Dean Duvall

1955-2023

Last updated 5/30/2023 at 4:33pm

Dean was a man who lived by a dedication to his faith and values. He was highly adventurous and very responsible - a rare combination of traits. A lifelong learner, committed leader, always curious, an avid reader, humble, with a playful sense of humor. Dean was a beloved son and inspiring brother.

Dean was born in 1955 to parents Dale and June Duvall. Raised in Portland, Dean had an adventurous childhood with his siblings Dirk and Dian. There was camping, hiking, fishing, tennis, vacations to national parks and historical monuments across North America. Dean loved to fly with his dad as the pilot and was always ready for the next takeoff and destination. These family activities helped to define Dean's sense of curiosity and adventure throughout his life. A deep faith came early to Dean, participating in YoungLife and serving as a Club leader. During college Dean volunteered as a mountain guide leader in YoungLife's Beyond Malibu program. He guided high school students in one-week spiritual and physical expeditions in the mountains above the inlets of British Columbia, Canada. Dean loved music. He learned to play the oboe at age 10, the guitar at 17, and continued to play music his entire life. When the moment was right, he would sing any Frank Sinatra song. He used his love of music to connect with others.

An accomplished athlete, Dean was a long-distance road-bike rider, participating in rides of 200 or 100 miles per day. As a West Coast ranked squash player, Dean represented the Multnomah Athletic Club, winning tournaments in Vancouver, Seattle, and Portland. Perhaps his 20 years of squash formed his pickleball prowess...

With his uncanny sense of direction to guide his travels, Dean's adventures took him across the Pacific Ocean and to many states and countries. Over three summers he was the skipper of a 43-foot racing boat - sailing for 21 days from Maui to Seattle. He rode his motorcycles through twisting back roads of Oregon to Oklahoma; walked and discovered the labyrinth of alleys and bridges in Venice; and drove to remote French and Italian hilltop villages - just because they were there. All with awe and appreciation of what he was experiencing.

Dean used his analytical problem-solving and easy connection with people in his professional life while holding multiple IT positions in Oregon and, most recently, as a systems analyst in Texas. Because he was an impactful leader and understood the critical importance of leadership, Dean wrote a book on leadership: "The Leader's Guide to Followers."

In March 2020, Dean returned to Oregon to be with his mom, June, at Black Butte Ranch. He became an active member of Sisters Community Church and an inspirational participant in his church groups. Dean quickly formed new friendships through church, music, mountain biking, and near-daily trips to the pickleball court.

On May 1, Dean peacefully passed to be with his Heavenly Father. He was predeceased by his dad, Dale, and his brother, Dirk.

He is survived by his mother, June; sister, Dian, brother-in-law, Ray; life-long friends; aunties; nieces; nephews; cousins; and new friends.

Services will be held at Sisters Community Church on May 19 at 3 p.m.

A Celebration of Life for Dean will take place at Black Butte Ranch in June.

Baird Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. A tribute book can be signed at http://www.bairdfh.com.