Howard Dallas Hovey

Howard Dallas Hovey (known as Howard and Hod and most recently as Dallas) was born January 9, 1927, in Kansas City, Kansas, to Ralph and Jessie (Williams) Hovey. He was raised in Kansas. He joined the Merchant Marines during WWII as a Junior in high school. He was honorably discharged in New York City in 1946 and married Wilma Scovill whom he had met before joining the Merchant Marines. They settled in Missouri and had their first child (Kathy). In 1949, the young family moved to southern Idaho where Dallas went to work for the Union Pacific Railroad. Three additional children were born in Idaho: Steve, Jody and Carol. Dallas retired from Union Pacific in the early 1970’s and became a Prudential Life Insurance agent. The family moved to Portland, Oregon, in 1974. Wilma died in 1976. Dallas retired in the mid 1980’s. In 1993, Dallas met Doreen Kraft at church and they were married in 1994 in Springdale, Oregon, where they lived the next 19 years. In 2013, Dallas and Doreen moved to Portland.

Dallas was an avid reader in many fields, especially enjoying science and history. He enjoyed drawing, writing, oil painting, Scrabble, and doing his many handyman and farm projects.

He loved his wife, his family, other people and his pets. He was enjoyed by many for his interest in their lives, his positive attitude, and his great sense of humor. Dallas had a great love for the outdoors, including camping, exploring, hiking and working outside. Doreen and Dallas attended Pathway Church for many years.

Dallas is survived by the family he loved including his wife, Doreen (in their 25th year of marriage); his four children Kathy (Tom) Edwards, Steve (Shawna) Hovey, Jody (Dave) Thoman and Carol (Peter) Sturman, 9 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, his sister Jessa Lee Booky, Doreen’s sons Mark (Michele) Dotson and Matthew (Barbette) Dotson and Doreen’s 5 granddaughters.