My Granddad

My grandfather passed away December 27th, 2014 at age 93. Below is his obituary. Please note I have edited it so that there is not any "identifying" information.

Loyd passed away on December 27, 2014. He was born on September 23, 1921 in Idaho, the third child. His twin brothers passed away in 1987.

Loyd's earliest memories were of riding horses, first behind his mother and then as transportation to school and work on his father's ranch. From the age of 16 Loyd was active in the logging industry. Starting in the Potlatch logging camps as a log chute greaser, he developed the skills and knowledge of the woods that would lead to 75 years of harvesting timber. He and his brother ran a pole yard in Clackamas followed by owning their own sawmill in Klamath Falls. They moved to Lebanon in 1953 where they started Logging Company cutting timber in the Sweet Home area and trucking it to Cascade Plywood in Lebanon. Loyd retired in 1971 but continued to harvest his own timber and subdivide his land until 2013. 

In 1942 Loyd moved from Idaho to Portland to join the Coast Guard. While attending a dance, he met his future wife, Betty. They were married on February 28, 1948. 

Loyd was an avid sportsman. He enjoyed hunting in eastern Oregon and fishing with his children, grandchildren, and friends. He raised cattle, sheep and horses and in his later years he loved watching the ducks and fish on his land. 

Loyd was preceded in death by his daughter, Patti, and grandson, Todd. Survivors include his wife Betty, daughter Vicki, grandchildren Matthew and Alissa, along with 5 great grandchildren.  

In lieu of flowers the family asked that memorials be made to Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital.


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Because I am unable to attend, I have written the below to be read at the celebration of life.

First of all, it breaks my heart that I couldn’t be there today to celebrate Granddad’s extraordinary life.  Thinking about many friends and family gathered together reminiscing and exchanging anecdotes puts a smile on my face.  

My granddad taught me a lot about life.  His strength inspired me, and his generosity amazed me.  He was the kind of man who would not only track down a pony so that his granddaughter from the city could learn to ride, but also help her up out of the dirt when the horse ran away with her.  As I grew up over the years, I realized that if I didn’t know something, I just needed to ask Granddad, and he would show me.  For example, he taught me how to shoot a gun and clean a fish.  He showed me how to bait crab traps and then curse when I didn’t get it right.  All skills that I later learned really impressed boys. 

One of my favorite things about Granddad was how he loved singing at random times.  Whether we were eating, driving, or just sitting around talking, a song would pop into his head and out it came.  My favorite song, from the short list of appropriate ones, was his good morning song. I sing it to my daughter every day when I get her out of bed.  It will always remind me of him.  I think he would be happy it is being passed down.

I am lucky to have had a chance to know my granddad for 32 years.  I went from a child watching him talk politics and logging with a whiskey and water in his hand to an adult joining the conversation with a cocktail in my own.  I finally understood why he worked so hard so late into his life. It was for us, his family.  It was his way of telling us how much he loved us.  What I really want to say to him and to Grandma today is that I love you both so much, and I feel overwhelmingly appreciative to have you as my grandparents. Thank you.