Lee Mccartney

Lee Butch Hollett McCartney, 70, passed peacefully in his sleep at home, Friday August 2, 2013, after a long battle with cancer.A celebration of his life will be held at First Congregational UCC, 2900 9th Ave. So., Great Falls, MT on Saturday, August 24, 2013 at 11:00 a.m., with Rev. Jim Petersen officiating. Cremation has taken place. Schnider Funeral Home is handling arrangements.Lee was born September 30, 1942 in Havre, Montana, to Clay H. McCartney and Esther M. Lee and raised by his dad and Phyllis McCartney, and his beloved grandmother, Maida McCartney.He graduated from Chinook High School with honors. He was student body president, a member of Boys State, and his love of golf started in high school. He then went on to MSU and was a member of the bowling team. His 2nd year of college he was drafted into the military (Air Force) and served in Biloxi, MS, Germany, and Maine.Then he returned home and started working for his dad at Blaine Co. Abstract as an oil and gas lease broker.January 27, 1968 he married Linda (Motari) McCartney. During this time Lee worked and managed Highcrest Oil as a petroleum landman. He also worked with Sterling Oil, and continued working with his father. Both Lee and Linda owned and operated McCartney Oil and Gas, and McCartney Realty in Havre. He was president of both the Chinook Jaycees and Havre Jaycees. He served on the board of directors for 1st National Bank in Havre. He was elected president of the Havre Chambers Of Commerce, for 6 years. He also served as the president of Hi-Line Board of Realtors, and president of Farm and Land Institute. He was elected as a delegate to the 1972 Montana Constitutional Convention, representing Hill County where documents were modified from the 1889 version. He also was involved in the Montana State Legislature as a lobbyist for the oil and gas industry. Lee also worked as an advisor for the Montana State Land Board. He initiated the 1st annual Jaycee Rodeo in Chinook, and due to his love of golf, assisted the building of the Chinook golf course and clubhouse. Lee met and married his second wife Dorothy Sayler, when Dorothy was buying the home they came to live in for 25 years; Lee was the manager at Intermountain Mortgage Company. After a whirlwind courtship, they were married on February 14th, 1990. He then worked a short time for Prudential Insurance, but his true calling was being an oil and gas landman which he soon returned to working for various companies for 45 years. He primarily worked for his very good friends who owned Hanson and Strahn and finishing his career last December working for Lonetree Energy.As his dear friend Jack said, We will always remember him for his laugh, kind eyes, intellect and his great wit. Lee lived life passionately pursuing many loves such as photography, oil painting, woodworking, traveling, gardening in the rose garden he made for Dorie, music and always trying to get nine holes of golf somewhere. But one of his greatest loves was his family and the get togethers especially at Christmas where he decorated extensively. Most will remember him for his constant cookie baking. He gave his time generously as well as his resources by volunteering for charitable work and causes too numerous to mention.Lee asked that we let you all know that this is how he would liked to be remembered When you burn my body and scatter it to the winds to help the flowers grow. If you need to bury something, let it be my faults, my weaknesses and all my prejudices against my fellow man. Give my sins to the Devil and my soul to God. If by some chance you wish to remember me, do it with a kind deed or word to someone who needs you. If you all do that, I will live forever.Lee is survived by his loving wife, Dorothy of Great Falls; daughter Renee (Rob) Valdez of Great Falls; son Matthew McCartney of Great Falls; stepdaughters Tennyson (Peter) Noyes of Hilo, Hawaii, and Danelle (Michael) Hill of Denver Colorado; brothers Robert (Sue) McCartney, Marshall McCartney, and Michael (Deb) Fent; sisters Kate (Pat) Marshall and Kathleen (Bruce) Muckian; grandchildren Ashley (William) York, Alisa Valdez, Abigail Valdez, Hannah Nielsen, Danielle Cornelia, and Serenity McCartney; great granddaughter Tenley York; his beloved aunt, Colleen (McCartney) Allison; and many cousins.He was preceded in death by his father, Clay McCartney; mother Phyllis McCartney; birth mother Esther (Strickland) Fent; grandmother Maida McCartney; grandfather Ross McCartney; and brother Pat Fent.In lieu of flowers, Lee expressed his wishes for his friends to share in his belief to help others and donate to a charity you support.Lee will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.Condolences for the family may be posted online at www.schniderfuneralhome.com.