Derek Louis Oliver

Derek Louis Oliver, 79, passed away unexpectedly and peacefully on Sunday, September 28, 2025, in Sacramento, CA. He died swiftly from natural causes, as he had always determined he would. Derek was a witty, pragmatic, and loyal man with a deep intellect and a strong sense of justice. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Derek was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on February 15, 1946, to Harry "Paul" Oliver, of Clarksburg, CA, and Elizabeth "Betty" Oliver, of Glasgow. At the age of two, he and his mother migrated to Clarksburg, where they joined his father on the family farm. There, Derek's love of gardening, farming, and science took root.

Derek’s parents had two daughters, Paula and Sue, when they moved to the city of Sacramento. Tragedy struck the family when Derek's father passed away suddenly when Derek was five. His mother later remarried and had his sister Debbie. All sisters have survived their brother.

Derek graduated from Bella Vista High School in 1963 and attended American River College before moving to Oregon to attend Cascade College and later, Chemeketa Community College in the nursing program. In 1968, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he trained in Medical Equipment Maintenance and was stationed in Germany with the 7th Army, 31st Medical Group, 97th General Hospital, until 1971, when he was Honorably discharged from service.

Following his military service, Derek returned to Oregon and trained and was worked as an apprentice HVAC contractor. He returned to Sacramento in the 1980s, where he enrolled at Lincoln Law School. He earned his Juris Doctor on May 17, 1992, and worked for a time in the Sacramento County Public Defender’s office. Later, he was employed by Prison Industries, where he taught welding and other skills to inmates at Vacaville prison. Over his lifetime, he held many other jobs and cultivated a myriad of skills.

In December 1999, Derek met Linda, his "lovely wife," and they were married in October 2002. Linda survives her "DO" and will forever cherish their time together and the incredible impact he had on her life. Derek loved their dogs and considered Linda and the pups his world.

After a knee surgery in 2008, Derek retired as a journeyman from a local commercial HVAC company to focus on his true occupation: his home and garden. He loved to create flower and vegetable gardens and then would tear them out to begin again, resulting in a "beautiful chaotic oasis" that his wife loves.

An avid reader, Derek found solace in the works of James Joyce, William Faulkner, Dylan Thomas, Charles Dickens, and other classic novelists. He was also a talented woodworker, building priceless projects for his home. He explored drawing, painting, and sewing, even spinning wool to sell at Portland's Saturday Market in his younger years. He loved studying up on all the U.S. Military divisions, he was a lifelong baseball fan, devoted to Bob Dylan’s music, and even loved to can the vegetables and fruit he grew.

Above all, Derek loved Sacramento, his home, his small family, and his country. He showed his love through acts of service to his wife, dogs, and others he cared about.

A celebration of Derek's life will be held in February. Details will be announced at a later date.

Derek’s favorite charitable organization was Wounded Warriors Project: www.supportwoundedwarriorsproject.org If desired, please contribute to his honor.