Rocky Alan Hobbs, 51, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, Aug. 25, 2008, at Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital.

A memorial service was held Thursday, Aug. 28, at the Hood River Church of the Nazarene, 22nd Street and Belmont Ave. Pastor Jim Beals and Pastor Stace Andrews officiated.

Rocky was born Aug. 15, 1957, at Greeley, Colo., to Arthur Jay and Violet (Cecil) Hobbs. He lived in Colorado for a short time and then moved west with his family in 1965. His father worked along the Columbia River on the dams.

They lived in Cascade Locks before settling in the Hood River Valley. Rocky attended Wy’east Middle School and Hood River Valley High School. He was very athletic in school and enjoyed basketball and baseball.

On Dec. 19, 1987, Rocky married Heather Enid Heft (Cook) and to this union were blessed four children: Teresa, Troy, Jake and Amy. The family lived in Hood River where the kids have grown up, attended local schools and enjoyed many outdoor activities together as a family. Rock enjoyed watching their sporting events and could be seen along the outfield fence watching Amy’s softball games.

He loved the outdoors; the mountains, the rivers and anything that would enable him to get out. Rock enjoyed fishing and hunting; he enjoyed them more when he was accompanied with family and friends. Rock had many friends and was not only a great friend but also a devoted husband, father, son and brother.

Rocky had been working at Diamond Fruit for all of his adult life; he was a respected asset for their company and a friend to many at work. Rocky was active in AA and has celebrated his sobriety for 21 years; he was a sponsor and mentor to many.

Rocky was a standup guy who wasn’t lukewarm about anything he did; he was a man who loved his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was active in the Hood River Nazarene Church and has served in numerous capacities including teaching Sunday school, hosting bible study in their home and a prior mission to Russia in August of 2005.

He and his family had been planning a mission trip to Africa and set to leave on Sept. 8. This mission is a “work and witness mission” to those of Mozambique. Heather and Jake plan to tribute Rocky and his memory with what he would want them to do, and plan to go on the mission.

Rocky is survived by his wife of 21 years, Heather Hobbs, of Hood River, Ore.; his four children: Teresa Blouin and her husband, Greg, of Parkdale, Ore., Troy Hobbs, of Vancouver, Wash., Jacob Hobbs, of Hood River, and Amy Hobbs, of Hood River; his mother, Violet “Vi” Hobbs, of Hood River; siblings Buck Hobbs and his wife, Mary, of Hood River, and Sharon Hobbs, of Mosier, Ore.; and other extended family and many, many friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Jay, in April of 2008.

The family suggests that memorial contributions be made in Rocky’s memory to the Work and Witness Mission in Mozambique, South Africa, and sent in care of Anderson’s.

Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson’s Tribute Center (Funerals, Receptions, Cremations), 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031; (541) 386-1000. Please visit www.andersonstributecenter.com to view and print the obituary and sign the guest book for family.