John Richard Bixby

Richard was born on February 29, 1940 and had great fun quizzing people about how he could only have had a few birthdays while his white hair belied his many years. He grew up in the lakeside town of Chelan, Washington where Lake Chelan was both playground, classroom and the love of his life. His favorite hobby and passion was water skiing and he tried about every variation there was: surf board, single slalom ski, trick skis, shoe skis and a round board. He worked in his father’s grocery store where he even advertised ski lessons between customers.

Richard’s eye for detail and love of art first revealed itself in high school where he created beautiful elaborately colored maps which eventually led him into a career as a draftsman. He joined the Air Force and served as a draftsman at Edwards Air Force Base where rocket engines were tested. He moved on to work at various firms in the Seattle area including Boeing.

Richard married three times: Doris, Donna and Barbara. Although each of his beloved wives preceded him in death due to medical issues he approached life with optimism, humor, and kindness. During his second marriage, he and his wife quit their Seattle jobs to move into the family’s ancestral old log home in Chelan where they lovingly cared for his mother and uncle in their later years.

Following their passing he moved to Boulder, Colorado into his brother Ed’s duplex where he met Barbara, his next-door neighbor and soon the great companion of his later life. Their friendship began through shared rides to square dance lessons and before long their joyful personalities harmonized perfectly. In those early days, Richard famously placed a ladder over the fence dividing their yards so they could visit each other more easily – a practical and lighthearted gesture that captured his inventive spirt and the two became inseparable. They married and filled their years together with laughter, mountain adventures, and camping trips to Brainard Lake in their pickup camper.

Richard’s interests were wide and imaginative. A devoted Star Trek fan, he built and collected an impressive treasure – trove of memorabilia, including miniature starships suspended from his ceiling. He had an extensive Star Trek collection including every movie and episode of TV programs aired.

He also had a sharp sense of humor and loved to make others laugh. As his stepson Roger reflects: “I remember many evenings at Richard and Barbara’s home when dinner would turn into a comedy show. Richard collected T-shirts with witty sayings or elaborate animal designs, and when asked to show his “collection,” he would happily oblige -- turning the living room into a 30-minute fashion parade that left everyone laughing”. He was especially fond of eagles: one wall of his home was dedicated to this magnificent bird. He taught himself their piercing scree well enough that they would answer and circle to see who that was. He took genuine pleasure in feeding the neighborhood squirrels who came to visit his porch.

Richard will be remembered for his humor, generosity, curiosity, and kind heart — qualities that inspired everyone fortunate enough to know him. His was a life rich with adventure, laughter, and love, and he leaves behind cherished memories that will continue to bring smiles for years to come.

Richard is survived by his son Kyle and wife Tracy and their two daughters, brother Ed, stepson Rodger Cox, and several stepsons and daughters of his second wife.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.howemortuary.com for the Bixby family.