On Monday, July 15, 2019, Daryl Joe Hobdey completed his earthly mission and returned home to his Father in Heaven. Daryl was born on May 24, 1932 in Twin Falls, Idaho to Arthur "Art" Alfred and Myrtle Jane Farnsworth Hobdey. Daryl was the fifth of five children. He spent his childhood in Wendell, Idaho. It was there that Daryl's love of horses began. He told stories of how he would often ride his horse to school. When Daryl was 15, his parents moved to Northern Idaho. Daryl opted to stay in Gooding, Idaho with his oldest sister, Donna. It was in Gooding where Daryl met a beautiful young woman, Geraldine "Geri" Stephens, who became the love of his life. Daryl and Geri were married on October 10, 1954 in Gooding, Idaho and were later sealed in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on April 23, 1976. Also in Gooding, at the age of nineteen, Daryl entered the bareback riding event at his first rodeo. Daryl continued to rodeo for more than sixty years. He was influential in forming the Idaho Cowboy Association and served as the organization's first president. His term of ICA President was short as he went on to join the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association not long afterward. During his rodeo career, Daryl competed in bareback, saddle bronc, calf roping, and team roping events. He also spent years as a rodeo judge. While Daryl was a full-time professional rodeo cowboy, Geri supported and traveled around the country with him. During these rodeoing days, they welcomed two children, Logan and Lynda. Being a dedicated spouse and father, Daryl wanted to spend more time at home than he could as a full-time rodeo pro. Daryl cut his rodeoing to part-time and still qualified for the National Finals. He ended up finishing 10th in the world. After Daryl cut his rodeoing to part-time, he did other forms of work to supplement his income. He drove logging trucks in Northern Idaho with his father. He also became a housing manager in Southern California. While in California, he attended Cal-Poly and earned a certificate in corrective horseshoeing. Afterwards, he moved his family to Boise, Idaho and started a horseshoeing business. He became one of the most sought after farriers in the Treasure Valley. He later moved to Nampa, Idaho where he continued to run his business. Daryl was a true American cowboy who lived his life following the same principles of chivalry that his childhood hero, Gene Autry, sang about in "The Cowboy Code." According to Autry, the cowboy must be: trustworthy; honest; gentle - especially with children, the elderly and animals; a hard worker; clean in thought, speech, and action; respectful of women and parents; and a patriot. Those who met Daryl most likely witnessed his cowboy chivalry. While the earth has lost one of its cowboy knights, it is forever better for him having been here. Daryl was welcomed into heaven by his beloved wife, Geri Hobdey; parents, Art and Myrtle Hobdey; brothers Marsland E. "Sonny/Gene" Hobdey and Verlon R. Hobdey; sisters, Donna Maxine Greene and Betty Jo Greene. He is survived by his children, Logan (Lisa) Hobdey of Boise, Idaho and Lynda (David) Rupert of Nampa, Idaho; and 8 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 20, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Nampa 18th Ward LDS Chapel) located at 2212 E. Amity Ave. in Nampa, Idaho, with a viewing from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. prior to the services.
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