Christopher Lynn Bodily started his next great adventure on October 31, 2016, in Meridian, ID, surrounded by his family.
Chris was born October 1, 1961, in McCall, ID. He spent his first four years in the New Meadows/McCall area before his family moved to Oregon. Chris was introduced to his first love, skiing, at a very young age, and it became his lifelong passion. He raced, first for the Mighty Mites at Mt Hood, and then competing on his high school teams both at Reynolds High School in Portland, OR and Columbia High School in Troutdale, OR. He was elected as 1st Team Alpine Athlete, WILCO Athletic Conference, as an Honored Oregon Athlete, Reynolds Aluminum Corporation, and Most Valuable Athlete at Reynolds High School. Chris was a member of the Junior Olympic Ski Team representing the Pacific Northwest Ski Association and raced at Squaw Valley, CA. He was a member of the first graduating class of Columbia High School in Troutdale, OR, and graduated in June, 1979
Chris spent several years after graduation from high school working as the shop manager of Mity Mite Ski and Sport Shop in Gresham, OR, plus learning, and becoming proficient in, whatever interested him. He learned to sail and became members of both the Willamette Sailing Club and the Small Yacht Sailing Club, winning the Class Sailing Champion for his Santana 20, named Equipoise. He began teaching sailing lessons and boat maintenance, and lived on a house boat on the Columbia River. Chris was also an avid bicyclist and could be found cycling and racing in the summer months.
In 1982, Chris moved to Boise, ID and began his university career at Boise State University. He was in the Honors Program at BSU, majoring in Economics and Social Science. During his time at BSU, Chris was on the Dean’s List, was a National Truman Scholar, and completed a fellowship at Georgetown University and a National Student Exchange at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC. Chris graduated with Distinguished Honors from BSU in 1986. In 1986, Chris began his post-graduate work at the University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA and obtained his Masters of Sociology in 1988. During his time at UCSC, Chris was a Regents Graduate Fellow, and a graduate teaching assistant. It was during this time, that Chris realized his potential as a teacher.
Chris spent the last few years developing his own company, Payette Lakes Longboards, making longboard skateboards out of reclaimed snowboards, and coaching young skiers and racers, instilling in them his love of skiing, racing, and competition. He continued to race in the USSA Masters F.I.S. Ski Team, which allowed him to ski some of the best courses in Argentina, Chile, Austria, and Switzerland.
Chris was known for his humor, his laughter, his passion, and his love of corndogs. He was always the first to suggest and lead a new adventure or exploration. He encouraged passion, learning, and courage in everyone he met. Chris was preceded in death by his uncle, Douglas Hamrick, his maternal grandmother, Audrey Hamrick, and both paternal grandparents, Helgar O. and Ivor Bodily. He is survived by his daughter, Hannah, of Wenatchee, WA, his parents David and Darla, of Gig Harbor, WA, his maternal grandfather Jim (Barbara) Hamrick, of Boise, ID, and his sister, Suzanne Pichler, of Gig Harbor, WA, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends that span the globe.
There will be a Celebration of Life March 11, 2017 at The Little Ski Hill, McCall, ID from 5-7:30 pm
The family would like to thank St. Luke’s Meridian Medical Center, specifically the ICU and the Multi-Service Ward, for the care and concern shown Chris and his family.
“Here rests a combustible soul made of mischievous passion, infectious joy, wry wit, educated humility, arrogance born of working class insecurity, a profound appreciation for solitude, and a natural athleticism that inspired others to go just a bit beyond what they thought was prudent, possible, affordable, or legal.”
3 Comments
Many of my cycling friends in the Gig Harbor area were fortunate, as was I, to consider Chris Bodily a friend. He was a true friend to me during the time that my husband was beginning a real downward spiral in his physical and mental health. Chris and I spent hours riding our bikes together, talking about life. One of the things I appreciated so much about Chris was that he encouraged me so faithfully in my care of my husband. Chris was like a brother to me, always pointing me in a direction of careful thought. I know, too, how much Chris loved his family, because he shared that love with me. I’m so lucky to have been able to know him, and through him to know each member of his precious family. Yes, his laughter was infectious, his sense of riotous adventure was fun and always included those around him….but it was his kindness and gentle spirit that touched my life. Thank you, Chris, dear brother and friend.
I enjoyed working with Chris at the BSU SSRC department in the mid 1990’s. He was skilled in the work and very passionate about our work there. It was a pleasure working with him and I have fond memories of that time. My wondering about that time and the people I knew led me to find this as I hadn’t talked to him since then (though I did see him from a distance in the audience at a concert around the year 2000 I think). My condolences to the family at their loss and grief.
Please accept my sincere condolences during this time of grief. My hope is that the words of Christ Jesus be of comfort, when he stated that “the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out” (John 5: 28, 29). We can also take comfort in God’s personal promise to “wipe out every
tear” and that soon, even “death will be no more” (Revelation 21: 4).
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