Darrell Franklin Boggess fell asleep in death on Sept. 30, 2017 at his home in Hermiston. His family was by his side after a brave and hard-fought battle with lung cancer. He is sleeping peacefully now, awaiting the Bible’s promise of the resurrection. Almighty God did some of his best work when he brought this gentle, dependable man into the world. Darrell loved life and lived it to the fullest.
He was born on July 24, 1938 in Colville, Wash. to Phyllis and George Boggess. He was raised on a farm in Colville, where he learned to care for a variety of farm animals, milk cows, cut firewood, bale hay and help harvest the different farm crops. He learned the value of hard work at a young age, but also how to have a good time. His unique sense of humor followed him throughout his life.
Darrell was born a gifted sportsman and loved the endless outdoors of the Pacific Northwest, hunting, fishing, motor bike riding, boating, swimming and playing baseball. He loved to drive his 1958 Chevrolet Impala back in the day. His passions included working in his garden/yard, where he did organic gardening. In his later years, he gave up hunting but had a passion for target practicing, and he was an avid reader, often reading four or more books simultaneously. Fall was his favorite time of the year, and he especially enjoyed traveling during September and October to enjoy the beauty of the wonderful northwest colors of the changing seasons.
Darrell married his high school sweetheart, Jonene Anne Fair, and they had two children: a daughter, Eileen Joi, and a son, Darrell Randall. He started his professional career as a surveyor for the U.S. Forest Service in Colville, Wash. in 1960. He transferred to the Bureau of Reclamation in 1961, moving the family to Spokane, Wash. when his little son was just four weeks old. He spent summers working per diem with the Bureau of Reclamation, surveying the Columbia Basin and Walla Walla, Wash. areas for upcoming irrigation installation. He attended Whitworth College during the school year as he pursued his engineering career. A promotion back to the U.S. Forest Service in 1966 brought the family to Libby, Mont., where he worked in construction building forest service roads and bridges in the Kootenai National Forest. He and Jonene built a lovely home on the banks of the Kootenai River in Libby, where they spent 16 years raising their family. He started an adult baseball league between the U.S. Forest Service and the Corps of Engineers in Libby; he also coached Little League. He loved Montana fishing and hunting and became a master fly fisherman while living on the Kootenai River in Montana.
Darrell transferred to the Corps of Engineers while in Libby and worked on Libby Dam, but when the project was finished, he accepted a contract specialist position in the Army Corps of Engineers’ regional office in Anchorage, Alaska on a seven-year contract. In 1988, he moved the family to Salt Lake City, Utah for yet another promotion and challenging job in contract specialist work. He especially enjoyed the beauty of Salt Lake City during the next 16 years, where he pursued his love of gardening with a showman-like yard/garden of wonderful fruit
trees, many beautiful flowers and shrubs, as well as a special raised bed rose garden with 12 to 15 lovely tea roses.
He retired from the federal government in 1993, whereby he and Jonene enjoyed several years of travelling. They visited national parks throughout the country and visited 48 states, Mexico and Canada; however, Maui was always their favorite vacation spot. They moved to Hermiston in 2002 to be closer to family and enjoy a warmer climate in their retirement.
Darrell is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Jonene Anne, Hermiston; daughter, Eileen Joi Eylar, Richland, Wash.; son, Darrell Randall (Heather) Boggess, Chula Vista, Calif.; grandchildren, Darci Lynn (Scott) Love, Bryon Eylar, Amy Eylar and Matthew Eylar, Richland, Wash., and Kyland Boggess, Chula Vista, Calif.; 12 great grandchildren; sister, Marge Druffel, Pullman, Wash.; sisters-in-law, Janice Morgan and Alice (Bob) Versteeg, Richland, Wash.; brother-in-law, Ken (Ann) Lee, Winston-Salem, N.C.; and many nieces and nephews. He loved them all and will be missed by all.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved grandparents, Alfred and Louise Droz; and brothers, Donald and Richard.
The family would like to thank Vange John Memorial Hospice for the loving care they gave Darrell during the last few days of his life.
It was his wish that there be no services. The family invites you to sign their online tribute wall at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
