Lewistown News Argus -4 Jun 2000

LEONARD ORVILLE LATRAY

Leonard Orville Latray, 79, former longtime resident of Lewistown, died Tuesday, May 30, at this residence in Great Falls, of natural causes.

He was born Aug 26, 1920 in Hilger to Joseph and Grace (Movern) Latray.

He was a ranch hand at the Harlow Ranch until the late 1940's and also worked for the Farmer's Union in Lewistown.

He took pride in his work as a cat operator, working in the

Berkley Pit in Butte.

He married Larner Mae Watson on March 21, 1947. They had one son, Bobby Latray. They later divorced.

He also built the first snowmobile race track in West Yellowstone.

In addition, he worked for Louisiana Pacific, Georgia Pacific and was employed by Berg Lumber in Lewistown until 1991, at which time, illness forced him to retire.

He enjoyed dancing, playing guitar, singing, yodeling, gardening and

working with horses. He also enjoyed ranching, antiques, old tractors

and going to auctions. He loved his children.

Latray will always be remembered for his fancy jitterbug dancing,

his red and white cadillac cars with the red roses on the dash, and

his great sense of humor.

He will be missed by all who knew him.

Survivors include one sister, Thelma Fordyce of Lewistown; four

sons, Ronald Latray of Lewistown, Daniel Latray of Bow, Wash.,

Jimmy Latray of Mount Vernon, Wash., and Bobby Latray of

Montana; one daughter, Shari Latray of Bow; three grandchildren,

Natasha Berg of Colorado Springs, Co., Jesse Berg of Bow, and

Sarie Gillett of Mt. Vernon; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother and three

sisters.

Funeral services will be held at the Creel Funeral Home in Lewistown

on Monday, June 5 at 11am. Burial will be at Central Montana Memorial

Gardens.

Memorials are suggested to the Benefis Kidney Dialysis Center in

Great Falls.

Creel Funeral Home of Lewistown is in charge of the arrangements