Obituary of Robert Ashley Bovee Jr.
It is with deep sadness that we share the news of Bob Bovée Jr.'s recent passing after a year-long battle with cancer.
He was born in Jacksonville, Florida in 1944 to Margaret F O’Hara, (South Colton, NY) and Robert A. Bovée, (Adams NY), who was temporarily stationed in the USN. Following the end of the war, the Bovee’s moved to Syracuse NY, where Bob graduated from North Syracuse High School in 1962. He was a solid student, and well known for his all-star baseball skills, smooth skiing on icy hills and artistic charcoal sketches.
Bob married Janice Bowers (Poughkeepsie NY) in 1966 and earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Maryland in 1967, the same year their daughter Jocelyn was born. Working for Marine Midland Bank, in Poughkeepsie, he began a career in banking that would span nearly 50 years.
Before long, his dream to live out west took hold and the family moved to Cheyanne, Wyoming where he worked for the Cheyanne Bank. Six years later he moved to Jackson, working for Jackson State Bank. He married Margaret Smith in 1986 in Jackson. After a brief stint In Tehachapi working for the Sierra National Bank, he returned to banking working for Jackson State Bank until it was sold to Wells Fargo in 2006. He then went to work for First Interstate Bank. Bob continued in a consulting role working remotely from Harrison Idaho, for The Bank of Jackson Hole, until 2021.
Bob loved the outdoors, livestock, fly fishing, golfing, and skiing in the Rocky’s. He took special pride in building his homes, barns, sheds, coops, fences and caring for his livestock. He enjoyed learning how to operate equipment, honed a variety of construction skills, and tied his own flies. Most of all he loved and lived a simple life doing the things he wanted to do, like teaching his daughter how to ski. He was respectful, fulfilled his commitments, appreciated sincerity in others and did his best to be a good neighbor wherever he lived or worked.
He is survived by his daughter Jocelyn Eyl (Clark) Parker, CO; grandchildren Colby and Kaylee, his brother David (Pat), nephews Kyle, David, their families in Jacksonville, Fl and his devoted wife and best friend for 41 years, Margaret.
Funeral services are being arranged by Hodge Funeral Home in St Maries, ID. Rosary will be recited on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 6:00 PM at St. Joseph Mission in St. Maries, ID. Requiem Mass will be on Thursday March 6, 2025 at 10:00 am at St. Joseph Mission. Burial services will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in St. Maries, ID.
