- Date Of Birth: November 7, 1918
- Date Of Death: March 30, 2010
- State: Montana
John James Brady “Diamond Jim” passed away on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at his home in Kalispell, surrounded by his family. John was born on November 7, 1918 in Butte, Montana, the third of five children, to Marie and John Brady.
After his father passed away in Butte when John was 6 years old, he came to live with his grandparents, Pete and Margaret Byrne, at the home in Kalispell and the farm in Creston. He attended Cayuse Prairie School often by horseback, or by skiing over the “top wire” of the snow-covered fences in winter. After school, he would ride the horse, Lou Dillon, over to the steps of the school and pick up his cousin, Mickie, who would climb on behind him for the ride home to the farm. As a young boy and throughout his school-age years, John worked the farm with his aunt and uncle. At cutting time, he would start in the morning with a team of horses until lunchtime when his aunt would deliver him lunch and a fresh team of horses to continue the work until dark.
John later attended St. Matthew’s School and Flathead High School. He would race from St. Matthew’s to buy copies of the Daily Interlake to sell on the street and at local businesses for a nickel a piece. At Flathead High School, he was on the football team. After practice, he would run downtown to turn on the street lights on Main Street and First Avenue in Kalispell for the Mountain States Power Company. He worked with Mountain States Power on and off from 1934 through 1938 when he graduated from Flathead High School. It was the beginning of what would become a 45-year career with the power company, later known as the Pacific Power and Light Company.
John proudly served during WWII with the U. S. Army Medical Corps in the South Pacific from 1942 through 1946. A Staff Sergeant, John received numerous honors for his service including the Philippine Liberation Medal with a Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal with Clasp, Victory Medal, American Theater Service Medal, and the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal. He returned to the States on the S. S.
Upon returning to Kalispell, John married his sweetheart, Clarann Todd Brady on October 16, 1948. Together they raised five children, Dick Brady, Cathy Brady-Sorenson, Mell Brady, all of Kalispell, and Mary Brady and Celeste Brady who reside in Washington.
John’s greatest source of joy and pride was his family. He was devoted to his work, his friends, and he loved the outdoors. John spent all of his vacations from the Power Company with his family, taking them camping or renting a cabin at Elks Rest so the “kids” could play there all day. (But we think he liked his wall tent better.) In his 45 years with the Power Company, he never turned down a trouble call, working in all kinds of weather; thunder storms, lightning strikes, snow storms and blizzards, to restore power due to outages. He loved climbing the poles and he didn’t like bucket trucks when they finally came into existence.
John was devoted to his church and his faith and was a 50-year member of the Knights of Columbus. He was also a member of, the IBEW Local 768, the PP&L Bowling League, and the American Legion.
An expert outdoorsman, Diamond spent years fishing the North Fork, catching little brookies out of Yakinikak and Tuchuck and hunting the South Fork chasing elk on Battery Mountain and up Upper and Lower Twin Creeks, and he was even successful some of the time; packing his 300 H & H that his father- in- law bought him at Jack’s Tavern. He always said his arm was about three inches longer after packing the H & H all day.
In his retirement, he bought land at Lost Prairie at the Osprey Sport Parachute Club Drop Zone. He loved the Lost Prairie air; he knew that was good for him. It was where he liked to spend as much time as possible. The jumpers were all his friends. They helped him and he helped them. The view out of his camper trailer was Meadow Peak to the west and parachutes and airplanes all around. He fed the wildlife out of his garden that he planted up there. To this day, his camper still sits on his five acre spot at Lost Prairie where it will remain.
John J. Brady is survived by his wife of 61 years, Clarann Todd Brady; his children, Dick Brady and wife Marilyn of Kalispell, Marie Celeste Brady of Washington, Mary Theresa Brady of Washington, Catherine Ann Brady-Sorenson of Kalispell, Marilyn Eileen Brady and husband Geoff of Kalispell; and his grandchildren, Anna Marie Brady, Andrea Kathleen Brady, Michael John Brady, Candace Jean Sorenson, and Alexandria Sue Sorenson.
