Obituary: Ray Edward Gulick

Ray Edward Gulick was born on the family homestead north of Joplin Aug. 2, 1914, to Joel and Virginia (Chafee) Gulick. Ray attended Burk Country School and Joplin High School. Ray had fond memories of his time spent at Central Washington University in Ellensburg. One of his fondest memories was pilot lessons where he flew a Piper Cub. He lived an unselfish life devoted to the care of his ailing parents and sister. He was proud of his farming heritage and devoted time, money and energy into working the family farm.

Ray lived a life full of ambition and adventure spanning 102 years. During the drought years of 1919-1922, the family lived in Byron, Michigan. They moved to San Diego, California, in 1923. During the depression years, the family moved back to Joplin and settled again on the homestead.

In 1935, Ray packed field stones to help build the rock house in which he lived until 2002. A few years later, Ray with his siblings and dad started the J. C. Gulick and Sons Mustard Seed Company which brought to the area the first mustard seed market.

Ray was prominent in politics, running for several offices. He ran in 1954 and 1976 for the U. S. Senate. He attended the World Fair in 1964. He served on the Montana Constitutional Convention in 1971.

He was a passionate historian, often writing articles for the Liberty County Times and Great Falls Tribune. He was an avid life-long member of the Great Falls Writer Group from 1952 until 2004, when he relocated to a lake cabin on Cooney Reservoir close to Red Lodge, Montana. The family is especially grateful for all the videos and photos Ray compiled over the years recording family history and the farming practices from an era gone by.

Hundreds of community members graced the bow of his boat at Tiber Reservoir. He continued his love for the water upon retiring to Cooney, where he spent many hours on the Nardinger family pontoon boat.

Ray was very community-oriented and especially passionate in his support of veterans. Ray was a member of the Joplin Lodge, the Scottish Rite Masonry Valley of Great Falls and Algeria Shrine. On his 100th birthday, he participated in the Home of Champions Rodeo over the Fourth of July while riding in the horse-drawn stage coach.

He was a good inventor. Family and friends were often entertained by stories of his great "auk." There wasn't anything that Ray couldn't fix with a little baling wire, duct tape, and his favorite, DAP and Gorilla glue adhesive.

Ray passed away peacefully in Red Lodge surrounded by loved ones.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents and brother George (Ruby), sister Elsie Jane (Robert) Sullivan, brothers Rex and Seward, and nephew Charlie Sullivan.

Ray is survived by longtime friends and caretakers, Phil, Stacie and Danni Lynn Nardinger, Dan and Susie Nardinger, Joe, Ali, Lane, Caleb, and Grady Nardinger, Greg (Didi) Nardinger, John and Vickie Ropp, and Jennifer, Jeff, Abigail and Cooper Quick.

He is survived by family including sisters-in-law Emma Gulick and Arlene Gulick. He is also survived by nephews and nieces Patrick Gulick, Susan Galvan, Marjorie Brooks, James Sullivan, Marvin Gulick, Dave Gulick, Karen Johnson, Carol Fullerton, Lois Meehan, Steven Gulick, Debbie Carvo, Joseph Gulick and Timothy Gulick, and multiple great- and great-great-nephews and -nieces.

Graveside services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday, April 10, in the Chester Cemetery, Chester, Montana. Visitation will be 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, April 10, at the Our Savior Lutheran Church in Chester.

Smith-Olcott Funeral Chapel of Red Lodge and Rockman Funeral Chapel of Chester have assisted with the arrangements.