Harry Louis Reeves

Harry Louis Reeves, 81, of Salmon, Idaho passed away peacefully, in his home surrounded by his loved ones in the early hours of March 22, 2024.
Harry was born on September 19, 1942 in Peoria, Illinois to Margaret Amanda Porter and Harry Clifford Reeves. Harry was their second child, he joined his sister Nancy Jane, and later Daniel Lee was born.
During his early years he loved to explore the hollers near his home, fish the mighty Mississippi River, and hunt mushrooms with his mom. He did not especially enjoy school and would often speak of daydreaming most of the day to be in the outdoors. Nevertheless, he managed to make it all twelve years and graduated from Timber Township High School. Shortly after graduating he joined the United States Army and was stationed in Fort Riley, Kansas. He was sent to Berlin, Germany during the Cold War where he transported supplies and troops in the area.
After leaving the army he made his way to Washington State with his buddy, Bill Jennings. This is where he met the love of his life, Patricia Nan Hanks. In June of 1965 they pledged their love to each other, during a beautiful garden-wedding ceremony, in Lynwood, Washington at Patricia's grandparent's home. Just over a year after their marriage they welcomed their first born daughter, Rebecca (Becky) Lynn; three years later Tammie Lee arrived to complete the Reeves family.
The love of the outdoors drew him to the forest where he became a high-lead timber logger. Harry spent several years logging in Washington State. That is where he met Thane Aldous of Salmon, Idaho. Thane told him about the logging in Idaho and invited him to check it out. The area was beautiful and there was plenty of logging opportunities. He and Patricia decided to make the move to Salmon in 1970. The logging industry was hopping and he took his first job with George Biggs, and then made the move to work for Bill Kelly Logging where he stayed until 1985.
Harry, Patricia, and their daughter Tammie moved from Salmon to Las Vegas, Nevada. In Vegas they purchased a home and he worked for Prima Golf Company, shipping golf clubs. He remained there for about five years and then decided to move back to Washington State to be closer to family members.
There both he and Pat worked at ATCON Laundry Company. Harry was a coin collector, traveling a very large distance and having a variety of experiences. He worked there until his retirement. During this time Ruth Hank's, his mother-in-law, moved in with he and Patricia. They purchased a house in Port Angeles, WA where they could overlook the Straights of Juan De Fuca. Harry enjoyed watching and listening to the ships roll in to port. He loved being the tour guide of the area to his family who came for a visit. He remained there until 2007.
In 2007 the opportunity to move back to Salmon, ID presented itself. They decided to take it and made the trek back "home". Although he had left Salmon years before, he always felt as if he was home when he visited. His daughter Rebecca and her family had remained in Salmon. Moving home allowed him to reconnect with his grandchildren, Bill and Nick, as well as daughter Rebecca and son-in-law Bart. As the years went on he was blessed with three great grandchildren, Emmett, Ridge, and James. He was always up to babysitting and spending time with the kids. He loved cheering all his grandchildren on during sporting events. Retirement was great for him.
Harry was a very active man. He worked hard and played harder. In his early years he enjoyed motocross and trails racing, he was one of the first to help establish the motocross race track in Salmon. He assisted those who did the chariot races where the airport is currently located. He loved spending time in the outdoors. In the spring he enjoyed steelhead fishing with the boys, getting the yard, flower beds, and garden cleaned up ready for planting. During the summer months you would find him busy working in his vegetable garden, roaming the mountains searching for morel mushrooms and huckleberries, kneeling over a stream gold panning or drowning a worm. Camping with his family was a favorite pastime, sitting around a campfire, telling his life stories, roasting marshmallows, watching the grandkids/ great grandkids dig in the dirt and explore the world around them, it was his happy place. In the fall you would find him cutting, splitting, and stacking firewood preparing for the long winter days. During the winter he would stoke the fire, visit with family, play video and board games, and plan for planting his garden in the spring.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Patricia Nan Reeves, his children Tammie Isackson, Rebecca (Bart) Stephanishen, sister Nancy Rudd, brother Daniel (Susan) Reeves, grandchildren William (Chelsea) Stephanishen, Nicholas Stephanishen, Courtney (Haylie) Murray, Bryar Clementson, and great-grandchildren, Emmett, Ridge, and James Stephanishen, and several nieces and nephews. He said the only medicine he needed was his family and friends love, he had plenty of that.
He is preceded in death by his mother Margaret Amanda Elliot, father Harry Clifford Reeves, and both maternal and paternal grandparents.
Cremation took place by Jones and Casey Funeral Home. There will be a Celebration of Life, tentatively set for September 21, 2024.