‘Garry’ Hoopes

‘Garry’ Hoopes

Victor “Garry” Hoopes, 66, died Nov. 17, 2009, at St. Alphonsus Medical Center in Boise surrounded by friends and family.

His funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 2625 Hughes Lane. Bishop Richard Hindman will officiate. Public viewing will be from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the LDS church.

Garry was born on Jan. 21, 1943, at Baker City to John Garrettson and Letha Evelyn Lovejoy Hoopes. At the age of 17, he joined the U.S. Army and served as a tank commander in Germany during the Berlin Crisis. The family said that Garry would comment, “We pointed guns at the Germans during the day and played poker with them at night.”

In the summer of 1963, Garry returned home from Germany and went to work for the Union Pacific Railroad (or as he referred to it – Uncle Peter’s Rabbit Ranch) as a heavy equipment operator. Garry operated a Pettibone speed swing, among other machines.

It was because of his talents as a gifted operator that he had the opportunity to work in many areas across the Pacific Northwest between Huntington and Seattle on the main line; and on the Spokane International into East Port Canada, his family said. Garry’s life was truly impacted by his work on the railroad and he was never without a story from his railroad days.

In 1981, Garry went to work for his father, John G. Hoopes, at the family auto repair shop, The Broadway Garage. It was at the “shop” where Garry worked on countless cars, made many friends, told 10 times as many stories and helped a myriad of strangers.

In recent years, Garry’s most cherished project was the restoration of a 1939 Ford coupe he shared with his cousins, Ron and Gail Guyer. In the end, this car resembles more love and beauty than the eye could ever behold, his family said.

Garry loved his family and always took pride in being a Hoopes. He appreciated his hometown and always reminisced about the hell he and his brothers raised as kids, his family members said.

Garry loved, respected and protected his brothers through thick and thin. He cherished his sister and her husband, Heber, and always anxiously awaited when they would come home to visit from Utah.

Garry took great pride in his children, John and Ronda. Garry was especially proud of John when he became a sheriff’s deputy for Baker County, and always watched for him from the kitchen window to make sure he returned home safe each night.

Garry was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many capacities. He strived to live a life of charity and service according to the gospel and lived to be an exceptional missionary. Anyone who knew Garry would agree he accomplished this assignment, his family members said.

“Garry was a loving father and grandfather, devoted brother, loyal friend and a valiant servant of the Lord. His presence in this life will be truly missed,” they said.

Survivors include his mother, Letha Hoopes of Baker City; his son, John Hoopes, and his wife, Lauri, of Baker City; daughter, Ronda Stevenson, and her husband, Steve, of Texas; brothers, Dale and Joyce Hoopes, Rex and Debbie Hoopes and Kenny Hoopes, all of Baker City; a sister, Nancy, and her husband, Heber Fuller, of Highland, Utah; cousin, Ron Guyer of Ontario; eight grandchildren, four great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and extended family members and countless lifelong friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, John Garrettson Hoopes; uncles, Roland and Oliver Hoopes; and cousins, Allen Hoopes and Gale Hoopes Guyer.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the National Rifle Association, the LDS Perpetual Education Fund or the Missionary Fund through Gray’s West and Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.

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