Earl Melvin Hopper, 54

Earl Melvin Hopper, 54, died Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2007, at home surrounded by family and friends after fighting a courageous battle with cancer.

His funeral was Saturday Aug. 25 at 2 p.m. at McArthur Cemetery.

Earl was born to Don and Mabel Hopper in Eugene, Ore., on Aug. 26, 1952. He was a brother to Reta, Leta, and Ken.

Earl and his brother were both junior deacons at Zion Church of Christ in Lost Creek, Ore.

Earl attended Pleasant Hill High School in Oregon, where he met his first wife, Kathleen Newton. They had children Cory and Carma.

During their marriage, Earl served as an U.S. Army paratrooper from 1970-72.

Earl met Patty Flagg in 1979. They moved to the Sandpoint, Idaho, area from Oregon in 1982. They were married on May 6, 1984, and had a son, Brian. Earl also became father to Patty's sons, Nathan and Steve.

They settled in Naples in 1988, where they remained.

People around North Idaho knew Earl as the proud captain of the Josephine, the tugboat he piloted around Lake Pend Oreille for nearly 20 yearssw for CE Kramer Crane & Contracting. Earl also was a crane operator, driller, blaster, logger, and worked in area mills.

In short, there was nothing Earl couldn't do. He took great pride in his work and thrived on challenges.

Earl loved Lake Pend Oreille. There was nothing he liked better than spending time on its waters doing the work he loved. He met many people through his work.

Whether they were co-workers or customers, Earl was always glad to share his knowledge with all, becoming a mentor to many. Earl spent much of his free time hunting, fishing and telling stories with the boys. He truly loved the outdoors and the area in which he lived.

He is survived by his mother in Bonners Ferry; his wife; his daughter Carma and her husband, Davey Jones, of Bonners Ferry; sons Cory and Tiana Hopper, both of Sandpoint, Nathan and his wife, Kate Flagg, of Coeur d'Alene, Steve Hopper of Girdwood, Alaska, and Brian Hopper of Naples; sisters Reta and husband, John Summerlin, of Naples and Leta and Mike Flagg of Springfield, Ore.; brother, Ken Hopper of Oakridge, Ore.; grandchildren Zachary and Zoey; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He is preceded in death by his father.