Boby Dean Slinkard

Celebrating Life

Boby Dean Slinkard was born on October 4th, 1941, to Arna and Clinnie (Spain) Slinkard in Fossil Oregon. His parents lived in the sawmill town of Kinzua where Arna drove log truck. Kinzua was an extraordinary place in those days, and he had many of Arna’s siblings living there at the time as well including his uncle Don Slinkard, Aunt Lavina Connor and others. Boby grew up in Kinzua and went to school in Fossil. He graduated from Fossil High school in 1959. Boby was an exceptional athlete. He played basketball and baseball at the highest level, but it was baseball that was his passion as a young man. After Highschool he tried out for the Portland Bevers minor league baseball team and was accepted. However, in those days Baseball didn’t pay well so he declined the opportunity and worked at the Kinzua sawmill. This was one of his greatest regrets in later life.

The entire Slinkard family played country music, and they had a band that played in many local dances and other events. Boby played drums as well as the bass guitar while his Uncle Don was the lead singer. His father Arna played fiddle and guitar, and several other friends and relatives joined in as well. Boby enjoyed playing his bass guitar well into his later years.

Boby met the love of his life LaVonne Bleakman who lived on a ranch near Monument Oregon, and they were married on May 31st, 1963. Lavonne would be his constant companion for the rest of his life. They were married for 62 years and loved each other every one of those days. They had 2 children together. Michael Dean was born on July 1st, 1965, in Condon Oregon. At that time the couple had just moved into a small home that Boby’s parents had recently vacated in Kinzua Oregon. They later moved to Klamath Falls Oregon where Boby worked in the sawmill in Chiloquin loading lumber on box cars by hand. On May 30th, 1968, they had a daughter Melissa Kay. Boby Loved his children immensely and he and Lavonne included them in all their activities.

Aside from baseball Boby’s second passion was hunting and bowhunting specifically. Boby became a local hunting hero in 1964 when on Halloween night he shot a massive bull elk. In those days elk were still pretty rare in Eastern Oregon, and this was the biggest bull many in the area had ever seen. The bull was one of his most cherished possessions and he carried a photo of it in his wallet, and he enjoyed showing it off to anyone who wanted to see it. Boby was an excellent shot with both gun and bow and took many dozens of animals with both. In his later years he bow hunted almost exclusively and amassed an impressive collection of trophies with his bow. He also passed on this passion to both of his children. Mike followed in his father’s footsteps and maybe a little beyond in the bowhunting world, actually starting several hunting companies, but it was Boby’s influence guidance and advise that made that all possible.

Boby loved to hunt almost everything and traveled to many destinations in pursuit of game including Alaska, Canada, the Mid-West, Texas and even Africa. But it was always the elk that he held in the highest regard. Back in the 1970s Boby learned to call elk and even used homemade calls he fashioned himself to get the bulls into bow range. Elk hunting was his passion, and he included the entire family in his outings and some of his fondest memories were those spent in the elk woods. His hunting legacy will live on for generations due to his dedication to bowhunting and archery in general.

Boby and his family moved to John Day in 1972 where he drove log truck for Hudspeth then later Edward Hines lumber. During this time Boby also coached little league baseball which is still remembered fondly by many. In 1983 Boby was one of the first employees hired to build the Malheur Lumber company sawmill and he worked there running the log yard until 1998. Boby then bought his own log truck and hauled logs until his retirement. Boby had a unique knack for being able to run almost any heavy equipment of which he was pretty much self-taught.

Boby was also an active member of the Canyon Creek Bowhunters for many years. He was also an avid golfer well up into his later years. He loved his children, grandchildren and great grand children immensely and was an incredible positive influence on all who knew him.

Boby is survived by his wife LaVonne Slinkard of John Day, Son Mike Slinkard and his wife Sharrie of John Day Oregon , Daughter Melissa Crider and significant other Scott Micheal of John Day Oregon, Granddaughter Ashley Koekkoek ad husband Andrew of Coeur D’ Alene Idaho, Granddaughter Kaitlyn Swaggart and Husband Ty of Mt Vernon Oregon, Granddaughter Breann Crider and significant other Josh Jones of Redmond Oregon, as well as 3 Great Grandchildren and one more on the way. He is preceded in death by his parents Arna and Clinnie Slinkard, and his bother Jim Slinkard.

Graveside services will be held at Monument Cemetery, on Saturday May 23, 2026 from 11am-12pm.

I leu of flowers contributions can be made to Hunt of a lifetime foundation through Driskill memorial chapel

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