Dennis Hugh McCahon of Helena, MT, died in his home on February 14, 2025. He was 77 years old. He was fourth generation Helenan, born in Helena, March 12, 1947, to Carolyn Marie Carrico McCahon and Robert Hugh McCahon. Brother Patrick Allen joined the family in 1950.

Since the early 1950's the family consisted of Dennis, brother Patrick, mother Carolyn, aunt Lt. Col. Dorothy Carrico and grandmother Louise (Louie) Dittman Carrico. They lived at the family home in Helena, which had been built by great grandfather Dittman and two great uncles George and Hubert Dittman. Heritage names include Carrico, Dittman and Hildenstab. Childhood adventures at the Crystal Creek cabin enlivened Dennis' early years. Firecrackers were exploded in cowpies. Crystal Creek was dammed up with sand and rocks. Old tree stumps were rolled off rock piles and cliffs. There was swimming in the beaver pond. Other childhood mischief included building models of buildings, then burning them down, with his brother.

Later, Dennis became a forest fire fighter and Patrick became a fireman. When the big tree at the cabin burned down in 1988's Elkhorn fire, Dennis counted the growth rings back over 400 years. Dennis lived for walking, hiking, and skiing at Belmont (now the Great Divide). He was an avid walker boasting of 3 to 6 miles a day, wandering Mt. Helena and Helena's beautiful hillsides and neighborhoods. Dennis went to St. Helena's Catholic Grade School and was a Cathedral High Greenie, having a best friend Lonnie Hortick. He attended Carroll College, Helena, for two years and finished his education at University of Montana, Missoula, earning two Bachelor's Degrees, one in Forestry with an emphasis on planning and one in Liberal Arts.

While at Carroll College, Dennis met Charlotte Burch a fellow student. They married September 12, 1970, in Havre, MT. There were no children from the 54 year marriage, attesting to the zero-population growth thinking of their college years. Throughout his life Dennis had several cats and dogs. Dennis had a great love of learning and a sense of curiosity and wonder. He was constantly reading non-fiction books, mostly about nature and animals. He had a large library. He collected works of art, including paintings of bears, magpies, other animals and landscapes. He wanted to pass on his (and his grandmother's) sense of humor. Dennis and Charlotte lived in married student housing at UM.

Then, back in Helena, they lived in the family home until they found Dennis' dream home, a shingle-style 1890's granite house. He used his wood working skills to furnish the home with wood paneling and hand carved decorative elements. He had a north facing dormer inserted in the roof of his third floor office to view the Sleeping Giant and the Belts mountains. In a practical vein, he put in insulation, winterizing features and a beautiful front porch floor. He loved trees and had at least 50 species in his yard, including his favorites the Kentucky Coffee Tree and the Buckeye. He had two MGB roadsters which he loved and then moved on to "sensible", small pick up trucks. In his later years he insisted that he did not need any vehicle, he would walk. This reflected his eco-friendly philosophy.

During his youth he worked as a grave digger and farm hand, and during college he worked as a forest fire fighter, fire lookout operator and forest work crewman. After graduation he became a City/County Planner, working to guide the growth of his beloved Helena. After seven years as a city planner, Dennis opted for self-employment as a freelance writer, fine arts woodworker and colored pencil artist. He wrote three books, several booklets and a newsletter "The ... Magpie". He wrote the daily weather trivia item for the "Helena Independent Record". He constructed many balsa wood building models out of hundreds of tiny pieces of wood. An example is in the elevator lobby of the Power Block. He drew hundreds of colored pencil drawings. A sizable collection is housed at the Lewis & Clark County Historical Society Museum, Helena. The models and drawings represent private homes and historical buildings of Helena. He was given the Herb Jacobson Lifetime Achievement Award by the Helena - Lewis & Clark County Historic Preservation Commission.

Dennis left several lasting marks on Helena. He was advisory to the aperture of the Lyndale underpass. He acted as consultant for the facade of the Federal Reserve Building, persuading them to use arched windows and brick and limestone banding. He painted several BID bears. He created the pattern drawing for the Performance Square Mural, and helped paint the mural onto the large outdoor wall. He should be remembered for these marks on downtown Helena, for being a passionate Helena advocate and for insistently promoting walkability for his Downtown Helena Space.

Dennis was a volunteer at the Lewis & Clark County Historical Society Museum where a substantial display of his historic building drawings is located. He was a volunteer and supporter of Merlin CCC, a local philosophy group, a regular participant in their community activities, and he inspired numerous of their 'philosophy in the community' walks and programs, including an ongoing project called "Thinking About Place".

Dennis died of an apparent heart attack due to complications from diabetes and kidney disease. Dennis is survived by his wife, Charlotte Burch McCahon, and his brother Patrick McCahon (Helena). He has four sisters-in-law and two brothers-in-law, their families and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his mother, aunt and grandmother.

For remembrance get one of his booklets from the museum, or have lunch at the No Sweat Cafe, or visit the mural at Performance Square downtown Helena. A memorial is planned for Sunday, April 27th at 1pm -3pmish. It will be at Reeder's Alley Conference Center & Pavilion, 101 Reeder's Alley, Helena, MT 59601.

All are welcome to attend and remember Dennis' life. His cremains will be interred at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Merlin CCC at: https://app.moonclerk.com/pay/23a2v3iozzp5, or mailed to 119 Reeder's Alley, Helena, MT, 59601 Lewis & Clark County Historical Society Museum, P.O. Box 1864, Steamboat Block, 618 Helena Ave, Helena, MT, 59624. Holter Museum of Art, Helena, MT.