June 13, 2021 at Community Medical Center in Missoula, related to an unexpected illness.

Jim was born April 10, 1947 in Casper, Wyoming to Roscoe and Laura Chilcote. He was raised by his father and his grandparents Russell and Eva. He was educated in the Casper Public Schools and graduated from Natrona County High School in 1965. That summer he joined the United States Navy. He served honorably and completed a tour in Vietnam.

He married Teresa “Terry” Schlenker (his beloved pen-pal when he was in Vietnam) on December 11, 1968 in Jordan, Montana. They moved to Imperial Beach where Jim was stationed with the Navy. When his military duties were completed in 1969, they resided in Jordan where Jim worked for the county road department and for a couple of the local ranchers. After three years in Jordan, they moved to Sydney, where his first son Chad was born. Shortly after, he and the family moved to the Missoula-Lolo area which remained their home until the present time. A few years after moving to the Missoula-Lolo area, his second son Devlin was born.
In 1989, Jim started working for Montana Rail Link as a machinist. He retired after 19.5 years of dedication to the company. He was also an amateur blacksmith.

Jim was a very giving man who enjoyed spending time with his family and his two horses, Fancy and Rusty. He volunteered as a Scout Master for several years and was named Scout Master of the Year in 1985. Along with his wife Terry, he also volunteered for the Montana Special Olympics. After his wife passed away, his love for horses brought him to volunteer for Faith Therapeutic Riding Service. He also enjoyed telling stories, taking his boys hunting, yearly naval ship reunions at different locations across the country (hosting the 2011 reunion in Missoula), and was an avid knife collector.

Jim was preceded in death by both of his grandparents, both of his parents, Roscoe Chilcote and Laura Large, wife, Terry Chilcote, also his step-dad, Chuck Large and his brother, Charlie.

Jim is survived by his two sons, Chad and Devlin Chilcote of Lolo; several cousins, nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services for Jim will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 24, 2021 at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home in Missoula. Pastor Tim Johnson will officiate. A visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Entombment will immediately follow the service. A reception for family and friends will follow the entombment. This will also be held at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home.