Individual Details

Death

SHELBY - Mark Duane Furr, 54, of Shelby, an oil field driller, died of cancer Sunday, Sept. 25, at his home. Visitation is 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at Whitted Funeral Chapel in Shelby. His funeral is 1 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church, with burial in Mountain View Cemetery. Survivors include his wife of 20 years, Shirley of Shelby; children, Ashley (Dan) Kolve and granddaughters Annika and Alivia Kolve of Sunburst, Mallory (Josh) Riphenburg, Brandon Furr and Markie Jo Furr, all of Shelby; eight grandchildren; biological father, Paul Furr of Hendersonville, Tenn.; father, Dwayne Irvin of Shelby; his siblings, Paula Anderson and Ellen (Lyle) Rush of Shelby, Margie (Ken) Foran and Mark (Wendy) Irvin of Helena, David (Jean) Irvin of Great Falls, Joe (Pam) Irvin of Conrad, and Jeff Furr, Eric Furr and Kelly Furr, all of Hendersonville; and numerous aunts and uncles. He was preceded in death by his mother, Mona; and his grandparents. Mark was born May 25, 1957, in Havre, to Paul and Mona (Mayer) Furr. He graduated from Shelby High School in 1976 and entered the Army. Mark worked for Dick Irvin Inc. and then for FX Drilling for several years. He liked to say that "oil was in his blood." He was a member of the First Baptist Church. Mark enjoyed his family, fishing, bowling, and, especially, following his children's sports activities. He was an extra dad to several teenagers for quite a few years. Mark also enjoyed teaching all the bowling alley bums.
Published in Great Falls Tribune on September 28, 2011