Alvin James Flory

Alvin J. Flory passed away on April 18, 2009 at Boundary County Hospital in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Dad lived a full and rewarding life, enjoying outdoor activities the most. He passed away with family at his side. Services will be held Saturday, May 2, 2009 at 11 :00 AM at the United Methodist Church in Bonners Ferry, ID with interment following at the Porthill Cemetery. He was the fourth of eight children to Earl LeRoy and Susan Betsy (Parker) Flory in New Rockford, North Dakota. When Dad was two, the Flory family moved to Porthill, Idaho and later to Bonners Ferry, Idaho. He attended grade school and high school in Bonners Ferry, where he participated in sports, setting records and achieving recognition locally and at the State level in Track. On June 1, 1939 Alvin and Janita Rivera Huffman were married in Bonners, spending their honeymoon at the West Fork Cabin and their lives raising their family. They were together 50 years before Janita passed away in 1990. During their marriage he joined the Seabees in World War II and was stationed in Okinawa until his discharge on February 16, 1946. They raised four children, one son and three daughters with many extended summers at the Snyder Guard Station. At the age of 16, he started fighting forest fires; he worked for the United States Forest Service working up to Alternate Ranger and eventually Fire Control Officer for the Bonners Ferry Ranger District of the Kaniksu National Forest, retiring in 1970 at the age of 55 with 30 years of full time service. In 1972, Dad and Morn were the driving force to start the South Hill Water and Sewer District. Dad served as President and then was head of Maintenance untill995. Dad was the Boundary County Planning and Zoning Coordinator for several years after his retirement from the Forest Service. He also did surveying in the county for numerous years. Dad was active in the community through many organizations; he was a member of the United Methodist Church, a proud life-time member of the American Legion helping with the Oratorical Contest, Toastmasters, Badger Boosters helping to build the stadium bleachers and raising the flag at many of the garnes, and was Master of Ceremonies for numerous events. He received many opportunities to speak and show his slides at the schools and public functions sharing his experiences. He was a member of the early Sheriff's Posse, which he enjoyed greatly and was a First Aid Instructor through the Forest Service. He loved to hike, ride horses, fly fish the Moyie River and all the mountain lakes, pick huckleberries, traveled to Alaska with boat and camper, cut firewood and his elk hunting camps were the best. He will be greatly missed by friends and family. His grandchildren will always remember the picnics and fishing trips with Grandpa and Grandma. He was preceded in death by: his wife Janita, granddaughter Sarah Lynn Dudley, parents Earl and Susan, sister Violet Sprague, brothers Earl Jr. (Roy), Lester, Ralph, Floyd and Edward Flory. Survivors include: his brother Delbert (Rojean), Spokane, W A; daughter Carol Christensen, Plains, MT; son Jim (Susie) Flory, Plains, MT; daughter Laurel Christopher, Osburn, ID; daughter Sue (John) Lozier, Bonners Ferry, ID. Grandchildren include: Terresa (Ed) Smith Tensen, Nyssa, OR; Dallas (Nita) Deardorff, Plains, MT; Alan Smith, Spirit Lake, ID; Travis (Tammy) Deardorff, Phelan, CA; Mishelle (Shon) Solt Parks, Boise, ID; Cory (Debbie) Smith, Bonners Ferry, ID; Tammy (Wayne) Flory Heeres, Ellsworth, MI; Tim (Julie) Flory, Caldwell, ID; Larri-Jo (Rich) Brockman, Rockford, CA; Casey Christensen, Plains, MT; Tyler Solt, Post Falls, ID; Amy (Jeff) Solt Byrne, Costa Mesa, CA; 32 great-grandchildren, his special friend, Kay Maring, nieces and nephews and a beloved Aunt's extended family in Canada. Family and friends are invited to sign Al's book at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Bonners Ferry Funeral Home.