James McCrea Haughey

1914 - 2007

James McCrea Haughey, noted lawyer, artist, and true Renaissance man passed away on September 13, 2007 after 93 amazing years. He was born in Cortland, Kansas on July 8, 1914 but grew up in nearby Concordia. After attending the small, unique Deep Springs men’s college in California, he majored in art at the University of Kansas. It was there that he met his beloved wife, Katie. Knowing that he would need to make a living to marry and raise a family, he chose law as a profession and graduated from KU in 1939.

In 1943 he joined the law firm of Coleman, Jameson and Lamey. He remained with the firm for 64 years and was a retired partner in the firm now named Crowley, Haughey, Hanson, Toole and Dietrich at the time of his death.

Though Jim made his living as an attorney, his life revolved around art. He was a talented watercolor artist and was an elected member of the American Watercolor Society and other professional artist’s leagues. He had numerous one-man shows and some of his paintings traveled on world tours. He traveled extensively, always drawing, sketching and painting. His caricatures of famous people and friends are loved by all who are lucky enough to have seen them. To enhance his art, he became an outstanding photographer. He was an active member of the Stillwater Society and drew and painted until a few days before he died.

Excelling at nearly everything he did, he constantly took up new things. He served in the Montana State Legislature for ten years where was Senate Minority Leader. He learned to play the piano and organ when he was forty. He took up running at 50 and at 60 ran one mile for every decade of his age. He sang in barbershop quartets and loved to recite poetry.

Jim was not content to let things be. When he saw a need, he found ways to make a difference. He wrote the bill that created the Montana Arts Council and, along with his wife, Katie, was a founder of the Yellowstone Art Museum. He was a Founding member of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation and, for 52 consecutive years, he made a painting of the location where the annual meeting was held. Many cherish prints of these paintings.

He served on the boards of dozens of legal and arts organizations as well as many other community non-profits. He was a lay reader at his church. He was an active member of the Billings YMCA where he exercised three times a week until earlier this year. He received the Y’s Phillip N. Fortin Humanitarian Award in 2003. This was one of numerous awards he received – the latest being the Distinguished Alumni award of the University of Kansas School of Law and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Yellowstone Art Museum to be presented on November 1.

Jim’s biggest contribution was to his children, grandchildren and hundreds of others whom he encouraged to make arts and creativity an integral part of their lives. He taught people to understand that developing and utilizing one’s creative resources makes one much more effective in everyday life - whether at work or play. His son, John, is the Choir Director at Billings West High School and has inspired thousands of students to keep music in their daily lives. His son, Bruce, has made his living creating a variety of products – from great watercolors to fiberglass pots and tabletops, soap and pain gel. His daughter, Kathy Loo, is a pianist and composer who has recently learned to paint, and she uses these creative skills to be more effective in the work she does with non-profits in her hometown and state.

Jim Haughey’s lifetime as a distinguished volunteer, his civic and professional achievements, and his passion for teaching the meaning and benefit of arts for everyone has greatly improved the quality of life within our community. He will be sorely missed.

Jim was fortunate to have his ex-daughter-in-law, Marilyn Golden, live at his home for over two years. This allowed him to stay in his home. He is survived by his three children -Kathy, Bruce and John; 7 grandchildren - Susan Loo Pattee, James Loo, Tammy Haughey Grishow, Patrick Haughey, Sarah Harlan Haughey, David Haughey and Kate Haughey; and 3 great-grandchildren – Andrew and Katherine Pattee and Emily Loo.

A service will be held at St Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 1221 Crawford Drive at 1:30 PM on Friday, October 12^th. There will also be a reception and celebration of his life from 4:30 to 7:30 PM at the Yellowstone Art Museum, 401 N. 27^th Street on October 12^th.

Memorial donations may be made to the West High Music Department, 2201 St. Johns Avenue, Billings, MT 87501; the Yellowstone Art Museum; St. Stephens Church or the Carbon County Arts Guild, 11 West 8^th Street, Red Lodge, MT 59068.