John Duggan

John Beecher Duggan, of Bozeman, passed away on November 19, 2011. He was born July 22, 1921 in Knoxville, Tennessee to John Beecher and Mary (Johnson) Duggan. Following John's graduation from high school, he entered the United Sates Army, training with Hap Arnold's nascent US Army Air Corps in Savannah, Georgia. Later, stationed in Bushy Park near London, England, he worked as a cryptographer in the 423rd Signal Corp Air Force, and was able to meet the likes of Eisenhower and Churchill. While stationed in England, he met and married Pauline June, and the couple were married on December 11, 1943. A daughter, Janet, was born a year later. He was then shipped to France until war's end. After the war John and his family settled in Knoxville, Tennessee where he worked as an apprentice for the Knoxville Sentinel; and a few years later moved west to Livingston to work for the Livingston Enterprise. A second daughter, Patricia, was born there. John also spent a year at the Santa Fe New Mexican Newspaper and worked alongside the author, Tony Hillerman. A final move in 1960 brought John to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle where he worked as a printer until his retirement in 1983. In his earlier years John greatly enjoyed hunting and fishing, and snowmobiling. He was able to get June a job tying flies for Dan Bailey's Fly Shop in Livingston, thus ensuring a steady supply of flies for himself. After retirement John pursed his long-time interest in history by enrolling in many courses at Montana State University. He was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church, and a member of Knights of Columbus. He was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include his wife Pauline June of Bozeman, two daughters: Janet (Girvan Patterson) of Ottawa, Ontario Canada, and Patricia (Terry) Sharrer of Waterford, VA; three grandchildren Jennifer Godbold, Nicholas Sharrer and Alex Sharrer; two great granddaughters Zoe Godbold and Ella Rose Godbold. A memorial mass will be held at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in the springtime.