Eldon Davis

Eldon Davis, 69, died Sunday, July 14, at his home near Sisters after a more than five-year battle with cancer.

He was born April 17, 1933 at Molalla and graduated from Canby High School in 1951. He served two years in Europe with the U.S. Army. He did undergraduate studies in theology at Pacific Lutheran College and later completed graduate studies in business management at UCLA.

Eldon had a 35-year career with the U.S. Postal Service, retiring in 1989 as assistant postmaster in Salem and field supervisor of all post offices across mid-Oregon from the coast to eastern Oregon.

In 1982, he served as acting postmaster in Bend. He was a member and officer of the National Association of Postal Service and received many awards for his work with the postal service.

He served for many years as a volunteer fireman and captain in Albany. He was a member of American Legion Post 86 and a 29-year member of the Elks.

Eldon moved to Sisters in 1989 and was an active volunteer in the community. He served on the boards of directors for the Sisters Rodeo Association and the Crossroads Property Owners Association. He was a charter member of the Sisters Reride Association. Other volunteer activities included his work as a youth mentor for three years, a SMART reader for five years and a Habitat for Humanity volunteer on several projects.

He loved hunting, fishing, hiking, shooting, canoeing. He was noted for wearing his black hat, displaying his "Black Hat" name on business cards, his license plate and elsewhere. He had a passion for cowboy poetry, western music and rodeos.

He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Carole "C. B." Davis of Sisters; his mother, Ruth of Salem; children Keith of Shoshone, Idaho; Kevin of Maple Valley, Washington; Kerry of Phoenix, Arizona; Kyle of Moses Lake, Washington; Kelly and Karna of Salem; step-sons Dan Clark of Bend; Rick and Darrell of Milwaukie, Oregon; sister Betty of Salem; sister Melba of Albany; 18 grandchildren; and many friends throughout the Sisters area.

He was preceded in death by his father, Bert, of Salem and stepson David of Portland.

At his request, his ashes will be scattered over the Three Sisters Wilderness. A memorial service will be held on July 27, at 11 a.m. at the Faith Lutheran Church in Albany. A celebration of life will be held at a later date at the Sisters Rodeo Association clubhouse.

Contributions can be made in his memory to Hospice of Redmond, Sisters and Grant County, or to the Sisters Organization for Activities and Recreation (SOAR).