Daniel R. “Dan” Couzens, 50, of Umatilla, a former Baker City resident, died April 11, 2009, at his home.
There will be a celebration of life service at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Oregon National Guard Armory in Hermiston with a potluck luncheon afterward.
He was born on March 4, 1959, at Baker City to Charles and Clarane Urie Couzens. Dan was raised and educated at Baker City and was a 1978 Baker High School graduate.
He joined the Oregon National Guard at the age of 17. He married Linda Mitchell on July 8, 1978, at Baker City and worked for Baker Builder Supply for 13 years before going to work full time for the Oregon National Guard in 1990.
He had worked at Baker City and La Grande before transferring to Hermiston in 1997. Dan was transferred back to La Grande in 2002 where he served as a sergeant first class in charge of personnel, although he and his family continued to live at Umatilla.
Dan served a tour in Iraq from June 2004 through November 2005 and held the rank of master sergeant. He enjoyed motorcycles, woodworking, building projects, fishing and music.
Survivors include his wife, Linda Couzens of Umatilla; daughters, Kiya Kalb, and her husband, Marty, of Hermiston, Keysha Couzens of Hermiston; father, Charles Couzens of Baker City; mother, Clarane Sundin and her husband, Peter, of Baker City; sisters, Davon Thompson of Crouch, Idaho, and Rebecca Mitchell of Baker City.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, April 21, 2009
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
