Murray Sterling

Joe was one tough guy. I worked with him on Smokejumper Trail Projects when he could barely put one foot in front of another. He would not give up and up the mountain he went. He also made the best cinnamon rolls for the crew.

Please know of my support and love to a special cousin, all his siblings, and their families. Cousin Patsy Cornelius Martin

I first met Joe when he paid for a snowboard lesson at Red Lodge in 2001. When I found out he was an Eagle Mount volunteer we started commuting from Billings and riding together during the breaks. Joe was always doing for others and wouldn’t take no for an answer if he thought you needed help. We were honored when he agreed to be Godfather for our youngest daughter Bella. While we lived in Billings we created lots of memories together. After moving to Bozeman, and thanks to Mary and Tom, Joe always set aside a week in the summer and invited us to play on the Flathead with him. Some of our favorite family memories were made there. While Joe was not technically family, he was Uncle Joe to us. We miss you Uncle Joe, but know you are fly boarding high above watching down on us.

I rented a room from Joe back in the early 1980’s. We met in a park when he brought his little boy Dan over to hear me play bagpipes. We got to talking and I ended up living in his house for two years. He had a great sense of humor and was a very giving person. We both loved to cook and shared many meals together. Lots of venison and antelope! I saw him at some of his most down periods while he was going through his divorce and not being able to have Dan around every day. This afternoon (11/26/22) I for some reason got a feeling to see how he was doing and when I did a search for him this obit popped up saying he died just a few days ago. If that isn’t proof of a higher power or influence I don’t know what it could be.

Joe was a great dancer. I had lots of fun dancing with Joe at The Drifters. He was always a very kind considerate friend. Carolyn Joslin Coeur d Alene, ID