Karen Lynn Hayes (Corey), 80, died Dec. 24, 2024, at Community Hospital in Missoula. She was born July 21, 1944, to parents Lyle Corey and Agnes (Krein) in Reno, Nev. She grew up and graduated from Scobey High School in 1962. Upon graduation from high school, she attended cosmetology school in Billings before marrying David Hayes and settling down to start a family. They had three children, Brent, Margo and Mike. They raised their children in Cut Bank. She discovered her love of flowers and crafts in Cut Bank. She used her design skills for many years as a floral designer at the Cut Bank Greenhouse where she developed lifelong friendships. She co-owned the successful business Something Special focused on floral arrangements and crafts. She nurtured beautiful gardens wherever she lived. She transformed many vacant spaces into colorful works of art. She spent many hours among her flower beds admiring the plants, pulling weeds and casting seeds wherever there was visible dirt. She also loved sewing and crafts. She became a talented lifelong seamstress after making her sister Kelli’s wedding dress and sewing many clothes for her daughter Margo. She soon added ceramics to her artistic skills. She was never without a sewing or cross-stitch project or crafting one of her dolls which she sold at local crafts outlets. She made the bold decision to attend college later in life. She created a rivalry with her MSU Bobcat children by enrolling in the University of Montana where she graduated with honors with a bachelor of social work in 2002.

Chad Edward Nelligan, 37, died Dec. 28, 2024, at the Billings Clinic. He was born on July 31, 1987, to Tina Nelligan and Kevin Adams. He lived in Frazer for most of his life and attended Frazer High School, where he played basketball and graduated in 2005. He also attended Job Corps. He loved spending time with family and going hunting with his adopted parents, Adeline Rose Smoker-White and Robert E. White. During his high school years, he dated Latoya TurnToes. They would do everything together. They had two children, Allyn TurnToes and Angel Nelligan. He enjoyed spending time with his children and waking up in the morning to make a big breakfast for his family. He loved to fish with family and friends. He would always make time to call and check up on his mother. He had a kind heart and was always surrounded

William “Bill” Richard Hawk, 82, of Miles City died Dec. 26, 2024. He was born April 25, 1942, in Poplar, the son of Mattie Ina and William A. Hawk. He grew up and attended school in Poplar, graduating from high school in 1960. While attending school, he was very active in sports and became a letterman in his freshman year playing baseball. The next three years of high school, he lettered in football and basketball as baseball was not played in high school after 1957. He started his athletic career when he was about eight years old. The catholic priest asked him if he wanted to play on the Little League team as a catcher, which was the only position left open. Thus, he began a very good career as a catcher. He played Little League, Babe Ruth, Junior Legion baseball all as catcher, turning into one of the best in the area. When he was not playing Legion baseball, he was playing for the local town baseball team. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the Air Force, serving for four years. After basic training and technical school, he spent two years in Japan as a radio operator, using Morse Code. He then returned to the United States and was assigned to Albuquerque, N.M., as a radio operator. While in the Air Force, he continued his sports career by playing fast pitch softball in Japan and in Albuquerque as a catcher. Following his honorable discharge in October of 1964, he worked various jobs until 1966 when he went to San Francisco, Calif., under the relocation program, where he attended business college, graduating in 1967. While in San Francisco, he met his future wife. After a short courtship, he and Sharon were married in June 1967 in Albuquerque, N.M. In 1985, the family moved to Miles City where he worked various jobs, finally settling at Pine