James Poor

James Dale Poor, 77, of Kalispell, passed away Feb. 3, 2014.

He was born to the late Cecil “Floyd” and Lynn Poor on July 24, 1936, in Livingston.

Jim married Esther Marie Gettel in 1955, and they lived and raised their family in Great Falls before relocating to Helena and finally, to Kalispell.

He received his bachelor’s in art and secondary education from Eastern Montana College, in Billings, and a master’s at Stanford University in California. Further studies included Montana State University and Ph.D. course work in art education at the University of Oregon, in Eugene.

Jim taught art in Great Falls before becoming art superintendent for Great Falls Public Schools from 1968 to 1989. He was honored as Montana Art Teacher of the Year by the Montana Arts Education Association in 1981, received a fellowship from the Montana Institute of the Arts, and was honored as the Montana Arts Administrator of the Year by the Montana Art Education Association.

He was  past president of the Montana Institute of the Arts Foundation; National Art Education Association, National Art Education Association for the Montana Office of Public Instruction and the Montana Arts Council; past chairman of the Montana Cultural Advocacy; member of Montana Alliance for Arts Education; Montana Institute of the Arts; Visual Arts Fellowship Panel; and representative of the State Capital Complex Advisory Council, Helena.

He is survived by his wife Esther Poor; son Brad Poor and family, of Helena; daughter Libby Sutherland and family, of Columbia Falls; son Eric and family, of Billings; and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

The family suggests donations be made to the Paris Gibson Square in Great Falls, or a local musician.

A celebration of life memorial will be held at Paris Gibson Square in Great Falls on March 8, 2014, at 4 p.m.