Edward Coad

Ed Coad

January 24, 1943 - October 30, 2023

Everyone makes an impact on the world but few did it like Ed Coad.

Edward Leroy Coad was born into a very humble home. He was the youngest of three born to Richard (Dick) and Caroline (Carrie) Coad. They lived on a small ranch on the Madison River near Varney, MT. His mother passed away when Ed was just 5 years old. His dad was a dedicated, hard worker on the ranch and at the fish hatchery, resulting in youngsters Ed and his older brother Richard Jr., having plenty of time to be mountain men, build forts, and simply love the great outdoors. Ed and Richard learned many things during their "unsupervised" time. One memorable lesson comes from a time when Ed and Richard wanted to transport a wire shelf from an old refrigerator to their fort. They hung the wire shelf over the bicycle handles as Richard pedaled while Ed rode on the handlebars. The lesson? When you hang a refrigerator shelf over bicycle handles, don't let it swing: it will get caught in the spokes, and both riders on the bike will be ejected.

After high school, Ed entered the Army. Most of his service time was spent in Germany with the 964th Engineer Company as a diesel mechanic. Ed enjoyed touring the local area, and he made a number of life-long friends. When Ed returned to Montana, he married Cheryl Rennewanz. Early in their marriage, Ed worked a variety of jobs including being a town cop in Ennis, a plywood mill worker in Kalispell, and a telephone maintenance man in southwestern Montana. Ed then decided to attend barber college in Salt Lake City. Barbering was the trade that he became known for in Dillon. While Ed and Sherry were married, they had two children, Michael and Chandra.

After Michael and Chandra had left home, Ed chose to marry Cindy Boyd. When Ed married Cindy, he happily accepted the "dad" role once again, committing to raise Cindy's two young daughters, Krista and Marcie. One of his happiest days was when he was able to adopt the girls and legally call them his own.

Ed enjoyed a lot of different interests throughout his life. He was active in the Dillon Jaycees. He volunteered as a Little League softball coach. He was part of the ski patrol at Maverick Mountain and he was a member of the Dillon EMS. He was a proud parent and supporter of his kids in 4-H and all of their school activities.

He loved being outdoors and spent many weekends camping and fishing. He almost always caught the first fish, the most fish, and the biggest fish! He truly enjoyed a round of golf, even on bad-weather days.

Ed spent over 44 years at Ed's Barber Shop "clipping the public" and "talking over people's heads"! Ed and his brother Richard owned Bunz & Bro Candy Company. They had a great time making their delicious almond rocha and pecan rocha. Their favorite part of the candy business was going to craft and trade shows. They loved giving patrons a sample of their candy, and then accepting their money! After Ed retired, he tried his hand at cutting and polishing rocks. He made many trivets and a set of living room tables using his rocks. He was proud of his beautiful creations.

The one thing Ed loved the very most was his family. He would often boast that while he and Cindy didn't always agree during their 35 year marriage, they had yet to have a fight! Ed loved being both Dad and Papa. His kids and grandkids made his heart soar with delight. He was proud of his son, Michael Coad and his children, Garrett and Kendall. His daughter, Chandra Tourtelot and her children, Treysen and Chelsey, always brought a smile to his face. His daughter, Krista Johnson, her husband Brian, and their children, Norah, Wesley, and Vivian, kept him well entertained. His youngest daughter, Marcie Bush, her husband Paul, and their children, Andrew, Marianne, and Izabelle, gave him a heart full of joy. Ed loved to recall his many shared, happy memories of he and his brother Richard. Ed's many nieces, nephews, cousins, and others who became family to him through marriage were important in his life. In additional to these surviving family members, Ed was quick to love many other persons and call them family, especially Sandy and Sarah Mootry.

Each time Ed endured the loss of a loved one, including his father Dick, mother Carrie, stepmother Anna, sister Viola Evans, half-siblings and their families from his mother's first marriage, and granddaughter Alexandra Coad, his heart was left with a hole. Now, being reunited with those family members, he has attained the joy that is promised to come when a believer reaches Heaven.

Friends and family are invited to give to a charity to honor Ed. Ed treasured a couple of special charities and organizations, including Westland Bible Mission and Big Hearts Under the Big Sky. A gift to either of these or a different charity or organization would honor Ed's memory beautifully.

A memorial service honoring Ed will be Monday, November 6. The gathering will take place at 1:30 PM at the First Presbyterian Church in Dillon, located at 24 S Pacific Street. A "Papa Snacks" reception will follow at the church. The reception will feature many of Ed's sugarfilled favorite treats.