Alfred Duane “Fred” Cullers passed away peacefully on Dec. 6, 2023 in Hermiston at the age of 79. During his last few days, Fred was visited by family and friends and enjoyed their company.
Fred was born to Chester and Martha Hansen Cullers on Aug. 19, 1944 in Portland, where he joined his older brothers Chet “Lee” and Robert “Bob.” The family moved to Pendleton in 1946 where younger brothers Roger and Jerry were born. The Cullers family moved to Hermiston in 1954 when Fred was 9 years old and where he finished school, and graduated from Hermiston High with the class of 1962.
While Fred was still in junior high and high school, he worked at Millers Bakery on Hermiston Avenue and in the produce department at Stewarts Town & Country Market. Soon after graduating from high school, Fred began his career as a meat cutter at Stewarts Market in Hermiston and later went to work for Safeway, where he worked as a meat cutter and meat department manager for many years. He also cut meat after work and on weekends during deer and elk season at Follet’s Meats in Hermiston. During his career he worked at several Safeway stores including Goldendale, Wash., Madras and Pendleton, but most of his time was in the Hermiston store, from which he retired in 2006.
Growing up, Fred loved to fish and hunt and enjoyed many fishing, camping and hunting trips with his parents and brothers in the Wallowa Mountains, Columbia River and the John Day River area. He loved cars and hot rods. His favorite was a red ’64 Chevy Impala that he spent many days after work and on weekends keeping clean and polished. Fred was a member of the J.C.s, played golf and tennis, and was on a bowling league. He was a fan of Hermiston and the University of Oregon sports, attending or watching many games. If his kids or grandkids were in swimming, a basketball game, tennis match, event, recital, music performances, jazz band or rodeo, he was right there watching. During the Umatilla County Fair and Farm-City Pro Rodeo, he would invite family and friends to visit Hermiston and attend the rodeo with him. It turned into a family reunion every year during the Umatilla County Fair. An official Hansen Family Reunion was held every three years on the beach in Chinook, Wash. with games, picnics, and sand castle competition.
Not long after graduating, Fred and his high school sweetheart, Connie Little, were married. He became a father in 1964 when he and Connie welcomed their first daughter, Shelly. In 1969 they welcomed their second daughter, Sherri. In 1984, he and Linda (Connor) Cullers welcomed his third daughter, Chelsea. Fred shared his love of sports and the outdoors with his three daughters.
At home he could usually be found working on a project, doing chores, or barbecuing. He also loved any show in black and white – The Waltons, Gunsmoke, or any old western movie.
Fred married Beverly “Bev” Estes on May 22, 1997. Bev and Fred both loved to fish and spent many hours after work and on weekends on the Columbia River in their boat fishing for salmon and sturgeon. Fred and Bev enjoyed vacations together and with family. One of their first was a Caribbean cruise with his mom, his brothers and their wives. Later was a Mexico cruise with friends and relatives. There was also a week-long Alaska fishing trip with his brothers and a trip to Hawaii with friends Richard and Wanda (Richard is like another brother in the Cullers family). With their love of being on the river and fishing, Fred and Bev moved to Hat Rock where they could look out over the river and be to the boat launch in just a few minutes. They had a swimming pool at their home and had many days in the summer with the pool full of kids, grandkids and great-grandkids, which they both enjoyed.
He is survived by children, Shelly Kinnick and Sherri Garcia, both of Hermiston, Chelsea (Mike) Swift of Glendale, Ariz., Thad Estes and Justin (Jenny) Estes of Hermiston; 10 grandchildren, Madison Pollock (Bryce), Zoey, Zack, Willa, Damon, Jayden, Zane, Coy, Cidney and Cameron; two great-grandchildren, Clarabell and Lane; brother, Jerry (Tina) Cullers of Hermiston; sister-in-law, Angela Cullers of Renton, Wash.; and many nieces and nephews and extended family members.
Bev preceded Fred in death on Nov. 3, 2020. He was also preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Chet, Robert and Roger; sister-in-law, Patricia Cullers; and son-in-law, Wally Kinnick.
Fred was a warm and generous man, and we will all miss him dearly.
A celebration of life will be announced at a later time.
To leave an online condolence for the family, please go to burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
