Cody Julian Mack
Obituary
Cody Julian Mack
Former Kenai resident Cody Julian Mack died Saturday, June 2, 2007, at Saint Vincent Healthcare Center in Billings, Mont., after a short illness. He was 72.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 9 in Big Timber, Mont., at Boulder Valley Baptist Church 2007. Burial will be in the Mountain View Cemetery. A reception will follow at the American Legion.
Mr. Mack was born near Big Timber, Mont., to Harry and Thressa Mack on Feb. 7, 1935. He was raised on the family ranch and attended Sweet Grass County Schools until his graduation in 1952. He worked for a time in South Dakota before returning to Montana where he enlisted with the U.S. Army and served his time as a paratrooper.
Following an honorable discharge he returned to Montana where he met and married Carol Murphy in Livingston in 1956. The couple gave birth to Terry and Deanna. They were later divorced. During this time, Mr. Mack attended college at MSU in Bozeman where he played football for the Montana State Bobcats.
Mr. Mack was a truck driver and owner and operator for a number of years before he moved to Homer. There he met and married Violet Jones. The couple gave birth to Cody Julian Mack Jr. Mr. Mack worked as a mechanic and owned and operated a service station in Kenai. His station was the first self service station in Alaska.
“He had the mind of an inventor and developed numerous successful inventions,” his family said.
Later the couple started the UPIK Fur Products Co. where they designed, manufactured and marketed fur products locally and internationally.
Cody and Cody, Jr relocated to Bridger, Mont., where he purchased a ranch in 1988. Mr. Mack was semi-retired and worked occasionally driving trucks.
He moved to Livingston in 1994 and eventually moved to Billings where he resided at the time of his death. He was working at Creative Monograms in Billings.
“Cody’s passion has been his family and especially his grandchildren. He seldom missed an event they were involved in. Papa will be greatly missed. He will be remembered by those who knew him for his wit and humor as well as his creative ingenuity. Cody loved a bargain and was always on the lookout for a garage sale. In his own words his hobbies included ‘restoring old cars, hunting, fishing, and checking out back roads,’” his family said.
Mr. Mack is survived by his children, Terry Murphy of Kodiak, Deanna of Washington and Cody Jr. and his wife, Stacy, of Billings; grandchildren: Calvin, Cassidy, Andrew and Avery Mack of Billings and Trisha of Alaska; sister, Judith Bretzel of Billings; and several nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggest that memorials may be made to the Billings Cancer Center or a charity of the donors’ choice.
Arrangements were made by Stenberg Funeral Home in Big Timber.