Daniel A. Creamer, 80, of Irrigon, died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016 in Richland, Wash.
He was born June 26, 1936 at Ogden, Utah to Arthur and Lillian Creamer.
The family moved to Irrigon when he was 10 years old and he attended Irrigon schools until he graduated in 1954.
Dan learned to run tug boats while still in school and worked on several ferryboats. He worked on the Paterson Ferry, Richland Ferry, Maryhill Ferry, and Vernita Ferry.
During his senior year, Dan was working on the Paterson Ferry and dating his future wife of 62 years, Rita Jean Reeves. In 1958, he joined the Navy and went through “Boot Camp” and was the Honor Man of his unit. His Navy experience was short lived with an honorable discharge due to osteo-arthritis in his knees. He returned home to run ferries and line boats for Tidewater and Inland Navigation. During this time, he and Rita Jean started raising their three children.
For a short while he worked for the Union Pacific Railroad, but again returned to the tug boats and was eventually sent to Stockton, Calif., on a huge sand bar project to rebuild a portion of Interstate Highway I-5. Dan was also employed at the Army Depot on the train. In 1974 he was injured in a train/truck accident. The injury received kept him from his normal type of employment, and then he began a different type of life.
He was on the Morrow County Planning Commission, Morrow County Budget Committee, he was a Port of Morrow Commissioner (1989-2005) and President for 16 years. He was involved with Pacific Northwest Waterways Association. He was also on Oregon Public Ports Association and a Board member for Morrow County Small Business Loans (1994-present). He served as the 2015 Grand Marshall for the Irrigon Watermelon Festival.
Dan had a real appreciation for firearms, not so much for the new ones, but for the older traditional kind. For years he had a cabin in Dale, Oregon where he enjoyed spending time with family and friends.
Dan is survived by wife Rita Jean, son Daniel, daughter Dana Shook (Lynn), daughter Danita Clary (Josh). Granddaughters: Danielle (Steve McNutt), Christine (Forrest Lowell) and Caitlyn Clary. Grandsons: Joseph Creamer, Cody Sherman (Brittney), and Cameron Clary. Great Granddaughters: Camryn Lowell, Addysen Sherman, and Victoria McNutt. Great Grandson: Ty McNutt and numerous nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017 at 11 a.m. at Desert Lawn Memorial Cemetery in Irrigon. A luncheon will follow at Stokes Landing Senior Center in Irrigon.
Memorial contributions may be made to Stokes Landing Senior Center, Box 614, Irrigon, Ore., 97844 or to the local charity of your choice.
Please send condolences at Burns Mortuary of Hermiston.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
