John Edgerly

John Loved Fishing Best



A private man, a man who preferred to spend as much of his time in nature, often in solitude.



Born in Boston to an Irish woman he would never know, moved to foster homes until the age of six when he and his fraternal twin brother were given new names and adopted Ron and Marjorie Edgerly living in Marblehead Massachusetts. Raised in Pennsylvania and Texas, John graduated from Edinburg High School in Edinburg, Texas. Just after that , the family moved to Southern California. He followed and spent time In the Marine Corps followed by Riverside City College where he studied theater, painting and the arts.



Aware of too many people, all arriving in California at once, he sought the deeper, wide-open territories of Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, and Montana. He played many roles throughout his life doing whatever might be needed by a rancher or the forest service. He spent years herding and guiding and was even a husband in a brief marriage. He was an excellent cook and could make a tasty meal from whatever was available. In his life he spent as much of his days outside and his nights under the stars as he could.



All cowboys eventually get older and need help and care. In Dillon he found friendship and kinship. On the morning of August 15th, he died suddenly outside his truck at the reservoir getting ready for a day of fishing.



He was preceded in death by his brother Spunky in October of 2020 and his twin, Jim, also living in Montana in June of 2010. He is survived by his sister Cathy, who lives in Vermont. He was uncle to Jim’s sons, Randy and John, Spunky’s children Donnie, deceased, Stefan, deceased, Nicki, Debbie and Cathy’s daughter Evan.





“The only place I feel comfortable is in nature.”

John Edgerly, Dillon, MT , 2021