David John Ovard, 69, died Jan. 4, 2008, at St. Luke's Hospital in Boise after a short illness. He was born May 1, 1938, at his grandmother's home in Jerome. His parents, Del (Shorty) and Madge Ovard and family moved from Jerome in the late 1940s to the Wood River Valley to farm and work in the mines.
Dave attended schools in Hailey and graduated from Bellevue High School in 1957. He took great pleasure telling his children that he graduated in the top ten of his class. Only years later they learned that there were only nine in the class. Dave had worked in the mines during summer vacation with his Dad and brother in Nevada. He also worked for Sun Valley Co., as did most of the youth in the valley at that time. He worked construction for what is now the Washington Group as a diamond driller. He was employed by the Forest Service and was never afraid to try something new and different.
In 1961, he went to work for Lawrence Heagle at Sawtooth Motors. He started in the lube room and went on to be a top mechanic and then to sales. In the 1970s, he had Dave's Conoco on Main Street, where PI Pizza was, and served as president of the Hailey Chamber of Commerce. When the lease couldn't be renewed, he went to work selling cars for Jack Basolo at Sawtooth Auto Sales. On Jan. 1, 1990, he started his own business--Mr. Fix It. It was the perfect job for him. He could do just about everything that people needed done. He loved helping people and found every day a new and different challenge.
He married the love of his life, Sandy Bridges on Aug. 7, 1961 in Elko, Nev. They made their home in Hailey for the next 46-plus years. For years you would always see them holding hands and that was true to the very end. They had three children, Michele, David Jr. and Angela. He loved to spend time with his family and friends. His children can share many memories of weekends exploring the surrounding mountains and river in his jeep, Bessy Lou. He enjoyed going to rendezvous to black-powder shoot.
Surviving family members include his wife, Sandy; children Michele (Bernie) Johnson, David (Amy) Ovard and Angela (David) Larit; grandchildren Alex (Chante') Dunn, Madison Ovard, Crystal Ovard and Sam Johnson; and one great-grandson Wyatt Dunn; sister Gail (Rick) Davis and her children, Scott, Jay and Andrea; and nephews Greg (Stacy) Bridges, Patrick (Susan) Bridges and Sarah Bridges Huessen and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents and older brother, Delbert.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 12, at St. Charles Catholic Church in Hailey with a prayer vigil Friday, Jan. 11, at 7:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to The Hunger Coalition, Box 1576, Hailey, ID 83333 and the Croy Canyon Ranch Foundation c/o Blaine Manor, Box 927, Hailey, ID 83333.
Arrangements are under the care of Wood River Chapel (www.woodriverchapel.com) of Hailey, Idaho.
