Granville Dee Shook

Granville Dee Shook, 94, left his wife, daughters, and grandchildren, can friend to return to his beloved Bitterroot Mountains on Saturday, August 20, 2011 in Hamilton. Dee was born September 11, 1916 in Conner, Montana to G. F. (Fone) and Mattie (Helen Rouse) Shook.
Dee always had close ties to the woods and mountains. His Grandfather, Granville Lee Shook homesteaded and began harvesting timber at the base of Shook Mountain at Conner in the late 1870's. His father, Granville Fone Shook logged and used a portable steam engine sawmill in various locations in the West Fork and East Fork areas. Fone ran a steam engine driven sawmill French Basin location. It was during this time he married Ilda Katherine Hess and had three daughters. His dad turned the operation over to Dee to go back to ranching Dee moved the mill to Conner near Shook Mountain and the family ranch. The mill expanded through the years and included a substantial logging operation, saw maintenance building, saw building, pond, de-barker, chipper, and tepee burner. Dee had lumber trucks hauling from Conner to Missoula and finally from Conner to Darby where he built Bitterroot Timber: a planer plant with dry kilns and access to the railroad. He shipped lumber on the railroad and by truck east as far as Ohio, south to Utah, and points west to Seattle. When his mill burned in 1961, he rebuilt the most mechanized mill in the West. He invented a way of turning a board for the trim saw man before it came to him. He also invented a machine which would stamp every planed board with the mill's name and location. If there was a problem in the mill or in the woods, he could figure out a way to improve production or save work for the men. Dee could do any job his workers did, working along side them many times. He built roads and cleared land and skidded 1000's of logs with his Model K, Chalmers HS14, and D-8 Cats. He ranched at Conner on land adjoining his father's ranch where he raised cattle, horses, and hay. He employed over 200 workers in his logging and lumber and ranching businesses which had a large economic impact in the Bitterroot Valley.

Dee began school at a one room school house located where the Conner Church is currently. He graduated from Darby High School in 1935 where he played on the Western Divisional Championship football team, basketball, band, and acted in several plays. He supported his Alma Mater with donated money and lumber, and attended most sporting and social events. Knowing the importance of education, he helped not only his daughters to attend college, but other family members as well.

Picnicking most every Sunday with family members was a must for Dee. If they went where Huckleberries were found, then it turned out to be a "canning" event. Many fun filled days were spent at the family cabin just down river from the Painted Rocks Reservoir. Camping in a Shasta trailer or a RV occurred whenever and wherever possible. He enjoyed many years with family and friends at his camp land north of Alta.

He loved to take motor trips and made traveling a great adventure for his three girls. Singing and joking to pass the time away. He always wanted to get on the road about 4 AM with sleeping kids in the back seat! He would stop at any fun and interesting site for all to enjoy whether on short or long trips.

In 1964 Dee married Alice Johnson, a marriage lasting until 1976. They lived in Conner and later Hamilton.

He found lasting love with Rose Flanery and they married in 1982 and lived in Hamilton. Rose's two children became his stepson and stepdaughter. Dee and Rose camped frequently with family and many friends. They spent some winters in Arizona and made trips to Canada, Hawaii, and Mexico enjoying golfing and socializing with friends. They regularly traveled to Iowa to see Rose's family and Dee's cousins. However, missing the smell of sawdust, he bought and operated a sawmill in St. Regis during the early eighties for 4 years before retiring for a second time.

Dee loved to have fun while competing in sports or games. He was an avid bowler and could throw the most unorthodox ball and get a strike. He loved to fish and can be remembered catching hellgrammites and salmon flies He fished the oceans off Hawaii, West Port, Washington, and Acapulco bringing back trophy fish. He liked to hunt up Boulder Creek, Elk Lake, or behind the cabin in the West Fork with a pack string of horses. He and his family and friends would search for the elusive wapiti or deer which they could usually find. Golfing became an important pastime for Dee. He was talented enough to attain a consistent score of 39 on nine. He loved playing cards and was a skilled Pinochle player throughout his life. It always seemed he could manage to "shoot the moon" more successfully than anyone he challenged. He would be found any place there was a horseshoe pit, getting ringer after ringer. His wife, daughters, grandchildren and friends all enjoyed many games with him. He still loved the smell of sawdust so family members would receive his beautifully created woodworking items such as bowls, lamps, plant stands, display cases, toys and tables.

Dee was a true jokester all his life, adding spice to the lives of all those around him. He never passed a chance to pull a prank on family or friends. Many of us well remember our thumbs shoved in the butter, the fly in the bottom of the coffee mug, the leaking glass, and snakes springing out of the peanut brittle can. Dad also would sometimes get outfitted in a dress and heels or hippie clothes or any crazy outfit just to shock someone and get them to laugh..

Dee was active in the following business, service, and recreational organizations: Montana State Chamber of Commerce board of director, president of the Montana Transport Association. He received the Montana Motor Transport Association award for his trucking business in 1958. He was an active officer in the Orders of Elk, Lions, and Eagles, the Missoula Country Club, the Grizzly Century Club, the Golden Agers, Hamilton Senior Center, and was president of the Hamilton Golf Course. He spent hundreds of hours and money helping to expand and improve the Course. He remained an avid Grizzly fan, attending football games until he was no longer able. Dee participated in politics with his long-time friend, Tim Babcock and ran for a legislature position in the 50's.

Dee was preceded in death by his father, Fone, mother, Helen (Mattie) Rouse Shook, brothers, Walter Shook, LeRoy (Roy) Shook, and sister, Juanita, and grandsons, Richard and Timothy Kenison.

He is survived by his wife, Rose, daughters, Arlene Nicol (Bob), DeeAnna Kenison (Bob) and Gloria Curdy (Willis), stepson, John Reeser, and stepdaughter, Jeannie Miller (Bob), 12 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, and 5 great-great grand children.