Longtime McMinnville resident Percy Eugene Brandon "Gunny" passed away on January 8, 2016 at Lebanon Veterans' care home after a long arduous journey with cancer in the from of Multiple Myeloma. Family members surrounded him the days before he passed peacefully. Gunny was born on the Rosebud Indian reservation on June 29, 1935 to Howard and Bertha Brandon. His family moved to Oregon in 1942 and lived in Salem, Grand Ronde, and McMinnville. Gunny attended Grand Ronde grade school, and Willamina High School, but did not graduate as he, Gunny, joined the Marines in 1953 at the age of 17 and retired in 1973 after deployments in Japan, Korea, and Vietnam where he served 2 tours and received 4 purple hearts.
He came back to McMinnville to recover from injures suffered in Vietnam. He worked for Triangle Motors, Home Laundry, Rowell Wickersham, and the News Register. He owned and operated four businesses, St Paul Rodeo Inn, Vets Club American Legion post 21, Northwest Asphalt, and Gunny's Gym with his wife, Shirlie. He was a true patriot; after retirement he moonlighted, installing and donating U.S. flagpoles. He also had a passion for community service. He sponsored girl's softball, little league teams, and Hood to Coast relay teams. He participated in local festivals, parades, and ran for election as Yamhill County Commissioner. His involvement with Native American organizations/community found him dressed as Santa Claus, a Gorilla, and in traditional Native American attire.
He was a noted lecturer and forum panelist on combat/Marine life and PTSD. Gunny completed his GED in 1964, but was also awarded an honorary high school diploma from Willamina High School after 50 years in 2004. In 1993, under the supervision of a Veterans' counselor he began to write the contents of a book that would later be published and now is in it's 3rd edition.
Gunny was preceded in death by his wife, Shirlie; his three brothers, Howard (Stubby) Brandon, John Brandon, Gary Brandon; and sisters, Joyce Brandon, Mary (Bitsey) White, Leona (Toni) Stoneman, Geraldine Anderson; and parents, Howard Brandon and Bertha Brandon.
Gunny is survived by his brother, his three children, eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 20, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at Evergreen Chapel, 500 NE Captain Michael King Smith Way, McMinnville. Interment will be at Willamette National Cemetery, Portland. If anyone wishes to make a donation on his behalf, the family would ask that donation be made to Semper Fi Fund. To leave condolences, visit www.macyandson.com.
Published in the Salem, Oregon Statesman Journal on Jan. 13, 2016.
He came back to McMinnville to recover from injures suffered in Vietnam. He worked for Triangle Motors, Home Laundry, Rowell Wickersham, and the News Register. He owned and operated four businesses, St Paul Rodeo Inn, Vets Club American Legion post 21, Northwest Asphalt, and Gunny's Gym with his wife, Shirlie. He was a true patriot; after retirement he moonlighted, installing and donating U.S. flagpoles. He also had a passion for community service. He sponsored girl's softball, little league teams, and Hood to Coast relay teams. He participated in local festivals, parades, and ran for election as Yamhill County Commissioner. His involvement with Native American organizations/community found him dressed as Santa Claus, a Gorilla, and in traditional Native American attire.
He was a noted lecturer and forum panelist on combat/Marine life and PTSD. Gunny completed his GED in 1964, but was also awarded an honorary high school diploma from Willamina High School after 50 years in 2004. In 1993, under the supervision of a Veterans' counselor he began to write the contents of a book that would later be published and now is in it's 3rd edition.
Gunny was preceded in death by his wife, Shirlie; his three brothers, Howard (Stubby) Brandon, John Brandon, Gary Brandon; and sisters, Joyce Brandon, Mary (Bitsey) White, Leona (Toni) Stoneman, Geraldine Anderson; and parents, Howard Brandon and Bertha Brandon.
Gunny is survived by his brother, his three children, eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 20, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at Evergreen Chapel, 500 NE Captain Michael King Smith Way, McMinnville. Interment will be at Willamette National Cemetery, Portland. If anyone wishes to make a donation on his behalf, the family would ask that donation be made to Semper Fi Fund. To leave condolences, visit www.macyandson.com.
Published in the Salem, Oregon Statesman Journal on Jan. 13, 2016.
Longtime McMinnville resident Percy Eugene Brandon "Gunny" passed away on January 8, 2016 at Lebanon Veterans' care home after a long arduous journey with cancer in the from of Multiple Myeloma. Family members surrounded him the days before he passed peacefully. Gunny was born on the Rosebud Indian reservation on June 29, 1935 to Howard and Bertha Brandon. His family moved to Oregon in 1942 and lived in Salem, Grand Ronde, and McMinnville. Gunny attended Grand Ronde grade school, and Willamina High School, but did not graduate as he, Gunny, joined the Marines in 1953 at the age of 17 and retired in 1973 after deployments in Japan, Korea, and Vietnam where he served 2 tours and received 4 purple hearts.
He came back to McMinnville to recover from injures suffered in Vietnam. He worked for Triangle Motors, Home Laundry, Rowell Wickersham, and the News Register. He owned and operated four businesses, St Paul Rodeo Inn, Vets Club American Legion post 21, Northwest Asphalt, and Gunny's Gym with his wife, Shirlie. He was a true patriot; after retirement he moonlighted, installing and donating U.S. flagpoles. He also had a passion for community service. He sponsored girl's softball, little league teams, and Hood to Coast relay teams. He participated in local festivals, parades, and ran for election as Yamhill County Commissioner. His involvement with Native American organizations/community found him dressed as Santa Claus, a Gorilla, and in traditional Native American attire.
He was a noted lecturer and forum panelist on combat/Marine life and PTSD. Gunny completed his GED in 1964, but was also awarded an honorary high school diploma from Willamina High School after 50 years in 2004. In 1993, under the supervision of a Veterans' counselor he began to write the contents of a book that would later be published and now is in it's 3rd edition.
Gunny was preceded in death by his wife, Shirlie; his three brothers, Howard (Stubby) Brandon, John Brandon, Gary Brandon; and sisters, Joyce Brandon, Mary (Bitsey) White, Leona (Toni) Stoneman, Geraldine Anderson; and parents, Howard Brandon and Bertha Brandon.
Gunny is survived by his brother, his three children, eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 20, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at Evergreen Chapel, 500 NE Captain Michael King Smith Way, McMinnville. Interment will be at Willamette National Cemetery, Portland. If anyone wishes to make a donation on his behalf, the family would ask that donation be made to Semper Fi Fund. To leave condolences, visit www.macyandson.com.
Published in the Salem, Oregon Statesman Journal on Jan. 13, 2016.
He came back to McMinnville to recover from injures suffered in Vietnam. He worked for Triangle Motors, Home Laundry, Rowell Wickersham, and the News Register. He owned and operated four businesses, St Paul Rodeo Inn, Vets Club American Legion post 21, Northwest Asphalt, and Gunny's Gym with his wife, Shirlie. He was a true patriot; after retirement he moonlighted, installing and donating U.S. flagpoles. He also had a passion for community service. He sponsored girl's softball, little league teams, and Hood to Coast relay teams. He participated in local festivals, parades, and ran for election as Yamhill County Commissioner. His involvement with Native American organizations/community found him dressed as Santa Claus, a Gorilla, and in traditional Native American attire.
He was a noted lecturer and forum panelist on combat/Marine life and PTSD. Gunny completed his GED in 1964, but was also awarded an honorary high school diploma from Willamina High School after 50 years in 2004. In 1993, under the supervision of a Veterans' counselor he began to write the contents of a book that would later be published and now is in it's 3rd edition.
Gunny was preceded in death by his wife, Shirlie; his three brothers, Howard (Stubby) Brandon, John Brandon, Gary Brandon; and sisters, Joyce Brandon, Mary (Bitsey) White, Leona (Toni) Stoneman, Geraldine Anderson; and parents, Howard Brandon and Bertha Brandon.
Gunny is survived by his brother, his three children, eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 20, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at Evergreen Chapel, 500 NE Captain Michael King Smith Way, McMinnville. Interment will be at Willamette National Cemetery, Portland. If anyone wishes to make a donation on his behalf, the family would ask that donation be made to Semper Fi Fund. To leave condolences, visit www.macyandson.com.
Published in the Salem, Oregon Statesman Journal on Jan. 13, 2016.
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