Obituary: William L. Stover

Bill started school at Lassen View Elementary in Los Molinos in the upper Sacramento valley. He excelled at band, track and basketball at Anderson High School, graduating in 1965. Now, 57 years later, his hurdle record still stands. He began coursework at Shasta College before joining the Air Force in 1966; returning in 1970, he completed an Associate’s degree. He followed his firefighter brother, Allen, to Sacramento State College for a Bachelor’s degree in natural resources. He served as a student guidance counselor and worked seasonally for the National Park Service before gaining an appointment with the Forest Service.

He retired after a 35-year career with the Forest Service, split between recreation and fish biology. In his youth Bill kept campgrounds in good order for the Umpqua and Deschutes National Forests. He also volunteered as a ski patrolman at Crater Lake National Park. Bill conducted extensive fish surveys along the John Day River then initiated restoration projects for the Malheur National Forest. Next Bill began post-fire renewal projects on the Bitterroot National Forest, before coming to the Fremont National Forest in Lakeview.

At Jerry’s restaurant, Bill’s counselling office for the next two decades, was full of fish tales, down to the elusive sculpin that hides in streambank sedges — it is the indicator of excellent water and habitat health. Bill also told the tales of excursions in Europe while he was stationed in England as an Air Force medic. For example, he visited the Spanish island of Mallorca. And on the airbase, he was a nursemaid to hundreds of airmen's babies. Later there was a road-trip around New Zealand in a converted Volkswagen van. But mostly, he expressed the fun of visiting with campers in the Cascades and was ready to extend a pleasant “Hello” to travelers along highway 395.

Bill is preceded in death by: his parents.

He is survived by: his brother, Alan Marion; and his sister and brother-in-law, Marilyn and Jess Underwood.

A private family service and interment will take place in Redding, Calif. at a later date.

Memorial contributions can be made in Bill’s memory to the Fremont Highlanders Ski Club, PO Box 1204, Lakeview, OR 97630, or to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Desert Rose Funeral Chapel is overseeing the arrangements. Condenses may be expressed, or the guest book signed online at www.desertrosefuneralchapel.com.