Phillip William Gooch

Phillip William Gooch, better known as Bill, of Whitehall, MT, died on Tuesday, August 15, 2017, at St. James Healthcare in Butte, MT at the age of 58. Bill was born on August 19, 1958, to Phil and Beverline Gooch in Sumpter, SC on Shaw Air Force Base. He was the fourth of eight children and attended Clearfield High School in Clearfield, UT. In 1978, he married his high school sweetheart Christine Cottrell, and together they had 3 children, Nichole, Tanner, and Taylor.

Bill took a job in Montana in 1981 and fell in love with the Big Sky state. He chose to raise his family in Whitehall. As an avid sportsman, there are not many places in the Jefferson River Valley where he did not hunt, fish, or recreate.

A unique soul, Bill always had a twinkle in his eye, and enjoyed a good joke even if he did not get the punchline exactly right. He left an impression on everyone he met and was truly a "Mountain of a Man."

Bill is survived by his wife Chris Gooch, Whitehall, MT; two daughters Nichole (CJ) Baker, Park City, MT; Taylor Gooch, Bozeman, MT; his son Tanner (Sadie) Gooch, Ogden, UT; grandchildren Carson and Addie Baker, and his father Phil Gooch, Syracuse, UT. He leaves behind three sisters Stephanie Burns, Mary Petrie, Cindy Gooch and three brothers Jeff (Kim) Gooch, Tim (Michelle) Gooch, and Mike (Penny) Gooch. Bill is predeceased in death by his mother Beverline Gooch and his brother Greg Gooch.

A celebration of life will be held at the Cardwell Pavilion in Cardwell, MT on August 19, 2017 at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Bill's name to the Jefferson Valley Sportsman Association, PO Box 6 Whitehall, MT 59759.