July 27 marked the date that Jim and Marsha Gray turned over ownership of the Totem complex in West Yellowstone after 30-plus years.
Jim's relationship with the Totem dates back to 1962 when his folks bought the business. Marsha arrived in West Yellowstone a couple of years later after landing a job at the Stagecoach Inn.
Her initial impressions of both the job and the town were negative she says; in fact she "hated both the town and the job."
Judging from her tenure of 30-plus years, the town must grow on a person.
Marsha' first husband, Jim' brother, was killed and the couple tied the knot in 1976 after they bought the Totem from Jim' mother in 1972.
As she reflects, she says it seems a bit ironic as she never intended to be in the bar and restaurant business. However at one point they even lived in the back of the building with their only kitchen being that in the restaurant.
When commenting on the changes in West Yellowstone over the years, Marsha reflects that the "town's not like it used to be," referring to the wide open days when West was the Montana college student' Fort Lauderdale during vacation periods.
Gambling, strippers, whatever--West Yellowstone had it all. And with it came the riots, one she missed and the other she remembers. When there was trouble, "the owners took care of it," she says, remembering miscreants chained to trees during the riots.
She believes the changes began when the corporations moved in which is very evident today as a visitor glances around at all the national lodging facilities and the condos being built.
Over the years the Totem grew and where the restaurant now sits, was the original bar. With the moving of the tavern to the corner it seemed only natural to open a liquor store in between the bar and restaurant.
Marsha believes that one of the most important lessons she learned in business was to "keep her mouth shut" and not to get involved in personal matters which came across the plank.
Now after laboring for years to build a business, the couple has retired to the Lakeside area near Helena. Originally planning to raise Arabian horses on their 30-acre ranchette, they have revised their plans, sold off 10 acres and are content to just enjoy what the future holds for them.
As she looks at the building that in the past had been both business and home to her, Marsha commented that she is "proud of what Jackie has done."
It must be nice to know all your dreams and hard work will be preserved.
Good luck to the pair on a well earned retirement.
Source: The Montana Tavern Times, Oct., 2006, published monthly by Continental Communications, 125 W. Granite St., Suite 102, Butte, MT 59701.