Wayne McDermott

Wayne McDermott passed away on Sept. 22, 2018, at the Marias Heritage Center in Shelby, Mont. Services will be held at St. Williams Catholic Church on Monday, Oct. 29 at 11 a.m.

Wayne Edward McDermott was born to Edward Joseph and Ethyl Sarah (Barnes) McDermott on May 26, 1927, in Sunburst. His older sister Ethyl Verona, died when she was 2. He had four younger siblings; James, Rodney, June and Jack.

Wayne attended school in Sunburst. He enlisted in the Navy and fought in World War II. After the war, he went to work at the Big West Oil Refinery in Kevin. In 1948, he married Dorothy Mae Tucker and they had five children; Gary Wayne, Jerry Lyn, Deborah Kay, Diana Lee and Dorothy Elaine “Bonnie.” Wayne and Dorothy later divorced.

Wayne moved to Sandpoint where he met Florence Woodfill. They married in 1967 and the next 20 years were the happiest in his life. Florence died in 1988. Wayne held a variety of jobs in Sandpoint before going to work for the Independent Highway District where he did whatever needed to be done. During his tenure he worked as a mechanic and operated snow plows and other heavy equipment. He served as district equipment operator and mechanic for 12 years. After his retirement, he served eight years as a highway district commissioner. He moved to Shelby in 2011 to be closer to his children.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, Ed and Ethyl; all of his siblings, Ethyl, James, Rodney, June and Jack; his wife, Florence; step- daughter, Loretta May; and step- granddaughter, Kimberlee Rasmussen. He is survived by his step-daughter, Berta (Bill) Folmer; stepson-in-law, Ron May Sr.; sons, Gary (Vivian) McDermott and Jerry (Darby) McDermott; daughters, Diana (Bob) Michaels, Deborah Schachtel, and Dorothy Elaine “Bonnie” Harrison. He is also survived by 15 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren, Gary E. “Mac” (Emily) McDermott and their children Vivi, Kyle and Elly, Carl (Ashley) McDermott and their children Sophie and Caden, Ryan McDermott, Lyndi (Opie) Smith, Brad (Amanda) McDermott and their son Allyn, Lisa (Nick) Campbell and their children Heath, Ivy, and Jackson, Valerie (Kevin) Eaton and their children Cameron and Haven, Raymond (Heather) Michaels and their children Wyatt and Brooklyn, Tyson (Melissa) Michaels and their children Caeley, Britley, Teigan, Taige, Rhyn and Kanyen, Ed (Kris) Harrison & their children Abby, Whitley and Tucker, Landon (Kim) Harrison and their son Mason, LeeAnn Walls and her children Emma and Quincy, and step-grandsons Ron May Jr., Burt May, Kirk Rasmusson and his daughter Vanessa.

Wayne’s favorite charities were St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and Shriner’s Hospitals for Children.

Condolences can be made to Wayne’s memorial page at asperfh.com.