Pop had many “a chat with St. Pete about when to come and get me,” letting “Pete” know he wasn’t quite ready yet. Shortly after a fall that fractured his hip and pelvis, he made his final request to be led home, and St. Pete complied. Harley Temple Fouts, Jr., 98, of Caldwell, passed through those pearly gates on May 18, 2018.
He was born August 19, 1919 in Wilcox Nebraska, the second of four children born to Harley Temple and Mary Elizabeth Fouts. He grew up on a hog farm in the middle of the dust bowl and learned how to work hard from a very young age. He lost his mother at age seven and cholera wiped out the hog farm several years later.
The stories and memories he shared of his childhood were all happy ones, although he was known to say “times were tough and the poor folk thought we were poor folk”. Harley attended a small prairie school through 8th grade and graduated from Wilcox High School in 1936. Harley left home in the fall of 1936 and hitchhiked to Wyoming to work on his uncle’s cattle ranch for a year, then on to Idaho for 3 more years of cattle and sheep ranching.
He was drafted into the army in early 1941 and deployed with the 113th Cavalry Recon as reinforcements at Normandy Beach. He fought through France, Belgium, Holland, and into Germany and was honorably discharged in November of 1945. Sgt.
Fouts was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Good Conduct Medal. After his discharge, Harley returned to Idaho to rekindle his earlier courtship with Mary Jane Frick. His persistence paid off and they were married June 19, 1946.
They lived in Holdrege Nebraska for three years where Harley worked for Palmer Bros. Monument Company. Their daughter, Katherine Marie, was born in Nebraska and only lived a few months.
They moved to Boise in 1949 where their two sons, Harley Steven “Steve” and Philip Wayne were born. Harley worked for Jellison Bros. Monument Company until fall of 1963 when he and Mary moved to Caldwell to start their own business.
Boise Valley Monument Company was Harley’s pride and joy and he worked tirelessly in the business until well into his 80’s. He was highly regarded in the industry and in the community as a man of great integrity and strong work ethic. Harley was a long time member of the Caldwell United Methodist Church, a 69 year member of the Boise Masonic Lodge, a proud Shriner, and a member of the Caldwell Elks Lodge.
Harley was preceded in death by his parents, brother Kenneth Fouts, two sisters, Elizabeth Fouts and Lois Benton, daughter Katherine, son Steve, and wife Mary. Survivors include his son Phil (Leona) Fouts; daughter-in-law Jewel Fouts; grandchildren Kari (Maya Wilde) Fouts, Kelley (Jeremy) Harding, Jacob (Kristi) Fouts and Joe (Corinth) Fouts; great grandchildren Kedrick, Gavin, Jace & Jovie Harding; Hazel & Eva Fouts; Maxwell Harley Fouts; Oliver Wilde; and many much loved nieces and nephews. Pop….
after such a long, faithful, healthy and well-lived life, we’re just sure St. Pete had “that nice cold beer waiting” for you, just as you hoped. The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the staff at Autumn Wind Assisted Living for six years of loving care, great food and especially for the extra outpouring of love and compassion during Harley’s last days; and to Heart & Home Hospice Care for their kindness and dedication to Harley’s comfort and dignity. You are all a blessing to our community.
A celebration of Harley’s life will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, June 2, 2018 at the United Methodist Church at 824 Logan St. in Caldwell. Interment will follow at Canyon Hill Cemetery, Caldwell. Condolences can be given at www.
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