Jack Mower

John “Jack” Mower, 81, of Island Park, Idaho passed away peacefully on September 7, 2024, surrounded by his loved ones at the Homestead Assisted Living in St. Anthony, under the care of his loving family and Enhabit Home Health and Hospice.

Jack was born on February 28, 1943, in Pocatello, Idaho, to Clarence and Ila Mower. He had three brothers and one sister. His family moved around a lot early on but finally settled in Ashton where he attended school. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

He served in the Air Force for a short period of time and then worked for various farmers around the area.

Jack married Linda Rainey on April 9, 1965. They raised four beautiful children together, Loura, Marla, John, and Julie. He and Linda later divorced, but have remained good friends.

Jack has always been a hard worker to provide for his family. He worked at Norton Fruit Company in Idaho Falls until they went out of business. Then he worked for Just’s Appliance store, and retired from Basic American Foods.

After he retired, he moved from Idaho Falls to his summer home in Island Park permanently. Jack loved living in Island Park. He still worked part-time for Island Park Services and other odd jobs. He loved staying busy and helping people.

In his spare time Jack enjoyed having his kids and grandkids come to visit him, fishing, being in the outdoors, and especially riding his four-wheeler! Jack had so many good friends and neighbors in Island Park that he loved to visit with, share jokes with, and eat good food together. His Island Park “family” meant so much to him and they were always there to watch out for each other and help each other out whenever needed! He would drive around in his old “beater” pick-up and often his friends would refer to him as “The Shotgun Sheriff”.

Jack was such a likeable guy and even though he only spent a short amount of time in St. Anthony at the Homestead Assisted Living facility, he made friends quickly. He had such a good sense of humor and would sometimes just say whatever he was thinking. He would not only joke around with the nurses and other residents, but would help them as well. That must be why some of them called him “Dr. Phil”.

So whether you know him as “John”, “Jack”, “Happy Jack”, “The Shotgun Sheriff”, “Dr. Phil”,

“Dad”, or “Grandpa”, he will be truly missed by so many of his friends and family.

Jack is survived by his children, Loura (Brent) Walker of Idaho Falls, Marla (Jeffery) Hill of Coeur d’Alene, John (Bobbette) Mower of Rigby, Julie (Mike) Walker of Lewisville; siblings, Thelma Stacey of Idaho Falls, and Ralph Mower of Minnesota; eleven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Francis Mower and LaVoy Mower; and a granddaughter, Joclynn Mower.

Graveside services will be held at 12:00 noon on Saturday, September 14, at the Pineview Cemetery in Ashton, under the direction of Baxter Funeral Home.