Donald R. Orr, 64, of Baker City, died July 19, 2008, at Boise.
His memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Keith Chadwell will officiate. There will be a reception afterward at Community Connection, 2810 Cedar St.
Donald was born on Aug. 14, 1943, at Torrance, Calif., to Joe and Ina McNeal Orr. He graduated from high school at Bakersfield, Calif. He married Sharron Kohl in June of 1974 at Weiser, Idaho.
Don spent the majority of his working career outside doing various types of logging. Over a 30-year period he owned and operated numerous log trucks in Eastern and Western Oregon.
Don acquired the nickname “The Duck” from his co-workers in the logging industry.
In May 1996, Don and Sharron purchased the Inland Cafe. Together with their daughter, Kelly, they ran and operated the restaurant until selling it in November 2007.
After a brief retirement, Don and his son, David, purchased a truck. As father and son, they spent many cherished hours working together. When David was unavailable to work with his dad, from strapping loads, hauling hay or pulling boards, Don had his best friend, soul mate and loving wife, Sharron, to co-pilot him on his adventures.
Don had many friends who spoke very highly of him, any of whom would tell you Don was right to the point.
“You always knew where you stood with him,” his family said.
Don took great pleasure in attending gun shows and classic car events. He spent countless hours restoring several classic cars of his own. The pride he put into his work was evident in the finished product, his family said.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Ina Orr.
Survivors include his wife, Sharron Orr of Baker City; five children, Rhonda Orr and her husband, John, of Vale, Kelly Karnowski and her husband, Mike, of Baker City, Karen Overlin and her husband, Fred, of Caldwell, Idaho, Derek Orr of Eugene and David Orr and his wife, Shaunna, of Baker City; nine grandchildren, Nicole, Travis, Jeremy, Frankie, Wyatt, Lacey, Andrea, Dannie and Dylan; two great-grandchildren, Anthony and Treaghan; sister, Virginia Thompson of Waterford, Calif.; and brother, Jim Cullum of Chilcoot, Calif.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, July 23, 2008
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor