Homer Boutwell

Homer Boutwell, 71, passed away October 4, 2021 at 7:25 a.m. at St. Mary’s Hospital in Walla Walla.  A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, October 16, 2021 – 2:00 p.m. at the Pine Valley Presbyterian Church in Halfway, OR.  Interment  with Military Honors will follow at Pine Haven Cemetery.  Friends are invited to join the family at a reception to be held back at the church following the interment. The service will be live streamed through Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home.  Click on Homer Boutwell and click live stream.

Homer Gene Boutwell was born in Tracy, Minnesota on April 1, 1950. He was raised and attended school in Minnesota. The family moved to Enid, Oklahoma where he began his career in Heavy Equipment.  Homer went into the Marines following high school.  After an honorable discharge, he moved to Corona, California and worked for the City of Corona running heavy equipment.  Homer met his future wife Debra through his cousin.  They had known each other for just about a week when Homer asked her: “Do you know how to cook? Do you keep a clean house?” She had the right answers, as well as her mother’s permission. One week later, on July 8, 1972, she married Homer in Enid, Oklahoma, at Homer’s parents’ home. Of this union they had two daughters, Angela and Teresa. In the fall of 1986, following his retirement from the City of Corona, he moved his family to Halfway, Oregon. 

Homer loved his family and gave each of his grandkids a special nickname that he always called them. It didn’t matter how old they got, he knew them by their nicknames. He enjoyed woodworking. He loved all animals, but had a special fondness for small dogs, especially Chihuahuas. Up until the death of his wife Debbie, they enjoyed doing crafts together.  After her death, his new hobby became his 3 wheeled motorcycle. He loved to go on motorcycle rides and never knew a stranger. Homer loved to make up stories and make people laugh. There was one story in particular that he came up with an “Uh Ahh” bird. Everyone at the Phoenix Zoo was looking for this bird; his story was so real you couldn’t help not to believe it. Most importantly, he loved talking about the Bible and read his Bible daily.  He loved God and loved to get together to sing old gospel hymns with people and have old fashioned Bible studies. When he was in the hospital, his daughter Teresa called him every night to read the Bible to him and pray together. He would give her a thumbs up and do his best to say Amen. They spent a lot of time on Zoom while he was in the hospital. Every call ended in a prayer; this meant a lot to Homer.

He was forever polite, courteous, always the gentleman.  He had a smile that would light up a room. 

He was preceded to death by his wife Debra; parents Leonard and Florence; brothers Marvin and Fred; sister Mary Ann Mullins; nephew Earl Boutwell. 

Homer is survived by his daughters Angela and her husband John Paul “JP” Binford of Halfway, Oregon , Teresa and her husband Paul Kelly of Athena, Oregon; Grandchildren Candice and her husband Zach Reinhardt of Meridian, Idaho, Timothy and Jessica Binford of Oxbow, Oregon Elijah and Noah Kelly; great grandchildren Sadie and Madison Reinhardt, Wesley and Abigail Binford; brother Merle Boutwell of Enid, Oklahoma; numerous nieces and nephews.

For those who would like to make a memorial donation in memory of Homer may do so to Creating Memories for disabled children through Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home & Cremation Services PO Box 543 Halfway, Oregon 97834.  Online condolences may be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com