Byron O. Bushnell
July 12, 1918 - April 2, 2009
Obituary
Byron Oscar Bushnell, of Covington, Washington, was born in Ozone, Idaho, near Idaho Falls, Idaho to Cyrus Edward and Marie Anna Bushnell Olson on July 12, 1918. He died on April 2, 2009.
When Byron was seven years old he and his family moved from Idaho to Southern Oregon in buckboard wagons. He grew up and attended schools in Gold Hill and Talent, Oregon. As a young man, he traveled with the carnival and operated the Ferris Wheels and Merry-Go-Round.
He met Nellie Fay Loos, his wife of 30 years, in Talent. They married in April of 1942, and during their marriage, had three children, Melvin, Linda and Stanley.
Byron proudly served in the United States Army, 270th Ordinance Company, from 1942 to 1945. During that time, he was stationed at Camp White, Oregon and the Hawaiian Island of Maui, working as a Mechanic and Auto Body Repairman. After he was discharged in 1945, he and his wife and toddler son, made their home on Wagner Creek in Talent, Oregon, later adding a daughter and another son to their busy lives. The home they built on Wagner Creek was erected almost entirely by Byron himself, with some finishing help from family members. He was a strong man, able to drive a nail with one swing of a hammer. The tools he used for building that home were a handsaw, a hammer, a shovel and a wheelbarrow, and finally a table saw, combined with his grit and determination.
Byron was very work driven. He took pride in his work as a millwright and welder for Talent Sawmill, and Steve Wilson Lumber, and ultimately retired from Nichol’s Lumber Company in 1983. He was respected by his co-workers as a man with high work ethics. Byron’s rule of life, and legacy to his kids, was ‘Work Hard, Play Hard’. That was how life is, according to Byron.
He was married to Helen Weber in 1974, who also predeceased him. He then met Joyce Hatton, who was his loving companion until her death in 1987. After Joyce’s death, he moved to Pentwater, Michigan, where he resided next door to his daughter’s grocery store until the fall of 2000, when he and his daughter returned to the Pacific Northwest.
Byron’s hobbies were woodworking, tinkering in his workshop, keeping a trim lawn, and being a Mr. Fix-It Hero. He treasured his tool collection, and he created many special handmade presents for his loved ones from his workshop. He truly loved his family, friends, children, mountain lakes, dogs, pickup trucks, big blondes, country music, dancing, his Stella Guitar, his Hohner Harmonicas, red handkerchiefs, fishing, hunting, trout dinner, See’s soft center chocolates, and good whiskey. During his last years, his little Miniature Dachshund, Missy, was a bright ray of sunshine in his life.
Byron had a talent for making everyone he was around want to be a better person. He always brought out the best in people. He was loved by many, leaving wonderful memories for all who knew and loved him. He will be missed, but always in our hearts.
He is survived by his children, Melvin Rex and Marilynn Bushnell, Linda Fay and Larry Hale, and Shirley Bushnell. He is also survived by three grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, and numerous nieces and nephews. His brother, Melvin Clarence and Barbara Bushnell, also survives him. His brothers and sisters predeceasing him in death were Brothers: Twins, Rex Wilbur and Roy Amos Bushnell; brothers Kenneth George Bushnell, and Earnest Harry Bushnell. Sisters: Irene Bernice Black, Lucille Hannah Randall, Lois Christine Gilbertson, and Viola May Bushnell.
Byron’s care is being arranged by Bonney-Watson Funeral Homes of Seattle and Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home of Ashland, Oregon. Visitation will be Friday evening, April 10, 2009, 5 PM to 8 PM at Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home, 1811 Ashland Street, Ashland, Oregon. Funeral Services are scheduled for Saturday, April 11 at 11:00 AM, in the Litwiller-Simonsen Chapel. Interment will follow at Stearns Wagner Creek Cemetery in Talent, Oregon. His children hope that all who knew and loved him will join us for his services.
Linda,
What wonderful memories you have. Thank you for sharing this with me.
I always felt priveleged to have known Byron, all of his antics at the store where I worked made my day as an employee there. I even have some secrets that Linda doesn’t know of, if anyone can believe that!! He was always there to help with our chores at the store and if anything needed to be fixed he would be the first to volunteer. I truly missed his company after he moved to Washington. Peace to you Byron!!!!
Melvin,Linda and Shirley, My heart goes out to you in this time of great sorrow, I loved and respected your father very much. Uncle Byron always made me feel special and loved just like my DadErnest Bushnell. He always had that wonderful sheepish smile on his face. There will always be a very special place in my heart for you Uncle Byron.
Love you,
Your neice Joyce
Linda,
My prayers go out to you and your family. Your Dad was such a wonderful and lovable person.
May you all find comfort and knowing he is an angel who has touched alot of peoples hearts.
I will always have the memories of Him in pentwater with Gypsy and mudka. I will miss him dearly. May god be with you all.
Robin
Uncle Byron,
You will be truly missed and I will remeber Kevin and I having fun with you and Aunt Nellie while we were growing up always.
Love Sheri Vandersypen Bedke
Uncle Byron is truly going to be missed. I’m so thankful that I had a chance to see him a few weeks prior to his passing when I brought his little brother my grandpa Melvin up to see him. I will never forget the look in their eyes when they said good bye to one another that day and hearing them say, “I will see you later brother.” They truly had a very special bond.
I will always have wonderful memories of the time I spent with Uncle Byron while I was in Pentwater, Mighigan. I can still hear his laugh as I drove him around in his little Subaru. That old car really had power.
May we all find comfort in knowing that Uncle Byron is in a beautiful place.
God Bless
I love you so much Uncle Byron. I am at peace that you are with our heavenly father. Thank you for giving me one of the best blessing of my life…..You!
I always remember you when I smell the sweet sent of a pipe. The rocking chair you made for Bryer is still and will always be a remembrance of the wonderful life you shared with us all.
I enjoyed knowing Uncle Byron and he will be greatly missed by his family.
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Jan Pyle
We will truly miss Byron. He was our cul-de-sac sentinel, with Missy as his friendly little ambassador. He had a kind heart, a ready wit, and was a true gentleman.
WOW, a thousand words aren’t enough to describe the wonderful memories Uncle Byron has brought to my family—you are loved, you are missed, you will always be remembered with a smile! You know Uncle Byron, you did help influence each of us growing up, I know that probably scares you. What a party there must have been April 2, 2009, what a reunion. You have earned it.
Linda and family I’m going to miss him he was always around when we were growing up.We always looked forward to seeing him when ever he came over or we went to their house. I have a ton of memories of him and they are all good. I’m not going to be able to make it to the funeral but I will be thinking about all of you.
Linda, so sorry to hear about your Dad but he had a long, good life.
Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time.
Debbie
Our prayers are with you. LOVE
I was so sorry to hear that sad news. I really cared about him, as did the rest of our team at Issaquah Nursing. It was difficult watching his decline and not be his ‘Old Self”. He would love to tease me and he would laugh.
I wish his services were here so we all could pay our respects. But I know that he knew how we all felt about him.
I learned a lesson also. I was busy the day he came back from the Hospital. On my way to work the next morning I thought that I had time to go and sit with him and hold his hand. And I learned that I was too late. I see that I will not put off telling people how I care about them.
My thoughts are with your family. And know all of us we happy to do whatever we could for him and your family.
Sincerely, Lynnette
I always heard good things about My Uncle Mel brother from Barbar & Mel. When Mel loved to showed pictures of his brothers & family. Bryon was lucky man to have a loving famaly live in a house he built by hand. Never lose sight of those facts. May Byron dance with the angles in Heaven.
Thanks, family and friends, for signing the guestbook……… Daddy loved a lot of people, and a LOT of people loved him back.
I helped him shave on Thursday, and we talked about Hospice, and what they would be starting to do for him, and that he would get some comfort from them, and when I left, he raised his hand and I took his hand in mine, and he looked at me crystal clear, straight in the eyes…….. and he said: “I love you, Daughter”, and I said: “I love you, too, Daddy”……. I still remember how clear blue his eyes were. It was pretty much magic.
Those were the last words we spoke to each other……. “I love you”…….ONE more time……and I feel that it was a true gift for me to be able to live with after he died. I can handle the loss better because we said “I love you”…… not very many people have the incredible fortune of having that one last “I love you” words as the last words that were spoken.
I put his WWII Veteran ball cap back on him, and left for home about 2 PM………. Sam, one of the caregivers at the Issaquah Skilled Nursing Facility, called me at about 6:10 PM. He was gone.
Dear Family, We are all so sorry to hear of your loss. All of our family have fond memories of him. Even as a little girl I remember him at the Loos family picnics. He always had a grin on his face..He was a very kind, loving man..My mom is Dolores Zemke Denison..Love to all. Remember the grand hope & promise of Ps 37:9,10&11
My heart goes out to Melvin, Linda, Stanley and Uncle Melvin and to all our family. Although we share a common loss each of us experience it differently, for each one of us had a unique relationship with My Uncle Byron. Each Family or friend will preserve different memories in their hearts. As we reach out to each other in our grief we grow closer as a family these bonds together hold a force stronger then death. In honor of Uncle Byron I have to say I am proud to be a Bushnell and I will always remember Uncle Byron as a kind, caring and loving Uncle whose family was his life. He made a great impact on all our lives and will be missed greatly by all. Fly with the Angles, my beloved Uncle Byron with the loved ones that have gone on before you. I love and miss you; you will always hold a special place in my heart. With hopes of some day being with you all. You are at home with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Your niece Janet Vandersypen Bushnell
All I can say Is We love you Byron and will miss you terrible. You were the best neighbor anyone could of every asked for. I was blessed to have known you and you will always be in our hearts. Rest in peace Byron….
Tammy, Joel, Brooke, Katelynn and Whitney
Oh and one more thing Byron, I will always be your #1 BIG BLONDE!!!
Love you..
Tammy
Linda & Family,
I am so sorry to hear of Uncle Byron’s passing. I still remember the trip he made to Alaska with Grandpa and Grandma and the laughs we shared. Byron made that year a very memorable summer with his jokes and antics. My thoughts are you with in this time of sorrow.
My condolences and prayers go out to Melvin, Linda and Stanley. What moves through us is a silence, a quiet sadness, a longing for one more day, one more word, one more touch. We may not understand why Uncle Byron left us before we were ready to say good-bye, but little by little, we begin to remember not just that he died, but that he lived. And that his life gave us memories too beautiful to forget. His life was with purpose and he left each of us better for knowing and loving him. Life is eternal, love is immortal, and death is only a horizon; and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight. May the peace which comes from the memories of love shared, comfort us now and in the days ahead.
We are trully saddened with the news of Uncle Byrons passing. He was a true American & a man all could look to and say ” I want to grow up & be like Byron” That most definately includes me. The summer I lived with Byron & Nellie was a major influnce in my life. We will miss his shy all knowing smile & the true friend he always was.
Chuck & Diane
Uncle Byron,
You are going to be missed so very much.You were the familys rock.LeRoy and I so enjoyed having you live with us those 3 months after Joyce passed away and before you moved to Linda’s. We had so many laughs and good times.Jeff is always talking about the weekend at Lake of the woods and you walked though snow up to your thighs to take him to the restroom.Now that is a deadicated uncle.Like I said before you are so very loved and will be missed greatly. Please watch over Leroy for me.I know you guys are having a big family reunion up in heaven.
I Love You,
Brinn
Linda. i am so sorry for your loss, our family has lost a great man. but heaven has gained a angel.i have so many fond memories, as a child and a adult growing up with Byron. he is and was my favorite.he led a full and prosperous life.
I remember when Uncle Byron tried to teach me how to water ski. I always went to the bottom like a log. No lack of trying on His part. I remember his cotinued patience with me during those times. I will always hold that as a fond memory along with many others. We will miss Him dearly and He will forver be in our hearts.
With Love
Carol Cummings Bushnell
Linda and Family,
Please know how very sorry I am for the loss of Uncle Byron. The very first time I met him was at Uncle Mel’s birthday party before Jeff and I got married. What a wonderful and special man, all of you including him made me feel as though I had been part of the family for a life time and he kept teasing Jeff and I that if Jeff was not careful he would steal me away. I wish with all my heart I could have spent more time getting to know him better and hearing stories from him I am quite sure were as intersting and witty as he was. Thank you for sharing him with all of us. Maybe him and my mom are in heaven meeting for the first time and having a little flirt…haha I love you Marti
Uncle Byron was one of my favorite uncles. We fished together,hunted,and drank beer. He taught Dennis and I how to drive @ the age of 7 or 8. I loved his guitar playing and singing at family gatherings. He was always such a happy man and his presence was just awesome. I will never forget him. I always loved him and always will. Thank you Uncle Byron for all the good times and happy memories. Love Russell and Sue P.S. tell mom and dad hi and I love them
My heart is so heavy right now for the loss of my favorite Uncle BO. My memories with him formed for me as a young child spending summers at the ranch in Talent, boating, and just enjoying all of our family get togethers. He always made them special playing his guitar and harmonica and making up songs for each of us making us feel so special. Uncle BO and I had a special bond with each other which I will always treasure and lots of good times too over the years. I will miss him terribly but will have so many memories to make me smile forever.I am so happy I got to bring dad to see his brother last weekend. It touched my heart when Uncle BO saw dad and he said “there is my baby brother” even at 90 and 87 dad was still the baby to him. I love you Uncle BO always. Melanie,Mike and your bear hunting buddy Trevor xoxo