1928 – 2022
Robert Dean Draper (Bob) passed away on Nov. 4, 2022, leaving a void in the world, and in the hearts of his loved ones.
Bob was born to Edward Clifton & Wilhelmina Christensen Draper on January 11, 1928, in Mt. Pleasant, Utah. He graduated from North Sanpete High School in 1946. He believed in hard work and at a very young age, he started logging and working in the family sawmill. They logged with large workhorses, and his dad used 2-man hand saws to cut down trees. Generations have been blessed with the sights, smells, and memories of the sawdust piles, the barn, rows of stacked logs, and fresh-cut lumber. Bob’s children, grandchildren, & great-grandchildren cherish the memories of him running the sawmill, and chainsaw.
Bob married his wife, Doris in 1949. They were blessed with 4 wonderful children: Barry, Tanna, Tammy, and Coy, 14 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren & 5 great, great-grandchildren. Bob and Doris were married for over 73 years and have lived in their Mt. Pleasant home for 40 years. Thru the years they have welcomed countless friends & family into their home to enjoy one of Doris’ delicious, homemade meals.
Bob has a great love for nature, animals, and the mountains. One of the mountains that Clifton, Bob, and Barry logged in was Twin Creek. Bob is known for building the road there, and over the years people built homes and gated off the road. (However, they honored Bob’s building it and provided him passage.)
Bob was a natural-born artist and loved to draw, paint and carve. In his later years, he combined his artistic talent with his skill of wielding a chainsaw. He became a renowned chainsaw carver, using only a chainsaw to carve fine details including a skewer-width Indian spear or the tender fetlock of a horse. He dominated chainsaw carving competitions and produced carvings that captured far more than met the eye. Bob has been featured in many magazine and newspaper articles, as well as TV shows. Most notably, the show “That’s Incredible” documented him carving and finishing one of his most prized pieces of art.
Bob was a devout servant of Jehovah and freely shared his beliefs. He is authentic, honest, and full of knowledge. He loved to show the kids and grandkids herds of elk or the beauty of a sunset, and he always gave credit to The Creator.
He is from “the old school” where right and wrong matter. His handshake was better than any legal document ever drafted. He had integrity, and compassion, and believed a man’s word meant everything. They don’t make ’em like him anymore!
He liked to put a smile on other people’s lips with his catchy little jokes and his sense of humor, (which he used right to the finish). When Bob was asked how he was doing he would often reply, “I’m Super Colossal” or “I’m in good shape for the shape I’m in.” Bob’s special way of wording or doing things, will continue to live through his posterity. His one granddaughter expressed it well by saying, “We try to emulate the qualities that grandpa taught us.”
Bob's friends & family are invited to share treasured memories in a way he would want to be remembered. Online condolences at rasmussenmortuary.com.
