Lloyd "Gene" Eugene DeShon

Gene was many things:

* The first born of four to Otto and Gertrude DeShon

* Husband to two wonderful wives (not at the same time)

* Father of two daughters and a son with his first wife, Barbara (Jackson) DeShon, and grandfather of five

* A National Guardsman

* A gunsmith with his own repair shop

* A talented plastic mold engineer who worked at Tektronix in Beaverton and Hewlett-Packard in Colorado Springs and Boise, before returning to Oregon to finish his HP career in Corvallis

* A Christian

* A traveler and camper who took his family on road trips throughout most of the western United States

* A sportsman who loved fishing, hunting, and dirt bike riding

* A man with many, many toys: boats, skis, motorcycles, camping trailers, snowmobiles, and a shop full of tools

* A builder and racer of wooden boats and water skis. Also, a builder of remote control airplanes, van conversions, and a fiberglass precursor to the wakeboard, which he used to pull kids around lakes.

* A snow ski instructor

* A water skier who also skied backwards, when there was crowd demand

* A good trouble-shooter and consultant

* A willing (if grumbling) helper whenever his children needed help with home projects or car repairs

* A joker and a cookie & ice cream lover

Gene was the final caretaker for his first wife, Barbara, who died in Corvallis in 1998. He later bought a home in Albany, Oregon. In 2006, he married Vena Plattner. They enjoyed many years together and became great dance partners, until his hip fracture and dementia made things more difficult and they moved to Waverly Place Assisted Living in Albany. She passed away earlier this year.

Gene lived at Boone Ridge Assisted Living in Salem before moving to Lebanon for more extended care.

His brother, Frank, preceded him in death. He is survived by his daughters, Joyce and Carol “Nia” DeShon; son, Norman DeShon (Judy); step daughters Nancy Sadowski (Joe) and Cindy Nollen (Mike); brother, Galen DeShon (Roberta); sister, Louise Camp, his grandchildren and some long-time friends.

He will be missed.

The family will hold a private memorial.