Patrick George Powers, 75, passed away at home Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016. He was both a logger and conservationist, a confidant and a story teller, a captain of industry and master of the measured response, co-conspirator and the voice of reason ... most of all he is missed.

Born Aug. 1, 1941, in Wallace, Idaho, Pat was brought home by his father, Patrick F. Powers and Georgia M. Powers to the mouth of little Bumblebee Creek on the Little North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River. He was the fourth of six brothers, Michael, John, Robert, James and Lawrence. He attended primary school and kindergarten in Pinehurst, was student body president of his junior high and graduated from Kellogg High School in 1959. Patrick attended North Idaho College and Gonzaga University briefly, but aside from formal education, he was a self-taught scholar who loved a hard read and prized a wide vocabulary.

Pat left Idaho at 20 and worked in California as a real estate agent and hitchhiked down the coast finding work as a commercial abalone fisherman. He lived in Honolulu before being drafted in 1964. For three years, he lived in Vietnam working as a payroll clerk. In “fighting finance,” Pat developed his lifelong friendship with Clyde L. Patrick.

After an honorable discharge, Pat married Gonzaga grad student Kay Grant Powers in Spokane, Wash. He worked for Metropolitan Mines and formed Powers Brother’s Incorporated with help from his parents. Pat later hitchhiked with wife, Kay G., through Europe down the Mediterranean Sea. In 1971, his first child, Patrick K. Powers, was born and Pat found work in construction and logging as Kay taught high school. At one of the many garage sale stops in his life, Pat purchased a home for his new family in downtown Coeur d’Alene.

Pat was a positive force in his community. He was elected District and Democratic chairman of Kootenai County. He designed, built and operated a gold mining exhibit for EXPO 74 with his closest friends. He forged many connections as member of Laborers Local 241 and an employee at the Nickel’s Worth. He met trusted mentors Bert and Marie Russell, played lead Bottle in a commercial for Rainier Beer produced by his good friend Don Jensen, and hunted with his beloved Chesapeake Retrievers, Max and Cheena. Just after the birth of Rosa, his second child, he founded Exchange Publishing in Spokane in 1978, with Aaron Spurway. This successful venture sustained him and his family beyond his retirement. The Exchange is now owned and operated by his second wife, Barbara (Harns) Powers. They met in 1987 at the Harrison Old Timers picnic, eloped to Canada in 1991 and found adventures traveling together.

A family legacy was important to him. All through his youth he worked with his father and brothers in the woods. He loved the forest and was most at peace when he walking or planting trees in the ravines of family property at Bumblebee.

Patrick’s later years were hastened by dementia. He was, however, surrounded by kind and fun caregivers. They brought their young children, dogs and vibrant personalities into his home, surrounding him with joy. Pat kept his humor until the end, waking up every morning laughing and singing.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016, at Unity Church of North Idaho, 4465 N. 15th Ave., Coeur d’Alene. A reception will follow at the Coeur d’Alene Wedding Chapel, 618 E. Wallace Ave.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Please visit Pat’s memorial and sign the online guest book at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.