Montana Lawyer April/May 2024

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

William J. Jameson Award George L. Bousliman Professionalism Award Neil Haight Pro Bono Award Karla M. Gray Equal Justice Award * The State Bar of Montana is seeking nominations of outstanding members for this year’s service awards to be presented at the Annual Meeting Awards Banquet on Thursday, September 12th at the Holiday Inn Missoula Downtown. The Jameson Award, the State Bar’s highest award, recognizes a lawyer who exemplifies professionalism while exhibiting devotion to the public good. In a similar spirit, the George L. Bousliman Award recognizes lawyers or firms who have estab lished a reputation for and a tradition of professionalism, defined once by Dean Roscoe Pound as “the pursuit of a learned art as a common calling in the spirit of public service.” The State Bar also will recognize an outstanding member, or other individual or organization which has provided pro bono services to Montanans in need, through the Neil Haight Pro Bono Award; and the Karla M. Gray Equal Justice Award will be given, based upon nomination from the Montana Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission, to a judge who has advanced access to Montana’s courts. Award nominations may be submitted online at:www.montanabar.org/Membership-Regulatory/Bar-Awards, or by email ing a nomination packet (also available online) to rmercado@montanabar.org. Additional materials may be included with a nomination, however, please limit each nomination to 10 pages total, including supporting materials. Awardees are selected by the Past Presidents’ Committee of the State Bar of Montana.

IN MEMORIAM

moved to Billings after they graduated law school in 1983, and she began a 38 year legal career in government service, beginning as a law clerk for Federal Judge James F Batten and retiring as the Field Solicitor for the Rocky Mountain Region of the U.S. Department of Interior. On June 21, 1991, Karan and Gary eloped, surprising almost no one, given that they had been together for nearly 10 years at that point. Their son, Davis, was born in 1994 and their daughter, Julia, in 1997. Karan leaves behind a legacy of deep compassion for her family, friends, and the community. She volunteered for decades as a reading tutor and provided years of pro bono family legal advice to those in need. She consistently stood up for causes she believed in and always looked out for those around her without ever being asked. She believed in the plati num rule: do unto others as they would like done unto them, and lived by that motto. Karan loved to be outside, hik ing, picnicking, and gardening, as well as reading voraciously. An avid sports fan, she loved spending time with her family cheering on the Montana State Bobcats

and Nebraska Cornhuskers. She could always be counted on as a steady hand in times of trouble and she was great com pany, often with generous pours of wine and always with cheese and crackers. She was a loving wife, an excellent partner, doting mother, caring sister, thoughtful and compassionate friend, and a diligent worker who believed in doing things the right way no matter how large or small the task. Karan was predeceased by her par ents, Lorn and Cecilia, and her sister, Beth. She is survived by her husband, Gary, and children, Davis (Meaghan), and Julia, as well as her siblings David (Joy) Dunnigan, Diane (Tom) Lamb, Joan (Bob Cohn) Dunnigan, and Brian (Jody) Dunnigan, as well as nieces, neph ews, cousins, in-laws, and friends, who will miss her deeply. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Angel Fund through the Education Foundation for Billings Public Schools would be welcome. A celebra tion of life will be held in June with fam ily and friends.

Karan Lynn Dunnigan

(1957-2024)

Karan Lynn Dunnigan passed away early in the morning on Saturday, January 6, 2024, surrounded by family at her home in Billings, after a year-long battle with cancer. She was born in 1957 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Karan graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1980 with a degree in English, and from the University of Montana School of Law in 1983 with her juris doctorate. Karan first moved out West in the summer of 1977 to work in Yellowstone National Park, a life-changing experi ence, both because it fueled her lifelong love of wild places and because she met her future husband and partner of 42 years, Gary Connelley. Karan and Gary

Memorial submissions The Montana Lawyer will publish memorials of State Bar of Montana members at no charge.

Please email submissions to montanalaw yer@montanabar.org using the subject line “Memorial.” Memorial submissions are subject to editing.

APRIL-MAY 2024

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