Donald James "Jim" Reilly

Whoever coined the phrase “Many trades master of none” must have had J.D. Reilly “Jim” in mind. A lover of nature and all animals. He sailed his own boat, flew his own plane, paddled his own canoe, restored his own cars and Harley Davidson 1945 motorbike. He was unable to finish restoration of his beloved Jaguar. Jim was born July 7, 1937 to hard working agricultural /farm/ranch parents Walter John and Emily Cherlottie “Lottie” (Lords) Reilly in Polson, MT where his father worked on a drilling crew in construction at the Kerr Dam during the Great Depression. Reared there and Choteau, MT and eventually Deer Lodge, MT where he was educated at Public Schools Central grades 1-8 and Powell County High School. A fond grade school memory he liked to share was about his dog Shep “the first best dog”. Shep came to class on Jim’s first day of first grade. On the second day he did the same thing. On the third day his mom had to lock Shep up in the tool shed but somehow, he showed up again. As the story goes, Jim had to repeat 1st grade. He entered the Navy 1/25/55. He completed basic training in San Deigo, CA. His entire Navy career was served on USS John A. Bole DD755 Navy destroyer. He made three Asiatic cruises with ports of call to Hawaii, Korea, Okinawa, Subic Bay (Philippines), Hong Kong, Guam, American Samoa (Pago Pago) and midway Japan. Most memorable were Aukland, New Zealand. He was honorably discharged on 6/20/58. Jim then began his college career: Pasadena City College, University of Montana, Western Montana College and Montana Tech where he studied electronic control systems. Jim quit college to join the labor force of which he wore many hats. Besides being raised and working on a farm and ranch he delivered papers, set pins at a bowling alley, farmed and ranched valleys in the Big Hole, mined at Anderson Phosphate Mine and local Butte mines including The Berkly Pit, Badger and Steward. He owned and operated a Gas Station, worked construction, and at The Montana Power Company. On June 20, 1969 Jim started driving semi-trucks for Safeway in Butte and El Paso, TX. Lastly Jim became a car salesman for Shamrock Motors from 1985-1988. Due to previous injury, he was forced to take an early retirement. As someone who has always been a hardworking and driven individual, this transition was especially difficult. Unwilling or able to remain idle, he ventured into the rental business where he established Leaky Roof Rental Company before he signed the business over to his family. To fulfil and age old adage of 3 things “A man must do before his life is done” – take a wife, plant a tree, and give a son. While he did accomplish all 3, Jim joked about never finishing projects for fear of rising the next day and having nothing left to do. “This included education” he laughs. He refurbished and old house (never quite finished) and in the meantime decided to build a cabin, also never quite finished. Other restoration projects included cars, one being his beloved Jaguar, some completed, some not. Highly opinionated Jim always had something to say and usually did so to the dismay of many and the accolade of a few. He wrote many articles for the Butte Weekly; however, somethings were not published LOL. Jim met his beloved wife “Lovey” Donna (Turk) Reilly in Deer Lodge, MT while she was celebrating a divorce! They married on 9/4/1965. Together they raised and are survived by 6 children: Charles Anthony, Ramona Cherlottie, Michael John (Tami), Deborah Mary, Arliss Michawn (Rob), and James Patrick Joseph (Angie) Reilly and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. Jim and Donna loved life and enjoyed it to the fullest. They traveled across the USA in a motorhome and enjoyed riding Harley’s to Sturgis among many other adventures. May their adventures continue in Heaven. Funeral mass will be celebrated Tuesday, July 14th at 11 AM in Holy Spirit Catholic Church for both Jim and Donna. Visitation will begin at 10 o’clock in church and burial will be in Sunset Memorial Park. A reception will follow at 1 :00 PM in the Home Atherton Fire Hall.

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Donald James "Jim" Reilly

July 13, 1937 - July 3, 2026