Baker City, Oregon
Dallas Dean, 81, died on Aug. 26, 2006, at his home with his family at his side, ending a three-year battle with cancer.
There will be a celebration of his life from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at his son’s home at 44431 Anthony Lakes Highway in Haines. A light buffet will be served. Friends and relatives are invited.
Dallas was born on July 1, 1925, at Keating to Marvin Dean and Edith Hodgkins. He was the couple’s second son, joining a brother, James.
He lived in Baker and Union counties. His family settled in the Pondosa area and he attended school at Union. He was a 1943 Union High School graduate.
In February 1944, he entered the U.S. Army during World War II and fought in the Hurtgen Forest Campaign. During the intense Battle of the Bulge, he was disabled with frozen feet.
Hospitalized for several months overseas and in Colorado, he was discharged in July 1945, receiving the EAMC and Combat Infantry citations, Bronze Star and unit citations.
Returning to Baker City, he married Beverly White in 1946. They had a son, Michael, and a daughter, Rhonda. Beverly died just before the couple’s 44th anniversary. They both were active in the community for many years.
As a young man and father, Dallas worked for Silven Cleaners and Lew Bros. Tire Service. He also became owner of the Shell Service Station at Main Street and Auburn Avenue. He later bought the Shell jobbership from Lloyd Wells.
His daughter accompanied him on oil deliveries for many summers. Throughout an early retirement, he worked for Levinger Rexall Drug Store and B&K Chevrolet and Best County car dealerships. He finally took full retirement in 1990.
Dallas was a great sports fan, following his son’s high school track activities. Always he remained a loyal fan of the New York Yankees. A highlight was meeting and talking with Yogi Berra. He saw the Yankees play in Seattle last fall.
Dallas always loved the beauty of Northeastern Oregon and was able to take advantage of all it offered. He was an avid hunter and fisherman.
He married Charlene Lee Moffit in 1990. The couple maintained a winter residence at Indio, Calif., for 12 years, enjoying all that Southern California offered.
They settled back in La Grande in 2003 and had recently returned to Baker City. After his illness, his one passion was to watch the activities at his son’s horse ranch at Haines, where he spent many hours of enjoyment.
Survivors include his wife, Charlene; his son, Michael, and his wife, Anna, of Haines; his daughter, Rhonda, and her husband, Tim Culley, of Baker City; a stepson, R.J. Larsen of Umatilla; and 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
He also was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, James.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Heart ‘n Home Hospice Foundation through Heart ‘n Home, 1435 Campbell St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, September 1, 2006
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor