Wesley Austin Cleaver passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family after fighting a courageous battle with cancer.
Wes was born on Feb. 21, 1956 in Nyssa to LaVern and Bernice Cleaver.
He was raised on the family farm surrounded by his siblings and large family. He graduated from Nyssa High School in 1974. Wes was very involved in FFA and loved to ride bareback and bulls. Shortly after graduation Wes was hired on with the Union Pacific Railroad. He traveled throughout the country operating heavy equipment and building bridges. In 1975 Wesley met the love of his life, Debara, and they were married in 1981. Wes was a hard worker and great husband, but most of all he was a devoted father to their two boys, Wyatt and Kelby.
Anyone who met Wes knew his infectious passion for his family, especially his grandchildren. His pride for his sons and their families brought him such happiness. His warming smile, quick comebacks and joy for life were truly contagious. He was a gentle soul mixed with the hardest working, strongest man that has ever walked this earth. Wes greatly enjoyed traveling and fishing. You could often find him sitting in his back yard admiring his shed while enjoying a whiskey and the company of friends and family. Wes and Debbie spent the past few years together on the Columbia River catching fish and sometimes not catching fish, but nonetheless, they were together and that was exactly where they both wanted to be.
After battling and beating cancer twice, Wes succumbed to his pain but not without taking his family on one more fishing trip to the Oregon coast. With a huge smile on his face Wes fished and crabbed all day. He was a selfless fighter and wanted to ensure that his family knew how very much he deeply loved them. “God grant that I may live to fish until my dying day, and when it comes to my last cast I then must humbly pray.”
He is survived by his wife, Debbie; sons, Wyatt (Lesa) and Kelby (Kamaly); grandchildren, MaKayla, Braelen, Mason and Emery; and siblings, Alan (Bonnie) Cleaver, Kevin (Georgia) Cleaver, Kim (Diane) Cleaver and Karry (Doug) Fallin.
Wesley was preceded in death by his parents, LaVern and Bernice Cleaver and infant granddaughter, Blair Cleaver.
Friends and family are invited to attend a celebration of life gathering on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 1 p.m. at the Maxwell Siding Event Center in Hermiston.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society in Wesley’s honor.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
