Rex Williams Hovey's Obituary
Chief Warrant Officer III, Rex W. Hovey, 87, was called home by the Lord on the morning of April 12, 2007. Mr. Hovey died peacefully in his sleep at the VA Medical Center in Portland of heart related conditions.
Rex was born in Grangeville, Idaho on November 1, 1919, where he was raised with his sister Elizabeth, and his two brothers Jack and Max, who have preceded him.
Rex was an outdoorsman in the true sense of the word. He was adept at horse riding, hunting, ranching, carpentry, vegetable gardening, and other skills too numerous to mention. He built a cabin at age 16 with his own hands, which still stands to this day in Dixie, Idaho, and is used by the family for enjoyment.
Rex had an early calling to the ministry as a teenager, but as hostilities were increasing in Europe and Japan, dad joined the US Navy in 1939 to help protect his country. He saw extensive action in the Coral Sea Theater and was decorated with several medals for his heroism and service to the country. He engaged in many deep sea rescues and operations at peril to himself, and was permanently, physically affected by these sacrifices. While on duty in the South Pacific, dad met an enchanting young woman in Brisbane, Australia, Margaret Petersen, who became his bride of 63 years until he passed.
Rex and Margaret started a family, their first born being a daughter, Carole, and later their son, Roy. They lived in several locations in the United States and Japan as Rex furthered his career in the Navy Seabees. He retired after 22 years in the Navy in 1961.
His second career was with the State of Oregon as a safety inspector, and later with Columbia County as a bridge builder.
Rex and Margaret moved to Deer Island in 1969 and later to Warren where they were active in the community, and were faithful members of Grace Baptist Church. Four years ago, they settled into an active seniors community in Milwaukie, Oregon, where they attended First Baptist Church.
Dad is survived by his wife Margaret, his daughter Carole Lane and her husband Dale of Oregon City, Son Roy Hovey of St. Helens, and two grandsons, Bob and Cooper Lane.
There are many loving cousins, neices, nephews, and friends who also cherish his memory.
The family thanks the wonderful staff at the VA Hospital for caring and attending to dad in his final days. Thanks Ron and Thanks Danielle-you are great nurses.
Rex, you will be lovingly remembered.
Funeral Service: Tuesday, April 17, 2007 at 10:00 AM at First Baptist Church 6125 Cardwell Rd. Gladstone, OR.
Private family committal service & interment: Willamette National Cemetery-Portland, Oregon.
Columbia Funeral Home-Directors
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