John Robert Nowers

John Nowers

Richfield, Utah

John Robert "Bob" Nowers, 85, passed away May 22, 2014 at his home in Richfield. He was born April 7, 1929 in Beaver to Seldon and Delia Staley Nowers. He married Laura Leavitt, February 26, 1953 in Tucson, Arizona. The marriage was solemnized in the Manti Temple on June 25, 1957.

Bob grew up in Beaver where he enjoyed hunting and fishing. As a teenager, Bob excelled in athletics, particularly football and track and field. He was an accomplished pole-vaulter and attended BYU and then the BAC (now SUU) on athletic scholarships.

Bob enlisted in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict, serving four years as a hydraulic specialist.

One of Bob’s greatest passions in life was working. He had a specific interest in owning and operating service stations and made a career out of it for more than six decades. Nowers’ Chevron, a full-service station, has been a fixture on Richfield’s main street since 1962. He worked in many different locations early in life, including: Bryce Canyon, St. George, Tucson, Ely, Delta and Las Vegas, finally settling in Richfield. It was while he was in St. George he met Laura, his wife of 61 years.

While in Richfield, Bob raised his seven children, pumped millions of gallons of gas and changed countless tires. He found great pleasure working in the community and particularly in the friendships he made over the years.

In his time away from work, Bob enjoyed fishing, gardening, riding his bike and eating dinner at Hoover’s. He enjoyed weekend and evening drives around the valley. Although there was substantial competition, he was widely acknowledged to be the slowest driver in Sevier County.

Bob will be greatly missed by his family and friends!

He is survived by his wife, Laura of Richfield; children: John Jr. (Debbie) Nowers, Richfield; Marilyn (J. D.) Porter, Holladay; Jennifer (John) Hicks, Central Valley; Daniel (Angela) Nowers, Richfield; Aimee (Paul) Ellis, Kaysville; Kenneth (Julie) Nowers, Fruit Heights; daughter-in-law, Lisa Nowers-Carroll, Draper; 21 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren with three more on the way; siblings: Eleene Osborne, Helen (Carlyle) Rollins, Peggy (Paul) Mecham.

Preceded in death by his parents; son, Mark Andrew Nowers; siblings: Gerald (Jackie) Nowers, Kerhleal (Bonnie) Nowers, Margaret (Abe) Boyle; brother-in-law, Bruce Osborne.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, May 27, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. in the Richfield 11 ^th Ward Chapel, 400 West, 1000 South. Friends may call Monday 6-8 at the Magleby Mortuary and Tuesday at the ward chapel from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in the Richfield City Cemetery with military rites by the V.F. W. Sevier Post #5050. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti. Online guestbook at www.maglebymortuary.com