Roy Dower

Roy Eynon Dower passed away Thursday, February 4, 2016 in Great Falls, MT. We have lost an exceptional Father and a stellar human being. Roy was born on April 1, 1932 to Charles and Beatrice Dower in Butte, Montana. He was raised in Butte and attended Emerson, Greeley and Butte High Schools. Roy was mechanically inclined from a very young age and spent his early years building motor scooters with his brother Doug and fixing up anything with an engine. He purchased his first car, 1932 Auburn, for fifty dollars and often said this was the one car he wished he had kept. He was active in auto mechanics shop class in high school and spent his teen years working on his various cars and motorcycles. Roy spent the summers of his youth in the Bitterroot Valley (Darby, MT.), helping on the family farm, camping and hunting. Roy graduated from Butte High School in 1951 and immediately joined the Army to serve during the Korean War. He was a tank mechanic and served in Japan during the reconstruction after World War II. While in Japan, he used his mechanic skills and built a ski lift for the locals in Okido, Japan. Upon his discharge from the Army, Roy returned to Butte and began his lifelong love affair with aviation. He used his G.I. bill to earn his pilot license. He spent the majority of his free time at the airport, flying whenever he could. Roy flew airplanes, gliders, and was a parachutist. Roy and his best friend from childhood, Jack Dahlman, together built an experimental aircraft, a Whitman Tailwind. He was very proud of this accomplishment and the aircraft that they built flew for over 50 years. Roy loved redheads. So much so, that he married two of them. His first wife, Patricia, was a fellow aviator. Roy and Patricia flew together out of the Butte airport for many years. They started the Marathon Aviation Club and held ground school in their kitchen. Ground School consisted of flight planning, scotch and water, and many laughs. Together they raised their three daughters, Lisa, Laurie and Jenny in Butte. Roy often brought all his daughters to the airport with him, and took them on numerous flights in his homebuilt airplane. Roy worked for his family business, The Bradford Cleaners on Harrison Ave., for many years before venturing out on his own as a machinist and welder for Western Iron Works, The Berkeley Pit, and NCAT, in Butte. In 1982 Roy moved to Great Falls, MT. and began a career as a machinist for Malmstrom Air Force Base. He was a master of his trade and earned special recognition from the military for developing cost saving techniques for the nuclear mission, which saved the military hundreds of thousands of dollars. It was in Great Falls where Roy met Barbara, his second wife and love of his life. Roy and Barbara were married in 1984 and Barbaras three sons, Mark, Brett and Richard, joined the family. Roy and Barbara built their dream home together outside of Great Falls. Upon his retirement from Civil Service, Roy and Barbara enjoyed RVing and spending their winters in the Southwest. They also visited England, Barbaras home country, numerous times. During their travels they visited their children and grandchildren in places like Alaska, Washington, Nevada and Missouri. Roy loved his adventures with Barbara immensely. During Roys lifetime he built two homes in Great Falls, and together with his brother built a cabin in the Wise River area, which has been enjoyed for over sixty years. The final years of Roys life he enjoyed being with his children and grandchildren, watching westerns (especially Gunsmoke and The Virginian), going on dinner dates with his friends, anything aviation, and debating over any topic. Anyone who knew Roy knew his word was his bond. His character and integrity set him apart from most men. He instilled these values in his children and grandchildren. Roy was loved by all who knew him and will be missed by all. Roy is survived by his children, Laurie (Terry) Woodard of Great Falls, MT., Jenny Hahn of Henderson, NV., Richard (Vicki) Turnbull of Great Falls, MT., and Brett Goudie of Olympia, WA; brother Douglas (Linda) Dower of Great Falls, MT.; grandchildren, Charlie-Anne, Chasity, Aften, Austin, Hayley, Erinn, James, and Anna; great-grandson Rylan; cousin Bruce (Cathy) Wright; nieces and nephews Dan, David, Jayne and Nellie, and many dear friends. He is preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Dower, son Mark Goudie and daughter Lisa Dower. A celebration of life for Roy will be held Monday, February 8, 2016 at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel at 2:30 p.m. Schnider Funeral Home of Great Falls, Montana is handling arrangements.