Clayton Eddy, 81, passed away at Pioneer Nursing Home in Vale on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009. He was born on July 17, 1928 in Baker City, Ore. A private cremation was under the direction of the Lienkaemper Funeral Home. A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 28, at the Vale Christian Church and a private, family service will be held in late September or early October at hunting camp.
Clayton was the first son born to George and Lucy Eddy who already had five girls. Later the family would increase in size by two more girls and three more boys making a total of eleven children.
As a child, Clayton was raised on the family ranch on Willow Creek, near Malheur City, Ore. He attended grade schools at Grouse Creek School and Malheur City School.
In 1941, when he reached high school age, the family began moving to Vale during the school year so that he and his older sisters could attend high school and the younger kids could attend grade school there. The family continued to move back to the ranch in the summers until 1947. Clayton would sometimes remain at Vale in the summer to help take care of the 80 acre Vale farm.
After completion of high school, he went to work for Goodman Oil Company working in the service station known as the “Service Corner” in Vale. Clayton married Jeanne Braniff in 1948. They raised three boys, Bob, Mike, and Joe, and one daughter, Toni. All graduated from the Vale school system and went on to attain college degrees.
Clayton continued to work for Goodman Oil Co. for several years before he and the late Herb Netcher purchased and operated the Richfield Service Station across the street from the Service Corner. During those years, he also did additional work as a carpenter and a concrete mason and began farming all while still working in the service station.
At one time Clayton and Jean purchased and operated the Bully Creek Market located on Highway 20 west of Vale. They later sold the store and moved to town.
In 1965 he sold his interest in the service station and turned to full time farming and farm employment.
Clayton and Jeanne were eventually divorced and Clayton later married Janice Tucker in 1984. He continued to farm and work on ranches until 1989 when he became the Sexton for the Valley View Cemetery in Vale and he and Jan moved into their home on the cemetery property. Clayton served as Sextant of the cemetery until an injury in 2006 forced his retirement. He took great pride in the appearance of the cemetery and loved working with and serving the people who visited there.
Clayton was an avid hunter. He loved to re-live past hunting seasons. He and his brothers would start telling hunting stories to anyone who would listen and, before long, everyone was telling a story or two.
He took great pride in teaching his children, stepchildren and grandchildren to hunt. Many holidays were spent hunting or trapshooting with the kids, and several Fathers’ Days were spent at “Cow Camp” with the family shooting ground squirrels.
Clayton lived his entire life in the Vale area. He will be greatly missed by family and friends. His stories and his memory will remain in our hearts forever.
Clayton is survived by his wife, Janice Eddy of Vale; brothers Nick (Susie) Eddy of Vale; Edward Eddy of The Dalles, Ore.; and a sister, Elaine Trimble of Hereford, Ore. He is also survived by three sons, one daughter, one stepdaughter and one stepson; Bob (Linda) Eddy of Minden, Nevada; Mike Eddy of Vale; Joe (Karen) Eddy of Umatilla, Ore.; and Toni (Kevin) Fiest of Burns, Ore.; Karlene (Dwight) Keller, Vale; Ken (Deanna) Tucker, Nyssa, Ore.
Grandchildren surviving are Brent (April) Eddy; Derek (Rhiannon) Eddy; Kara Eddy all of Nevada; Tim (Jenny) Eddy, Vale; Pat (Amy) Eddy, Vale; Dennis (Chelsea) Eddy, Ontario; and J.J. (Michael) Gonzales, Ontario; Brian and Kevin Eddy, Umatilla,; Caleb, Austin, Carli Fiest, Burns; step grandchildren Luke (Janie) Keller, Logan Keller, and Leighton Keller, all of Vale; Kendee, Kaylee, and Kelsee Tucker of Nyssa. Great grandchildren are Brook, Jessee, Braden and Kaylee Eddy of Nevada; Dawson, Dahlin, Damick, Tyson, and Aiden Eddy of Vale; Brody and Deegon Gonzales of Ontario. There are many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Used with permission from: The Record Courier, Baker City, Oregon August 27, 2009
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor