His graveside memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor John Goodyear of Baker Valley Church of Christ will officiate. Afterward, friends are invited to join the family for a Celebration of Life luncheon at the Elks Lodge, No. 338, 1896 Second St.
Donald Cody was born on Feb. 26, 1927, at Los Angeles to Ida Goff and Robert Cody. His birthday was the same day as Buffalo Bill Cody, with whom he had quite a resemblance. He was a third cousin to Buffalo Bill.
Donald worked on a ranch driving a team of horses and working in the bean fields beginning at the age of 12 through his early teens. He worked on the power lines for the Hungry Horse Dam in Montana and spent 11 years in the Coast Guard. He retired from A.B.F. Trucking after 30 years driving with 3 million safe driving miles and no accidents.
He married Pat Fogerty and they had five children together, Marlene, Jody, Donald, Sheila and Cristi. He was a very devoted father and enjoyed his family. Pat died in May, 1985. They had 35 good years together.
Don joined the Lakewood Masonic Lodge No. 728 in 1972 and was a very active member. Then he joined the Eastern Star and was quite active in that also. He also joined the Scottish Rite, York Rite and the Shriners. He enjoyed riding motorcycles. He always rode a Harley-Davidson because he liked the sound of the Harley.
After retiring, he bought a 37-foot motor home and started traveling. He kept running into a good friend, Bea Reise. They would end up in the same RV park, without knowing the other would be there. In 1991, they started traveling together and they saw a lot of beautiful country and gained a lot of friends. Donald and Bea were married May 7, 1994.
Don enjoyed life. He was very well-liked and always had a story for anyone who would listen, his family members said. He loved telling jokes; some he made up himself. Some were funny, some were corny, but they were always amusing.
“He was one great man,” his family said.
Don was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Pat; daughter, Marlene; stepson, Kenneth Reise; and his brother, Robert Cody.
Survivors include his wife of 15 years, Bea; his children: Jody Jefferies, Donald Cody, Sheila Minor and Cristi Vega; his stepchildren, Bruce Reise and Ronald Reise; grandchildren, Jon Paul, Holly Ingalls, Ray Day, Bradley Minor, Will Redmond, David Redmond, Trey Vega, David Reise, Stacy Kirk, Cassie Pollack and Jeremy Reise; 10 great-grandchildren; a brother, Gordon Cody; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Children’s Hospital or Heart ‘n’ Home Hospice through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon September 21, 2009
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
