Peter Abbott

Peter Lynn Abbott passed away on Monday, August 4th, 2025, at his home in Troy, ID.  Pete was born on March 5th, 1946 in Lewiston, ID.  He was the third of seven sons born to James Vernon Abbott and Virginia Belle Henry. Pete spent his early years living in Clarkston, WA, where the family had some acreage with fruit trees.  Pete rode bikes, climbed trees and spent a lot of time trying to convince his older brothers to take him along on their adventures.

When Pete was ten years old his father passed away.  His mother later married Bill Yockey and the family moved to a farm a few miles outside of Troy.  While on the farm Bill spent a lot of time teaching Pete how to work on cars.  It is unknown whether Bill knew Pete was secretly joyriding in his truck with his brother Terry when Bill wasn’t home.  Pete attended Troy High School where he played football and claims to have only passed his classes because his girlfriend, Marjorie, let him copy her work. Regardless of how he achieved it, Pete graduated in 1964 and went to work for Delta Ford in Moscow, ID.

Pete married Marjorie Jean Johnson in 1965 and they soon welcomed three children, Melissa, Sheila and Jeff.  They made their home in the countryside near Troy.  Over the next several years Pete worked at Rauch Lumber in Troy, Ownbey Lumber and Bennett Lumber Products in Princeton, ID and Idaho Cedar Sales in Troy.

Pete was a very talented and hard worker. While he enjoyed working at the lumber and cedar mills, he was most proud of starting his own business, Abbott, Inc., in 1986.  Specializing in welding and steel fabrication, Pete and his various crews spent the next 30 years working on jobs all over the northwest.  From building sawmills, to custom fire trucks, to beautiful steel work at local colleges, wineries and cemeteries, there was nothing Pete and his crews could not do or build with steel. A large part of the work he did during this time came from the local farmers and loggers.  He took great pride in helping them with whatever project or equipment that needed fixed, so they could keep doing their jobs.

Pete’s first marriage ultimately ended in divorce and he married Renee George in 1988.  They made their home in Troy but also built a cabin in Elk City, ID in the early 90s.  Pete loved Elk City, spending time helping friends and neighbors with projects and contributing to the success and liveliness of the Reno Club and local VFW.  You always knew if Pete was around because you could hear him laughing before you ever saw him.

Pete loved riding motorcycles and always had at least one throughout his life.  He made trips all over the northwest with friends and relatives and always looked forward to spring when he could get his bike out.  When he worked in Princeton he would often ride his motorcycle over Moscow Mountain to get to work on nice summer days.  Pete also always wanted to learn to fly and in 1997 he proudly earned his private pilot’s license.  For many years his friends and family in Troy and Elk City were regularly subjected to flybys where he would make several low passes over their houses rocking his wings.  You could almost hear him laughing from the ground.

Pete’s marriage to Renee also ended in divorce but, never one to give up on the hope of an everlasting and happy marriage, he married Julie Nelson in 2012.  Pete and Julie enjoyed many happy camping adventures and trips to the Oregon and Washington coasts.  Sadly, this marriage also ended in divorce but Pete never did give up on love, he just ran out of time.  Through all of life’s up and downs and successes and failures, he always had a deep underlying faith and an unending amount of optimism that carried him through.

Pete is survived by his children, Melissa (Raleigh) Chambers, Sheila (Mark) Lunders, and Jeff (Hana) Abbott, all of Troy, and eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren whom he loved immensely.  Pete is also survived by his brothers Joe (Kris) Abbott of Bellingham, WA, Dave (Kathy) Abbott of Clarkston, WA, Bob (Barb) Abbott of Costa Mesa, CA, Larry Yockey of Elk River, ID, and Clay (Connie) Yockey of Troy, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.  In addition to his parents, Pete was preceded in death by his brothers Terry Abbott, Paul Abbott, Lee Abbott and Joe Yockey.

Pete was a volunteer for the Troy Fire Department for 36 years. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to that organization in his honor.  There will be a celebration of life for Pete on Saturday,  September 27th, at 1pm at the Lions Hall in Troy, ID.  Lunch will be provided.  Please being your favorite story and come help us celebrate Pete.  People laughing, telling extremely exaggerated stories and having a good time was what Pete enjoyed most.

Our lives will never be the same now that you are no longer here, but they will forever be blessed because of the values you instilled in us, the memories you made with us, and the love you gave us.  We love you dad.