Robert "Bob" Vowell

Robert "Bob" Howard Vowell, 77, passed away Saturday, July 29, 2017, at his home in Halfway, surrounded by family. A Graveside Service with Military Honors will be held Friday, August 4, 2017 ~ 11:00 a.m. at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway, Oregon. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception to be held at the  D'Tour Youth Center following the graveside service.

Bob was born on July 19, 1940, in Moscow, Idaho, to Howard and Eleanor (Hill) Vowell. Some of Bob's growing up years were spent with his grandparents, Anna and Glenn Hill. When he was in high school, he spent a year with Aunt Trudy (Vowell) and husband George Wagner and their 3 sons, David, Steven and Bobby in Albion, Washington. Many good memories were made.

In 1957, Bob was in the Air Guard and did basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. Then Bob joined the Marine Corps in 1958 and served through 1962 in Okinawa and Camp Pendleton, California. He was a proud Marine and he enjoyed his time in the Corps.

In 1959, Bob married Josephine Adkins, in Boise, Idaho. Together they had 5 children. After his service in the Marine Corps, the family moved to Boise, Idaho, where he had a variety of employment opportunities, such as - ranch hand, tire recapper, a rock mason, a salesman at Bennett’s Paint and Glass, a manager at Lindbloom’s Paint and Glass, and a salesman at Atkinson’s Mirror and Glass. There were many times he held down two jobs at once to provide for his family.

In 1975, Bob moved to Eastern Oregon where he bought and began running the Keating Store with his family. He did this until 1984 when he moved to Halfway. Bob spent his last working years employed by the Oregon Highway Department and enjoyed plowing snow in the winter.

Bob's joy was working around his home, visiting his family, being in the woods, going to auctions, and collecting clocks. He always either had a smile or was sticking out his tongue making funny faces to make you laugh. He adored his grandchildren and delighted going to support them at school events. Also Bob loved to play tricks and scare people. This generally included the occasional use of a firecracker.

In the last four years, Bob had help from many people, including Encompass Home Health and Heart and Home Hospice care. The family would like to especially thank Ron Hunter, Sangay Miller, and Shawn Thatcher for all of the prayers throughout Bob's journey. "If the Army and the Navy ever look on Heaven's scenes they will find the streets are guarded by The United States Marines.” Bob will be missed, "HUA!"

He was preceded in death by his parents Howard and Tiny Vowell and in 2004  his grandson Terry Wayne Sitkoff.

Bob is survived by his wife Jo Vowell of Halfway, Oregon; son Willis and his wife Patty of Baker City, Oregon, daughter Noel Sitkoff and her husband Terry of Halfway, Oregon, daughter Wendy Heater-Savage and her husband Rick of Providence Forge, Virginia, son Rob and his wife Kim of Cambridge, Idaho, and son Andrew and his wife Chrissie of Baker City, Oregon; brothers Glenn Scott of Nampa, Idaho, and Dan Scott of Boise, Idaho; sister Carol Vowell Johnson of Clarkston, Washington; mother-in-law Audrey Adkins; brothers-in-law Lorn and Russ Adkins; sister-in-law Eleanor Adkins; 16 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren.

For those who would like to make a donation in memory of Bob, the family suggests the Pine Valley Baptist Church where he attended, through Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home and Cremation Services P.O. Box 543 Halfway, Oregon 97834. On line condolences may be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com

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