Joe M. Golay

CORVALLIS - Joe M. Golay, 63, of Corvallis passed away Saturday, October 13, 2018 in the Intensive Care Unit at St. Patrick’s Hospital after a short, valiant fight with lung cancer.   He was born June 1st, 1955 in Hamilton, Montana, the son of Ernest and Evelyn Golay.  Joe was raised on a farm in Grantsdale with his 3 sisters and 3 brothers.  Throughout high school Joe worked on a dairy, followed by many other jobs—when he wasn’t winning the local pie eating contest 4 years in a row.  In 1974 he graduated from Hamilton High School. 

Later, he moved to Rock Springs Wyoming.  There he worked in the Coal Mines and lived with this first wife Linda Mavros.  After 10 years of working in Wyoming, Joe and Linda moved back to the Bitterroot Valley.

Joe and Linda later divorced and Joe reunited with Sonie Baltz, a long-time acquaintance, while painting her house.  During their time together Joe assisted her with grand-parenting her 7 grandchildren. After Sonie’s Death, in 2015, Joe was a lost soul until he crossed paths with a friend from his early twenties, Donah Blough. 

For the last 12 years he and his dog Mo worked for Tripp Trucking, driving back and forth to Canada, sometimes several times a week.  In his free time, Joe enjoyed being with his family and friends and driving the back roads of the Bitterroot.

Joe was preceded in death by his mother, father, brother-in-law, two nephews, and his long-time partner Sonie.  He is survived by his companion Donah; his brothers, John (Sharla), Dave (Kelly) and Doug; and his sisters, Peggy, Patsy, and Margie (Larry).   Joe is also survived by his step-daughter Michele (Don); his grandchildren, Stephanie and Joe; his step-sons, Rob (Dianna) and their three children Toni, Billy and Katrina and Jeremy (Cassie) and their children Tristin, and Gracelyn; 5 great-grandchildren with 1 on the way; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, October 20, 2018 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Corvallis Grange (130 Dutch Hill Road).  In lieu of flowers please bring a dessert to share. 

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