Danny Jo “Dan” Fullerton passed away in Portland on Aug.18, 2019 from MS complications at the age of 71, surrounded by his family.
He was born on Nov. 1, 1947 in Walla Walla, Wash. to L.G. Fullerton and Josephine Lois Poyser Fullerton.
Dan and his family lived in the Koontz house in Echo when he was born. He and his sister, Mary were raised with two foster sisters, Shelia and Onna Oran. They moved to Milton-Freewater near his maternal grandparents before moving back to Echo for a year. In 1953 the family moved to Williams, where Dan began school and had many happy memories. They eventually moved permanently back to Echo when Dan was in seventh grade. He graduated Echo High School in 1966.
After high school he and a best friend, Danny Flanagan, joined the Army together. He was stationed in Louisiana, Virginia, Germany and Kansas. He received the National Defense Service Medal for marksmanship with the .45-caliber pistol and sharpshooter with the M14 rifle. His service was with B Company, 70th Battalion, 24th Infantry Division in armor as a tank driver. He was honorably discharged as a corporal in 1969 and was on standby reserve until 1972.
Dan came to faith in Jesus in the late 1970s in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Hermiston and was a faithful attender with his family.
He worked for the forest service as a heavy equipment operator, and at the Army Corp of Engineers at McNary Dam before medically retiring in 1987. Some of his happiest times were camping and going for drives in the mountains, and camping at the beach with his family. He could tell stories for hours of his growing up and wild days in the Army. In later years he moved to the Portland area to be closer to his daughters.
Dan is survived by two daughters, Shanna Fullerton and Katrina Sutherland; five grandchildren, Logan Duggan, Ashley Stoneking, Kelsey Stoneking, McKenze Sutherland and Makena Sutherland; sister, Mary Cox; and foster sister, Shelia Oran.
He was preceded in death by both of his parents, L.G. and Josephine Fullerton; brothers, Dale and Richard Fullerton (from L.G.’s first family); foster sister, Onna Oran; and his daughter, Antonia Orroyo.
A graveside service will be held on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019 at 2 p.m. at the Echo Cemetery.
Please share memories of Dan with his family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
