Elbert "Al" Gerald Durfee, 82, of Milton-Freewater, died Feb. 10 in Walla Walla, Wash., from injuries sustained in an auto accident.
He was born to Justus Bennett Durfee and Wilva Lenore Finch Durfee at home in Pedee.
Elbert spent most of his adolescence going to school and working with his dad on the family farm and in saw mills. He worked many hours on the tractor, singing and yodeling while plowing their fields. He and his dad did custom farming for other farmers. He learned his strong work ethic from his dad and mom.
His family lived in Pedee, Lebanon, and Dallas, during his childhood. He went to schools in Dallas and graduated from Dallas High School in 1950. He attended Oregon Technical Institute in Klamath Falls and earned a degree in automotive repair.
Elbert worked for Joe Card's Service Station in Dallas.
Elbert enlisted in the Army in 1953 and served his country during the Korean War at Fort Lewis, Wash., as a combat engineer, private first class, in Company C, 34th Engineering Battalion. He was honorably discharged in 1955.
Elbert married Helen Ann Booth on June 16, 1956, at the United Methodist Church in Salem. Early in his career he worked as a mechanic in La Grande at Hand Ford. In 1961, Elbert and his family moved to Dayton, where he worked for another Ford dealership as a mechanic and later a parts man. He was also a parts man for Harvester Supply Inc. in Dayton. In 1987, Elbert and Helen moved to Milton-Freewater, where he worked at Pendleton Grain Growers as a parts man until he retired in 2009.
He enjoyed his family, following the sports teams of his children and grandchildren. He was known as "Grandpa" to many kids in the Touchet, Wash., community where they lived. Elbert had a great sense of humor and a smile that lit up a room. He was a devoted and hardworking provider for his family. He had a great appreciation for the outdoors, enjoyed traveling, photography, hunting and fishing. He also enjoyed reading western fiction and history books.
Elbert was a member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the National Rifle Association and the North American Hunting Club.
Following his wife's death he founded a scholarship in Helen's name through the Touchet Educational Foundation to honor her teaching career and to assist Touchet students pursuing a career in education.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen in 2003 and his brothers, Allen and Cary.
Survivors include his daughter, Teri (Jeff) of Milton-Freewater; sons, Stuart (Laurie) of Touchet and Jess (Regina) of Albany; sisters, Donna Brennan and Lela Gaither, both of Dallas; brother, Elmer Durfee of Lebanon; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
At his request no service was held. Celebration of Elbert's life is March 28 in Touchet.
He was born to Justus Bennett Durfee and Wilva Lenore Finch Durfee at home in Pedee.
Elbert spent most of his adolescence going to school and working with his dad on the family farm and in saw mills. He worked many hours on the tractor, singing and yodeling while plowing their fields. He and his dad did custom farming for other farmers. He learned his strong work ethic from his dad and mom.
His family lived in Pedee, Lebanon, and Dallas, during his childhood. He went to schools in Dallas and graduated from Dallas High School in 1950. He attended Oregon Technical Institute in Klamath Falls and earned a degree in automotive repair.
Elbert worked for Joe Card's Service Station in Dallas.
Elbert enlisted in the Army in 1953 and served his country during the Korean War at Fort Lewis, Wash., as a combat engineer, private first class, in Company C, 34th Engineering Battalion. He was honorably discharged in 1955.
Elbert married Helen Ann Booth on June 16, 1956, at the United Methodist Church in Salem. Early in his career he worked as a mechanic in La Grande at Hand Ford. In 1961, Elbert and his family moved to Dayton, where he worked for another Ford dealership as a mechanic and later a parts man. He was also a parts man for Harvester Supply Inc. in Dayton. In 1987, Elbert and Helen moved to Milton-Freewater, where he worked at Pendleton Grain Growers as a parts man until he retired in 2009.
He enjoyed his family, following the sports teams of his children and grandchildren. He was known as "Grandpa" to many kids in the Touchet, Wash., community where they lived. Elbert had a great sense of humor and a smile that lit up a room. He was a devoted and hardworking provider for his family. He had a great appreciation for the outdoors, enjoyed traveling, photography, hunting and fishing. He also enjoyed reading western fiction and history books.
Elbert was a member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the National Rifle Association and the North American Hunting Club.
Following his wife's death he founded a scholarship in Helen's name through the Touchet Educational Foundation to honor her teaching career and to assist Touchet students pursuing a career in education.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen in 2003 and his brothers, Allen and Cary.
Survivors include his daughter, Teri (Jeff) of Milton-Freewater; sons, Stuart (Laurie) of Touchet and Jess (Regina) of Albany; sisters, Donna Brennan and Lela Gaither, both of Dallas; brother, Elmer Durfee of Lebanon; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
At his request no service was held. Celebration of Elbert's life is March 28 in Touchet.
Elbert "Al" Gerald Durfee, 82, of Milton-Freewater, died Feb. 10 in Walla Walla, Wash., from injuries sustained in an auto accident.
He was born to Justus Bennett Durfee and Wilva Lenore Finch Durfee at home in Pedee.
Elbert spent most of his adolescence going to school and working with his dad on the family farm and in saw mills. He worked many hours on the tractor, singing and yodeling while plowing their fields. He and his dad did custom farming for other farmers. He learned his strong work ethic from his dad and mom.
His family lived in Pedee, Lebanon, and Dallas, during his childhood. He went to schools in Dallas and graduated from Dallas High School in 1950. He attended Oregon Technical Institute in Klamath Falls and earned a degree in automotive repair.
Elbert worked for Joe Card's Service Station in Dallas.
Elbert enlisted in the Army in 1953 and served his country during the Korean War at Fort Lewis, Wash., as a combat engineer, private first class, in Company C, 34th Engineering Battalion. He was honorably discharged in 1955.
Elbert married Helen Ann Booth on June 16, 1956, at the United Methodist Church in Salem. Early in his career he worked as a mechanic in La Grande at Hand Ford. In 1961, Elbert and his family moved to Dayton, where he worked for another Ford dealership as a mechanic and later a parts man. He was also a parts man for Harvester Supply Inc. in Dayton. In 1987, Elbert and Helen moved to Milton-Freewater, where he worked at Pendleton Grain Growers as a parts man until he retired in 2009.
He enjoyed his family, following the sports teams of his children and grandchildren. He was known as "Grandpa" to many kids in the Touchet, Wash., community where they lived. Elbert had a great sense of humor and a smile that lit up a room. He was a devoted and hardworking provider for his family. He had a great appreciation for the outdoors, enjoyed traveling, photography, hunting and fishing. He also enjoyed reading western fiction and history books.
Elbert was a member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the National Rifle Association and the North American Hunting Club.
Following his wife's death he founded a scholarship in Helen's name through the Touchet Educational Foundation to honor her teaching career and to assist Touchet students pursuing a career in education.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen in 2003 and his brothers, Allen and Cary.
Survivors include his daughter, Teri (Jeff) of Milton-Freewater; sons, Stuart (Laurie) of Touchet and Jess (Regina) of Albany; sisters, Donna Brennan and Lela Gaither, both of Dallas; brother, Elmer Durfee of Lebanon; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
At his request no service was held. Celebration of Elbert's life is March 28 in Touchet.
He was born to Justus Bennett Durfee and Wilva Lenore Finch Durfee at home in Pedee.
Elbert spent most of his adolescence going to school and working with his dad on the family farm and in saw mills. He worked many hours on the tractor, singing and yodeling while plowing their fields. He and his dad did custom farming for other farmers. He learned his strong work ethic from his dad and mom.
His family lived in Pedee, Lebanon, and Dallas, during his childhood. He went to schools in Dallas and graduated from Dallas High School in 1950. He attended Oregon Technical Institute in Klamath Falls and earned a degree in automotive repair.
Elbert worked for Joe Card's Service Station in Dallas.
Elbert enlisted in the Army in 1953 and served his country during the Korean War at Fort Lewis, Wash., as a combat engineer, private first class, in Company C, 34th Engineering Battalion. He was honorably discharged in 1955.
Elbert married Helen Ann Booth on June 16, 1956, at the United Methodist Church in Salem. Early in his career he worked as a mechanic in La Grande at Hand Ford. In 1961, Elbert and his family moved to Dayton, where he worked for another Ford dealership as a mechanic and later a parts man. He was also a parts man for Harvester Supply Inc. in Dayton. In 1987, Elbert and Helen moved to Milton-Freewater, where he worked at Pendleton Grain Growers as a parts man until he retired in 2009.
He enjoyed his family, following the sports teams of his children and grandchildren. He was known as "Grandpa" to many kids in the Touchet, Wash., community where they lived. Elbert had a great sense of humor and a smile that lit up a room. He was a devoted and hardworking provider for his family. He had a great appreciation for the outdoors, enjoyed traveling, photography, hunting and fishing. He also enjoyed reading western fiction and history books.
Elbert was a member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the National Rifle Association and the North American Hunting Club.
Following his wife's death he founded a scholarship in Helen's name through the Touchet Educational Foundation to honor her teaching career and to assist Touchet students pursuing a career in education.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen in 2003 and his brothers, Allen and Cary.
Survivors include his daughter, Teri (Jeff) of Milton-Freewater; sons, Stuart (Laurie) of Touchet and Jess (Regina) of Albany; sisters, Donna Brennan and Lela Gaither, both of Dallas; brother, Elmer Durfee of Lebanon; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
At his request no service was held. Celebration of Elbert's life is March 28 in Touchet.
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