Robert Douglas Blakemore

Robert Douglas Blakemore was born on November 5, 1945 in Portland, Oregon to parents Walter and Maybelle Blakemore. He grew up in NE Portland and had fond memories of a close knit community where he was involved in the Boy Scouts, (eventually obtaining Eagle Scout status), swimming, baseball, and school sports. He attended Fernwood Grade School, like his mother, and then Grant High School in later years. His family was active in the St Michael's Episcopal church he where worshiped and served as an acolyte. A true patriot at heart, Bob volunteered to join the Army during the mid-60s and serve his country in Vietnam. During his first deployment in theater he earned a battlefield commission to 2nd Lt and was encouraged by a commander to go to West Point. He subsequently received a presidential appointment to attend the academy and began his studies there in 1965. Unfortunately, due to family issues, he was only able to complete 3 years at West Point and had to retire his commission prior to graduating. He then re-entered the Army and served a second tour in Vietnam with the 173rd Airborne Brigade. Bob left active duty service with an Honorable Discharge in May of 1971. After Vietnam, Bob attended college at Portland State University and worked for the US Forest Service surveying the Bull Run Watershed. From there he was mentored in drafting and engineering and completed his engineering degree at Walla Walla College. He met his wife Jan during those years and they married in 1975. They had many friends from those college years and the SDA church who gave so much to their lives. Bob's love of life gave him many passions from winter camping, teaching scouting, cross country skiing, boating, camping, hiking, and training and hunting bird dogs as well as cross country trips. As an engineer, Bob was involved in the building two hospitals, the cable bridge in Kennewick, the bureau of land management dam projects in Colorado and Oregon. He worked for private firms, municipalities, clean room designs for the computer world. At home he was involved in his professional organization ASCE and served as president and past president and received the Engineer award of the year in 2008. He eventually opened his own practice of JBAK engineering. Bob was widely known for his extensive knowledge of engineering, his willingness to share his knowledge and his ability to solve problems within both the engineering practice and his private life. There is already an empty space in many hearts as we miss him. A philanthropic person at heart, Bob gave to many charities including Wounded Warriors, Habitat for Humanity, political causes, and Pheasants are forever. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made in Bob's memory to the Wounded Warriors or Habitat for Humanity foundations. Bob passed on 6 November 2014 and is survived by his wife Jan, 3 children, Michael, Tamara, and Robert Blakemore and 2 grandchildren Lucy and Lauren.

Robert Douglas Blakemore

November 5, 1945 - November 6, 2014