Cloudy, 26° F
Burl Gonion, 87, died peacefully at his home at The Heartland Assisted Living in Powell, on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019.
Burl was born Feb. 9, 1932, in Cody, to Tessi Inger Schwanz and George Leo Gonnion. He graduated from Cody High School in 1950. After high school he joined the Wyoming Army National Guard and was in the Korean War.
In 1952, he married the most amazing lady ever, Sally. They moved to Powell in 1956.
He taught many different grade levels, coached multiple sports and continued his military career. He retired from teaching in 1992 and retired from the military as a colonel.
He was an avid outdoorsman and amazing fisherman.
He was proceded in death by his beloved wife Sally, son Hap, brother Fred and sister Carla Jeanne.
Those left to cherish his memory are his son Chip Gonion of Concord, North Carolina; daughters Joy Gonion of Powell, Gay (Darrell) Cariveau of Greybull, Sandi (Tom) Salvagni of Whitehall, Montana, and Anna (Bob) King of Powell; sisters Shirley Goocher of Billings and Betty Gonnion of Cody; and brother George (Mary) Gonnion of Stillwater, Minnesota; sisters-in-law Ann (Warren ) Baker of Palm Springs, California, and Dinah Haberthier, Canyon City, Colorado; plus seven grandchildren: Ilona, Kasey, Vinnie, Mikki, Tukker, Wyatt, and Kwinn; eight great-grandchildren: Layla, Jasper, Arimas, Maddeson Blue Lin, Olivia, Nick, Axton and Ry’lynn; and many nephews, nieces, cousins and countless unforgettable friends.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 3, at St Barbara’s Catholic Church. Services will continue at the Crown Hill Cemetery immediately following. Burl requested, in lieu of flowers, that memorial contributions be made to the Billings Clinic Foundation, Cancer Research Fund, P.O. Box 31031 Billings, MT 59107.
