Durkee, Oregon
Alan W. Wyatt, 51, of Durkee, died July 2, 2002, while falling timber on the Durango, Colo., fire.
There will be a celebration of his life at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Durkee Grange. The celebration will include a dessert potluck.
Alan was born Aug. 28, 1950, at Sacramento, Calif., to Albert and Merrilee Boncher Wyatt. He spent his entire young life at Orangevale, Calif., fostering his lifelong love of the sport of rodeo and cattle ranching.
On April 25, 1970, he married Victoria Lennberg at Citrus Heights, Calif., They began their life together ranching at Elk Grove, Calif., and moved to southeastern Oregon in 1972.
Alan began working as a timber faller in 1973, working in seven Western states and Alaska over the past 29 years. In 2000 and 2001, he entered into a contractual agreement with the U.S. Army and Marine Corps to teach troops timber falling safety methods.
He received military commendation for his efforts. He worked in fire suppression as a timber faller as needed for the past 10 years.
In 1989, Alan and his family moved to Durkee to increase their cow herd size. In 1992, they purchased a ranch at Morres Hollow, 14 miles west of Ontario, where he was partners with his wife and son in Wyatt Livestock, a commercial cattle operation. They also owned a registered black Angus cattle herd.
In his younger years, Alan was a rodeo cowboy. His true passion was for saddle bronc riding. He gave many young men their start, lending equipment and advice to anyone who needed it.
He continued actively with the sport in recent years as a rodeo judge and as the biggest fan of his son, Wyatt, a professional bronc rider. In addition to his other interests, Alan enjoyed playing his guitar, ministering the gospel and working in his saddle shop.
Survivors include his wife of 32 years, Vikki; a daughter and son-in-law, Leigh Ann and James Evans of Lakeview; a son, Wells, of Durkee; his parents, Albert and Merrilee Wyatt of Cave Junction; his in-laws, Roy and Mabel Lennberg of Baker City; a brother, Gerald, of Templeton, Calif.; and two granddaughters, Cheyenne and Dally Evans.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund in memory of Alan Wyatt, 101 ProRodeo Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80919.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, July 5, 2002
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor