Independent Enterprise
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Owen Ray Crosby, 70, of Garden Valley, passed away peacefully at his home, Saturday, November 3, 2007 with his family at his side, after a courageous battle with cancer. Services will be at 2 p.m., Friday, November 9, 2007 at Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, Payette.
Inurnment will follow with military honors at Riverside Cemetery, Payette with a gathering to follow at TIPS restaurant in Payette. Services and cremation are under the direction of Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, Payette.
Condolences may be made to Owen’s family at www.shaffer-jensenchapel.com.
Owen was born January 26, 1937 near Jackson Hole, Wyo., where he spent his early years as family worked in forestry, ranching and other pursuits. They moved to Payette County in 1948, and then built a home near Payette in 1951. He attended Payette schools, and went on to letter in varsity basketball, as well as playing other sports, before graduating from Payette High School in 1955.
Searching for adventure, he joined the U.S. Army soon after school. That started a 40-year career of dedicated service to his country and local governments. He spent three years in the army in four different divisions, including airborne, combat and infantry, mostly in Alaska. He then went to work for the U.S. Post Office (1959-78), while also fulfilling his military obligations with the National Guard in the early 1960s.
Opting for a change to the private sector, he started Crosby Shoe Repair in 1978 in Payette, learning the industry from longtime friend Dennis Rose.
Re-entering public service in the early 1980s, he began a 16-year career in law enforcement. He worked for Payette County Sheriff’s Department from 1982 to 1986; Payette Police Department from 1986 to 1992; and Canyon County Juvenile Detention Center from 1992 to 1998, from which he retired.
He found great career fulfillment in offering mentorship to troubled youth and helping them work toward a better life.
In his retirement years, he offered his experience as a licensed water plant operator in Garden Valley from 2002 until just shortly before his passing.
Over the years, he also worked part and full-time in construction framing carpentry, roofing and more. He was always happy to lend people a helping hand and it didn’t always matter that pay wasn’t involved feeling that a friend in need was a friend indeed.
He also felt the need to visit widows of his older friends who had passed, knowing he may be able to ease their loneliness and provide them some assistance.
Owen married Anne M. Henningsen in 1960, adopting a son before that union produced two sons and a daughter. They divorced in 1973.
He later married Maryanne Monteer Sallee in 1975, adding two stepchildren to his family. The divorced in 1995.
Owen greatly enjoyed his later years with companion and partner Carol Smith in Boise, before the couple moved to Garden Valley, in 1999 upon her retirement from US Bank.
They spent many seasons together with spectacular views of the picturesque Scott Mountain and the Middle Fork of the Payette River, while renovating their cabin and entertaining their families who have all enjoyed the upper country visits.
Known by many nicknames among friends and family, "O.C." was a lifelong outdoor sports enthusiast. He was an avid fisherman, hunter and skier, as well as an all around athlete.
He particularly loved fishing trips to Campbell River, B.C., Canada with his oldest brother Glen. He fulfilled a lifelong dream of owning a cabin in Fishermen’s Cove at Owyhee Reservoir, but also explored many other angling locations throughout the west.
Hunting with his father, brothers, other family, and friends over the years was also among his most favorite times. Boating was his most intense recreational pastime, as he loved everything from detailing watercrafts to feeling the wind in his hair at full throttle on a river or lake. He also loved water skiing.
When he wasn’t goggled and plowing pristine powder on a winter slope, he was watching out for others. He served for many years in the 1960s and ‘70s on the ski patrol at Hitt Mountain Resort near Cambridge.
Black Lake, near Council, was his favorite camping spot, where he liked to fish and hike. He recorded many hours of all these activities on Super 8mm film to share. Golfing, riding ATVs, horses and many other sports were also in his repertoire.
He had an intense fascination reading about World Wars I and II, and other conflicts. He always expressed patriotism and loyalty to his country, and the deepest appreciation to all who served our nation during wartime especially those who made supreme sacrifices.
Other historical readings would also pique his interests and, of course, he was never without fishing and boating magazines.
Other activities he enjoyed with family and friends included watching movies, particularly westerns; listening to various country music and other artists; playing cribbage; handcrafting wood and other projects; patrolling the premises for fix-up projects big and small; going to Boise State football games; traveling with Carol around Idaho; visiting his family in Corvallis, where he especially loved daughter Mary’s baking him chocolate cakes, pies and brownies; and simply sitting down for a beer and a few laughs with anyone who had a few minutes to spare.
His daughter Mary Kathryn, sons Scott and Tyler and long-time family friend Chad Boren gathered with him on a recent sunny day for a picnic outing and a casual celebration of life, hosted by Carol at their cabin.
A prankster at heart, he loved jokes and possessed a great sense of humor, which he maintained until the very end.
He spoke of all family and friends with the highest regard, admiration, and love. He placed a very high value on true friendship, and made new buddies wherever he went. He will be greatly missed and long remembered.
Owen is survived by Carol Smith, Garden Valley; brother and sister-in-law Glen and Glorian Crosby, Ontario; sisters and brothers-in-law Shirley and Josef Munch, Boise and Joyce and Mike Green Burns, Ore.; former wives Anne Crosby and Maryanne Wykoff; his children, daughter Mary Kathryn Crosby, Payette, adopted son Keith Crosby, Payette, sons and daughters-in-law Tyler and Ranelle Crosby, Corvallis, Ore., and Scott and Heather Crosby, Boise; Carol’s children, son and daughter-in-law Evan and Lisa Smith; son Kyle Smith, and daughter Shannon Smith all of Boise; former stepchildren, son and daughter-in-law Troy and Toni Sallee and daughter and son-in-law Traci and Matt Galemore; six nieces and three nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Glen J. and Davida Crosby, brother David "Holly" Crosby; nephew Eric Munch; and great niece Nikki Malay.
The family would like to thank all his caregivers, Dr. Lisa Law; St. Luke’s Medical Oncology Unit; Mountain States Tumor Institute; Life’s Doors Hospice and special thanks to David and Janet Wilson for always "being there".
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Special Olympics, Multiple Sclerosis Society or your favorite charity, c/o Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, P.O. Box 730, Payette, Idaho 83661.