Born on April 10, 1934, Bert George (Gray) Loper died on December 4, 2015 in the Boise Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Boise, ID. Bert was raised in Washington by his mother, Ann Hosko and his uncles and grandparents after the death of his father Edward Gray until his mother remarried Albert Loper. As a high school student, Bert loved orchestra and learned to play the cello and enjoyed boxing and recreational flying as an amateur pilot.
During his service in the 6th Army at the Presidio in San Francisco and the Desert Rock atomic testing site in Nevada, Bert received commendations for his good behavior and expert marksmanship on the Pistol Team and carbine. He married Marcella Ann Clark who passed away in 2009 after 50 years together. Though their family was a long time coming, they greatly enjoyed their nieces and nephews in Montana. Bert and Marcella were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1962 and chose to raise their two daughters in the Church.
After 10 years maintaining accounting computers at Boeing, Bert began an 18 year career at Burlington Northern’s Interlay roundhouse. He apprenticed as a pipefitter which led to his own plumbing company that he operated for over thirty years specializing in difficult remodeling projects. He trained many others in plumbing including one of his nephews and grandsons.
Bert volunteered his skills as a plumber to serve dialysis patients, the Ensign Ranch Church Camp in Cle Elum, Washington, and the LDS Church cannery in Boise, Idaho. He was active in the community through the Optimists and was a Past Master Mason of the Blue Lodge Masons Richmond Highlands Lodge #248.
Bert was passed away due to complications of colon cancer and is survived by his daughters Carol Ann Moxley and Sharon Loper, his grandsons Victor Bert Moxley, Jared Moxley, and Grant Moxley, and his granddaughter Naomi Thompson as well as his brother John Loper, sister Sue Ann Loper, and many nieces and nephews.
We will remember you and all your support to start Housing with Moxy, Papa Bert.
