Jesse Eighorn

Jesse James Eighorn passed away peacefully on March 13th, 2014 in Dillon, Montana.  Jess was born November 15, 1955 in Sheridan, Montana to Gloria and Jim Eighorn and was raised on the family ranch in Melrose.  After graduating from Butte High, Jess went to work as a crane operator, as a rancher in the Deer Lodge Valley, and later running his own auctioneer service across the state.  Friends and family will remember Jess for his sincere friendship and his robust, joyful, and proud personality.  He was funny, stern, and direct...all when he needed to be.  Jess enjoyed a cold Budweiser with salt, watching John Wayne movies, playing jokes on his buddies, and being with good company.  Many will remember him telling rambunctious stories that ended with a laugh, squinted eyes and a slap of his knee.  Jess could rattle off equipment numbers, figures, and important dates at any time.  He took pride in telling how most bridges in the state were built, in what year, and who built them.  Farmers and ranchers relied on Jess to locate, buy, and sell equipment for them.  He was said to be as strong as a bull moose and loved being outside riding four wheelers, fishing, and shooting guns.  Most of all, Jess enjoyed being a friend.  Everyone always knew where they stood with Jess, and friends & family knew they could always count on his helpful nature, his genuine gift of caring, and his generosity.   Jess leaves behind his daughter Lace, son-in-law Josh Shrum, father Jim Eighorn, sisters Julie (Larry) Boksich, Toni (Dixon) Robison, and Marta Nicholls and brother Luke (Joel) Eighorn; as well as numerous aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, cousins, and many dear friends.  He is preceded in death by his mother, Gloria.   Special thanks goes to Dr. Sandra McIntyre, the staff of Parkview Care and Rehabilitation Center, and the Barrett Hospital Hospice nurses. Services will be held Wednesday, March 19 at 11:00 at the Church of the Big Hole in Melrose.  Donations in Jess' name can be made to the Anaconda VFW Post 1976, the Powell County 4-H Council, or Shriners.