Donald “Don” Drayton of Boardman passed away in Richland, Wash. on Dec. 17, 2021 at the age of 72.
He was born on April 15, 1949 in Longview, Wash. to Donald Drayton and Beverly Parks-Palm.
Don grew up, attended schools and graduated from high school in Clatskanie. He moved to Eastern Oregon in 1979 and resided in Umatilla for several years. He moved to Boardman in 2003, where he resided for the past 18 years. Don worked throughout his career as a millwright in sawmills and paper mills.
Don’s passion was in serving the communities where he lived. He served as a volunteer firefighter/EMT in Umatilla for many years. He served as fire chief of the Umatilla Fire Department in 1993-94. In Boardman he served on the Morrow County Fire District and also the Boardman Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the Hermiston Amateur Radio Services Club (Emergency Communication Services). He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and going to car races.
Don married Mary Burbank in Westport in 1972.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Mary; son, Donald “Pat” Drayton; daughter, Lisa Boullester; mother, Beverly Palm; sisters, Vicki Remick, Cheryl Palm and Lori Brown; brothers, Gary Palm, Rick Palm and Bruce Palm; four grandchildren, Aden, Aaron, Alex and Evelyn Boullester; and one great granddaughter, Hailey Boullester.
He was preceded in death by his father, Donald and a sister, Karen Nolan.
A private family celebration of life will be held at a later time.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
Dad
My heart is broken
It doesn’t seem real
No words can explain just how I feel
So many memories
Some great and some not
All that I know is I miss him a lot
Warm gentle hands
That carried me to bed at night
A strong brow spoke
When my judgment wasn’t quite right
Cowboy boots Full of puppy kibble
Warm Sunday pancakes
Made with beer that we all loved to nibble
Walks in the mountains
Warm breezes with sap scented air
An adventure too close to a family of bears
Because of those walks
I knew just what to do
Calmly and quietly I slipped right through
Bows and arrows Campfires and fishing poles
Family and community always giving and involved
Committed with entirety
A wonderful man
As many folks know
A good Samaritan
Even now at the end
He continues to give
He is my Daddy
My first best friend
Don Your going to be forever missed my Dear Friend. We had allot of good conversation over the past number of years. I will never forget this last summer coming over to my home and giving me a hand with a Ham Radio Antenna and the special wire you gave me. You made the project so much fun and you were hurting with your hip so bad that you could not walk very long because of your painful hip. You alway gave everything your total all.. When people were acting dumb you waited and always got your point across. I want Father God to find a special place for you up here in there in Heaven. I have ALLOT of my Friends up there who have gone ahead of you my dear friend. I hope you all come together and enjoy each others company.
God Loves you and so do I
from your friend still down here on earth. John Oen Eiden. WU8L
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