Duane Merton Emond

Duane M. Emond, 85, passed away October 3 at Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. A memorial service will be held Sunday, November 15, at 4:00 pm at the Bonners Ferry Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses. Duane was born May 16, 1924 in Weskan, Kansas. His family lived in several small towns before moving to Emmett, Idaho. He attended Emmett High School, serving as the baseball team's manager, while excelling as an amateur boxer. He was the Idaho State Golden Gloves bantamweight champion in 1941. Later, he joined his father at the Stibnite mine where they worked in construction. Shortly thereafter, Duane enlisted in the Marine Corps early in World War II. He served as a military policeman before transferring to a new division. There he became an amphibious truck driver and saw action on the Pacific islands of Guam, Tinian and Saipan. After the war, Duane moved to Seattle, WA, embarking on a professional boxing career. He lived with his mentor, Harry "Kid" Matthews, and his family. Matthews was a tough middleweight who later fought for the heavyweight championship. Duane also boxed in Los Angeles, CA, where sportswriters marveled at his height of 6'1" despite weighing only 126 pounds. He lived in Los Angeles for several years working in scaffolding for the Russell & Russell Scaffolding Company. While in LA, he married Jackie Barnett and they later adopted their son Tom. They divorced in 1973. Moving to Bonners Ferry in 1965, Duane worked at the Pack River Lumber Company as a lumber grader until he retired in 1977 due to health problems. In the mid-1980's Duane moved to the South Fork of the Salmon River, where he lived for two years. Tom joined him there for one year. An avid outdoorsman, Duane hunted, fished, mined a little gold and raised an incredible garden, all the while loving the Salmon River-of-no-return country. He moved back to Bonners Ferry and married Ruby Purington. He was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses and served loyally until his death. Duane was a master leather-worker, gunsmith, woodworker and photographer. He loved fine foods and was an accomplished cook. He was also a voracious reader with an impressive book collection. Duane was preceded in death by his parents Thomas and Dora Christina Emond, and ex-wife Jackie Emond. He is survived by a son, Thomas Emond, of Bonners Ferry; sisters Nadine Wallace, also of Bonners Ferry; Arlene Emond, Phoenix, AZ; and Norma Lee Crosby, Pendleton, Oregon; wife, Ruby Emond, Billings, Montana; and numerous cousins and relatives. Family and friends are invited to sign Duane’s book at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com Arrangement are entrusted to the care of Bonners Ferry Funeral Home.