In Memory

Bob Hunter

Salem - Robert D "Bob" Hunter passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 22, 2022, after a non-COVID related illness. Bob was born in La Grande, Oregon on June 30, 1951 to Lloyd and Margaret Hunter.

He received his Associate Degree at Chemeketa Community College and was originally employed at Chemeketa in the Financial Aid Department, then as a Counseling Aid in the Advising and Information Center and eventually in the IT Department as the IT Manager. He was instrumental in bringing the college online. Bob retired in 2008.

Bob was the computer guy to many, especially in the early days when the first personal computers came out. His knowledge of computers made him the "Genius Bar" of Salem too many folks. He had a quiet, thoughtful, almost mysterious way about him. He had a smile that warmed hearts. Working in the IT Department of Chemeketa he was the "go to" guy for many employees. He could explain the complexities of systems to novice users in a way that was understandable yet respectful. Arrangements are by City View Funeral Home.



 
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01/31/22 10:39 AM #7    

Robert Curtis

Chuck - I definately remember you telling me about borrowing his organ....probably in the "beginning" / prior to your purchase, or when yours was in for "service"? We were so lucky to have "our" local bands to make those years so much fun! Such GREAT memories. NO ONE was a better groupie of YOUR band than me and Tommy Thornton! I don't think I ever missed a show. LJ&TMM also did a great job of "out of our tree"! PS = I'm blessed with a GREAT memory, but NOT perfect! It's pretty hard to beat me - but our sophomore year was 55 YEARS AGO. WOW!  Thanks to EVERYONE for participating in / reading this website. We're lucky to have it!


01/31/22 12:20 PM #8    

Grant Beardsley

Bob Hunter was a terrific person. I really enjoyed his friendship back in the 60s. As others have stated, Bob was a gifted singer and a gentle soul who always shared his contagious smile. Robbie et al, thanks for the accurate recollection of those early years that seemed to have flown by too soon. My memories of "The Pit" was Salem's best attempt to emulate Liverpool England's The Cavern (birthplace of the Beatles); certainly The Jades, LJMM and other garage bands pressed hard, but not hard enough, to reproduce the same historical imprint within that dark basement. FYI - I posted several pictures of LJMM playing at the Amory on my South HS classmate profile here. Cheers to Bob!


01/31/22 12:34 PM #9    

James Akerson

Bob was a fun guy to hang with after school. I well remember sitting in his daylight basement listening to Moby Grape, Deep Purple, and our beloved West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band. Good times. May his family be blessed in his memory.


01/31/22 01:48 PM #10    

Tom Davis

I was so sorry to hear about Bob’s passing. He was a best friend starting in early junior high. We did a lot of power walking in Salem.  It was amazing how quickly we could get around by foot! I remember our attempts at very primitive skateboarding, hanging out listenening to the latest hits, being in the Jades, playing the Pit (vocals and keyboards) and other venues. We spent a lot of time at each other’s houses and had some great memories. Bob was kind, gentle, and caring, and as it has been said, a real talent! We drifted apart as we got into the high school years, different friends and different interests and it was really only in the past years we connected again. I will miss him. Praying for his family.


01/31/22 02:40 PM #11    

Chuck Crom

Bob figures into many of my fondest memories of junior high and high school.  We played in a few different bands together during those years, the most "successful" being probably The Jades with Dave, Steve, and Mark, as Dave mentioned previously.  We loved playing at The Pit and later at The Exit in the basement of another church in downtown Salem.  There are so many memories of those times.  He was a great front man for the groups, always, with an outgoing personality, a calmness, and an easy smile.  He clearly loved singing and music and was always open to trying to cover a new song or group.  I remember how excited we all were after a night of performing to leave with $3-5 each as our part of the gate and occasionally we would clear $10!  Good times.  I bumped into him every so often in Salem in the years after high school and we would catch up briefly and reminisce.  I hadn't seen him in many years, but know that we would have had a good chat if we would have happened upon each other.  I was saddened to hear of his passing.  Bob was a good guy. I'm sure his dear friends and family must miss him deeply.  It will be a comfort to know that he is well remembered and thought of by so many of his high school classmates. 


01/31/22 03:28 PM #12    

Dave Leslie

It's great to see the comments regarding Bob from so many old friends.  Robbie, I don't recall Paul Manock sitting in with the Jades when I was in the band, but it may have happened.  I do vaguely remember Paul playing in a band at the time, but I don't remember who else was in the band or its name.  It was long long ago...

And I'd completely forgotten Out of Our Tree!  Just found it on YouTube and it's coming back to me. A 60s classic for sure.

What a great thing it was to be able to join bands and play in public at that age.  I don't think it ever occurred to me to thank my Dad before he passed for driving me all over the valley to play at Jades gigs, but he did it without complaint.  At the time none of us were old enough to drive.  As Chuck C said, we were overjoyed to clear $10 each for one of those events.  Good times!

 

 


01/31/22 05:35 PM #13    

Guy Greider

I'm sorry to hear that Bob has passed. Some might remember that Bob played in another band at the same time he was with the Jades. We called ourselves The Shapes and soon to change the name to The Soul. In this band were Lee Gunter playing keyboard and his youger brother Craig Gunter on drums. Dave Barth also from South played bass, I played guitar and Bob sang. We were very lucky in that our band was sponsored by Ms. Vera Schwartz of Melody Music in Sunnyslope. She let us use the VOX instruments from the store to practice and play gigs. I don't know how Lee talked her into it but we had brand new instruments to play and the back room at the store to practice. We played in Corvallis, at the coast in Pacific City and a few times at Action West. I remember spending lots of evenings hanging at Bob's house listening to records and playing guitars. Bob had an amazing record collection. Though I lost track of him in later years I will always remember many good times with Bob. RIP my friend.


01/31/22 06:07 PM #14    

Chuck Whittemore

Yeah Robbie, I think you're correct. Must've borrowed Manock's Farfisa For Bob Hunter's band, The Jades, since didn't buy my own Farfisa until sometime AFTER joining LJ&TMM. Yeah, those years were good and fun for many of us! 


02/01/22 10:28 AM #15    

Craig Poole

Groovin: Wow the music we had and opportunites to attend our music: Pit, Exit, VFW Hall and Salem Armory. RIP Bobsmiley


02/02/22 12:09 AM #16    

Clark Blanchard

Ever since learning of Bob’s passing, I’ve been flooded with many memories, all of them quite delightful.  What a treat is was to have grown up in a time and a place with so many great garage bands.  Bob was definitely a dues paying member of the, “Salem Garage Band Society of the 60’s.”  “The Pit”, “The Exit”, Leslie Sock Hops, South High Dances!  Great times!  Although I was always the singer in a “rival” band, I greatly admired Bob’s vocal ability and his stage presence; he knew how to sell a song.  And oh those wonderful, sometimes hazy, days in the basement listening to all the new tunes.  I think my most long-lasting memory of Bob has to be his pleasant, slightly impish, smile.  It kind of made me feel like I was hanging out with a Leprechaun who had just found his pot of gold and was loving his life.  R.I.P. Bob, and keep on singin’!


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