Robert James (Bob) Handy , passed away on July 2, 2025, at home at the age of 86, surrounded by family due to Parkinson's disease.

Born on January 1, 1939, in Sedro-Woolley, Washington, he was the beloved son of William Lewis and Mabel May (Belles) Handy.

He is survived by his wife, Burnette (Hooper) Handy; his daughter, Chris (Bob) Keane of New York; his son, Mike (Julie) Handy of Sedro-Woolley; three grandchildren, Cole Keane of New York, Tyler (Morgan) Handy of Sedro-Woolley, Zac Handy of Sedro-Woolley; brother, Kenny (Dorothy) Handy of Sedro-Woolley, numerous beloved nieces and nephews. He became an uncle at 4 years old.

He was preceded in death by his parents and four brothers, Allen, Howard, George, Richard Handy; his sister, Barb Eaton.

Bob was raised in Sedro-Woolley, dedicating himself to his family. Since he was the first local New Year's baby, his parents received many free gifts from local businesses. Bob would jokingly say that he was the only child of any worth to his parents.

Bob graduated from Sedro-Woolley High School in 1958. "GO CUBS" He was a lifelong "hardcore" fan of Woolley wrestling; attending matches, tournaments, and going to state. He also enjoyed attending Woolley football games and making trips to Husky football games with his son.

According to Bob, he married the love of his life, Burnette Hooper, on October 1, 1960. They started their family in Sedro-Woolley.

Bob worked as a house mover until he was drafted into the US Army in1961; Bob was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. He was on the Expert Marksman Rifle Team, in which they won many trophies. He was honorably discharged in 1963.

Bob was a welder/fabricator at Skagit Steel/Skagit Corp until its closing. In 1990, he started working at IRI in Clear Lake, Washington, making many trips to Alaska to weld on fish processing plants until his retirement in 2003.

Throughout his life, Bob enjoyed outdoor activities such as fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, riding motorcycles, and picking for mushrooms and little wild blackberries. He also liked going to garage sales, often finding items he believed would be useful or meaningful to family and friends. He was especially fond of collecting records, many of which he played while tinkering in the garage, or simply sitting on the slab, passing the day away.

He valued time with his family. He would take them up in the hills to cook hot dogs on the hibachi after work, hiking to places such as Big Rock, Jug Lake, Found Lake and other highland lakes, or fishing on the Skagit River, Baker Lake, or Rufus Woods. He also enjoyed going for drives to spot elk and eagles with Burnette.

After becoming a grandpa, Bob loved spending time with his grandkids, teaching them how to fish, weld, ride quads, and so much more. He always made sure they had everything they needed to have fun at grandpa's. Friends and family often turned to him for help, advice, or a tool for a project. He was also the one to call when someone needed to "witch" for water; a skill he proudly passed down to his daughter and grandson.

Bob was our social butterfly well known around town and enjoyed visiting with friends at the Sedro-Woolley Bakery and Norm's Barber Shop. He maintained many friendships throughout his life and was always willing to lend a hand.   He was a "Bob" of all trades and truly a "Handy" man. He made a lasting impact on everyone who knew him.

A Graveside Service will be held at 1:00, Thursday, July 10, 2025, at Union Cemetery in Sedro-Woolley with military honors and nephew Frank Handy officiating.

A heartfelt thank you to Julie, our number one caregiver, whose tireless dedication and tender care meant so much to Bob and the entire family. We would also like to thank the nurses and doctors at United General Hospital, and the Hospice of the Northwest team.

Bob will be dearly missed, but we will have the memories that will last a lifetime.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bob's memory to Hospice of the Northwest at www.hospicenw.org . Share your memories of Bob and sign the online guest register.