David Merlyn Schram

Hamilton – David Merlyn Schram, 63, of Hamilton passed away Tuesday, December 29, 2015 at the St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula. He was born September 20, 1952 in Hamilton, Montana to the late Merlyn D. and Mary E. Schram of Victor, Montana.

David was a fourth generation Bitterrooter, and loved every bit of the beautiful valley. He was raised in Victor, always by his dad’s side helping out on the ranch. He graduated from Victor High School in 1971 as the salutatorian. He met the love of his life, Julie Dale, when he was 19 and she was only 15 and attending Corvallis High School. The Pastor Elwell of Corvallis Community Church at the time said, matter of factly, “Those two were going to get married.” Julie Dale and David Schram were married on November 27, 1976.  They were married for almost 40 years.

David was hired on by David Unruh in 1972 to 1974 as a ranch hand then he started working at Alpine Log Homes of Victor in 1976 and continued until 1993. During that time they had two daughters, Christy M. (born in 1977) and Jessica R. (1979). While working for Alpine he traveled all over the country and overseas. He started a new business venture in construction with Jerry Baecht in 1993. Then in 1998 he went back to the log home industry as a Crew Supervisor/Crane Operator for Pioneer Log Homes until 2008.

During this time, David found he enjoyed riding horses and became very active with them. He decided to have a hand at his life-long passion - ranching. In the late 1980’s he started having an interest in being a farrier. Betty Yerian mentored David and encouraged him to attend farrier school in Bozeman. In 2009 he decided to make this a career and built a client base. He grew a pretty substantial client base and continued to farrier until his passing. It combined his great loves of horses and horse people.

David was an artist, musician, architect, cowboy, rancher, and a closet science fiction fan. He had a terrific sense of humor, was a wonderful artist and a voracious reader. As far as his daughters are concerned, he was the smartest man alive.

David was a member of the Wings of the Morning Band from 1970 to 1990. He played the bass guitar, harmonica, and backup singer. He was also a member of the Bitterroot Back Country Horsemen and one of the founding members of the Selway-Pintler Back Country Horsemen. He was also a master packer and a mentor/teacher to anyone who wanted to learn about packing.

David is survived by his wife of 39 years, Julie of Hamilton, two daughters; Christy (Ed) Duggan of Stevensville, Jessica (Jamie) Dunne of Toronto, Canada; Sister, Maribeth Schram of Corvallis; Two grandsons, Beau (10) and John (8), granddaughter, Harper (7 ½ months); and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Pallbearers are Mike Finngen, Shannon Plocher, Chris McCabe, Ed Duggan, Scott Hackett, and Shawn Axtell.

Visitation will be held Monday Jan. 4th 2016, from 5 to 7pm at the Daly-Leach Chapel in Hamilton.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Jan. 5th 2016 at 2pm at the Daly-Leach Chapel in Hamilton. Officiating the services will be James Unruh. Burial service will follow at 3pm the Corvallis Cemetery in Corvallis. 

A reception celebrating his life will follow the burial at the Corvallis Fire Hall at 4pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial donations (tax deductible) be made to 

Selway-Pintler Back Country Horsemen

Bitterroot Back Country Horsemen

The Wings Programs Inc.

208 Rusty Spur Way

Corvallis, MT 59828 

Attention:  The Schram Family Assistance Program 

406-363-3346