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Obituary for Arthur E. "Smoky" Stover
Arthur E. "Smoky" Stover Aug. 3, 1929 - May 31, 2010 Arthur E. Stover passed away at his home in Gold Beach on Monday, May 31, 2010. He was 80. Arthur, better known as "Smoky" to his friends and family, was born August 3, 1929 in Brooklyn, NY to Herbert and Elsie Gatji Stover. He grew up and attended school there, earning a bachelor's in forestry from Syracuse University. He was later drafted into the US Army and served two years. Following an honorable discharge in 1952, Smoky returned to the US and began what would be a 30+ year career with US Forest Service. One of his early posts was in Washington state where, in 1957, he met Barbara Bodenberg. The two fell in love and married August 22, 1958 in Seattle. They lived in North Bend, Skycomish and Randall, WA before moving to Gold Beach in 1968. After having knee replacements, Smoky finished his career with Forest Service as an engineer, retiring in 1985. He was very active in the Gold Beach community including involvement with the Boy Scouts, teaching hunter's safety, had a fishing guide service and was a volunteer ambulance driver. He loved anything outdoors including hunting, fishing, hiking, skiing, sailing, rock climbing and even golfing. Smoky also was handy with a rope; there weren't too many knots that he couldn't tie. He will be remembered by his family as a strong and gentle man and will be missed deeply. Lovingly missed by his wife of 51 years, Barbara (and those darn cats) of Gold Beach, daughter and son-in-law, Kati and Pat Wyatt of North Bend, OR, granddaughter, Randi Wyatt and her companion, Brad Huntley of Coos Bay, OR, brother and sister-in-law, Herb and Joni Stover of Ft. Myers, FL, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, David and Marianne Bodenberg of Victoria, BC, Canada, and numerous extended family and friends. Smoky was preceded in death by his father Herbert, mother Elsie, his son Chris and nephew Scott. Memorial contributions may be made to a local charity of the donor's choice. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, June 13, 2010 at 1:00pm at Bethany Lutheran Church in Gold Beach. Cremation was held at Redwood Memorial Crematory.
