Robert Lee Hembree

Robert L. Hembree, 86, passed away peacefully on April 5, 2018, at Valley View Nursing and Rehab in Boise, ID.  Robert was born on November 05, 1931, in Chiloquin, Oregon to Roy and Anna Hembree.  Robert graduated from Emmett high school an enlisted in the U.S. Navy in February 1951.  He served his Country aboard the USS Billy Mitchell during the Korean conflict.  He was very proud of his military service and that service took him all around the World, which gave him many stories that were fascinating to family and friends.  One story is that he never learned to swim, fortunately, he never fell off the ship! A prized possession of his was a DVD collage of all of his military pictures set to music arranged by his daughter, Terri.  After leaving the Navy in February 1955 he came home and married Doris Evans on May 22, 1955, a marriage that lasted one month shy of 63 years.  Robert and Doris began their married life in Spokane, WA where he attended college and daughter, Terri, was born in December 1956.  After a year of college they would return to the family homestead in Emmett, ID, in the spring of 1958, just a few months before daughter, Karen was born.  In Emmett, Robert joined the U.S. Postal Service as a mail carrier, a career he would enjoy for 30 years.  Friendly, kind and caring, Robert was beloved by the Emmett Citizens, and most of the dogs, along his mail route.  But, his life’s passion was farming, peaches in particular, a tireless worker “Bob” would work his postal route during the day and come home to farm often into the wee hours.  In 1998, Robert retired from the Post Office and later that year they moved to Boise to be closer to family.  Robert enjoyed many hobbies such as reading, coin/stamp collecting, gardening, and trimming roses.  As a young man he enjoyed playing softball, fishing and hunting.  Later in life, he was dedicated to watching his grandson, Steve, compete in gymnastics and playing basketball.  Robert was an avid sports fan and never missed a BSU game and reluctantly, since Steve was at the Univ. of Oregon, he became a “Duck” fan but only if the game didn’t conflict with the Broncos schedule!  He could also be caught watching old “Westerns” on TV.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Leon.  He is survived by Doris, and daughters, Terri and Karen Hembree, of Boise, and grandson Steven Smith of Portland, OR. He is also survived by nieces and nephews on both sides of the family and sister-in-law, Stella Hembree.

Funeral services will be held Friday, April 13th, at 2 P.M. at The Potter Funeral Chapel, 228 E. Main St., Emmett, ID.  Interment will follow at the Emmett Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the local VFW or the American Legion.

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