Obituary of William Robert Shore

William Robert Shore

August 2, 1941 - January 12, 2021

 

From the big city streets to the remote mountaintops, Bill was always in his element. He made himself at home wherever he went. He recalled working on Wall Street on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, back in “the good old days” when, unimaginably, paper was used for all transactions. He enjoyed the last chapter of his life in Council, ID, population 747, where he chuckled about towing countless friends, strangers and occasionally himself out of snow banks on the high mountain roads.  

 

Bill grew up in Salt Lake City, UT skiing, winning ice hockey games and trophies, riding horses and fixing up antique cars.  He helped his parents, Ines & James, and teased his siblings, Merle, Chris, Andrea, and Dean. His family worked hard together but also knew how to enjoy themselves, hosting parties for the community and creating an infectious neighborly atmosphere during a time when the world was recovering from wars and poverty.

 

Bill carried within him a deep reverence for his heritage. He had an amazing ability to recall and retell family history details. He loved and collected all things antique and would share the underlying stories of these artifacts with anyone who was inclined to listen. 

 

Bill earned his Masters Degree in Accounting and Economics from the University of Utah. He taught Economics and English in Tokyo while serving our country in the Armed Forces during the Korean War.  

 

He loved his country and believed that progress was born from a strong local community. Bill was a political voice, served on his city council, on multiple school boards, and on multiple missions for the LDS church, but he really shined as a friend and neighbor and was not above purchasing a piece of farming equipment just because he knew someone who needed to borrow it. 

 

Known for his quick, dry wit and entertaining stories, Bill was gracious and sociable. He was known as the unofficial neighborhood party planner, and EVERYONE in town was invited. He took time to look people in the eye, engage in sincere conversation and broaden his circle of friends. He loved connecting with people over his wide-ranging hobbies and interests.  His antique cars were a fixture in local parades. He loved attending auctions with friends in search of anything rare and one of a kind—from antique firearms to spurs and saddles.   

 

No friend of Bill’s was merely an acquaintance. He notoriously always had a “we” plan and would rope you in on a venture before you could think to refuse.  One friend recalls him announcing, “we need a bulldozer.” The friend replied with a chuckle, “I didn’t know WE needed a bulldozer…” but before long, they acquired a bulldozer. Bill had a way of persuading others to engage in his cause, whatever it was.

 

He was also quick to step in and lighten the load for others. Neighbors talk fondly of how Bill was ready in an instant to lift, haul, and fix anything that was needed. He was also known to have every tool imaginable and all were available to be borrowed. Even more coveted, Bill would freely distribute the produce from his prized garden. He shared anything he had, from talents to trucks to turnips.

 

He played the piano extraordinarily well, and was often enlisted to play at parties and events. For more than two decades, he played the organ and piano weekly for his own congregation and at the community church.

 

A fine craftsman, Bill created beautiful wooden pieces and finishes for his homes and properties and for the people he loved.  In particular, he was fond of building clocks, carving bowls, and inlaying designs in extravagant wooden floors. He was often seen working with his hands, beautifying his surroundings and helping others with theirs.  

 

Bill was a cowboy at heart and loved spending time outdoors taming mother nature. In spite of his love of “shiny paint,” (especially on antique cars, farm equipment, and trucks) he was never afraid of getting dirty or welcoming the “Idaho pinstriping” that the backcountry terrain could bring to his vehicles and gear.

 

He believed in hard work and said it is the secret to staying young. He was an early riser throughout his life, waking ready to pour himself into whatever task stood before him from meeting with clients to cutting hay, managing businesses, or helping a friend. He left his stamp of excellence on every venture he touched.

 

Bill exuded happiness and contentment, likely because he worked hard for and surrounded himself with the things that made him happy. He unlocked the secret of loving what he did every single day, and that manifested as a twinkle in his eye and peace in his persona.

 

Being in strong health, William Robert Shore passed unexpectedly into a new realm of adventures on January 12, 2021. Bill will be greatly missed, and continues on in our hearts.

 

Survived by his three children, Heather, Elizabeth, and Derrick, and 8 grandchildren, who will miss the twinkle in his eye, his contagious laugh, and the untold stories of their clever grandpa.

 

In Lieu of flowers or donations, please consider honoring Bill’s memory by mending a lost friendship or lifting a lonely soul. We are all stronger together. 

 

Everybody has a Bill story, and we’d love to hear them all. To share a memory of Bill or send a condolence to his family please visit: Obituary of William Robert Shore | Funeral Homes & Cremation Servic... (lienkaemper-thomason.com) Arrangements by the Thomason Funeral home.

 

To make a donation in honor of Bill Shore, please visit: https://idahofoodbank.org/donate/

 

Graveside services with military honors will be held Friday, February 5, 2021 @ 2pm MST at the Hornet Creek Cemetery, Idaho. 

 

A virtual Memorial Service will be held Friday, February 12 at 6pm, MST. Details to follow.

 

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