Eldon Lee Leaton Sr.

Eldon was born to William and Bernice Leaton on August 7, 1930 in North Bend, Oregon. He grew up living above the Gold and Silver Falls, and Allegheny in Coos County Oregon. His early years were spent working hard and with a strong work ethic. He married Elizabeth J. Hinds in 1950, and of this marriage was born Eldon Lee, Jr. Dad then joined the Army in 1955, stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington and then to Fort Bliss, Texas. In 1956 he married Edith Wilson. While at Fort Bliss, they would have a son, William Lee in 1956, and a daughter Linda Marie in 1957. After being discharged, Eldon started his trucking career in Cimarron, New Mexico, several locations in California including Arcata, Eureka, Baker, Palo Alto and Grangeville, Idaho. He drove logging trucks, belly dumps, and operated other types of logging and highway construction equipment. In 1966 they completed the family with Lonnie Lee. In 1972 he gave up the logging and moved the family to Payette, Idaho where he started with a 20 acre apple orchard. What was unique to this idea was that he knew how to fall timber and haul it to the mills. He thought you only had to pick the fruit. Thinking he would only have to work one to two months out of the year. He learned hard and fast that you basically worked year round and long hours regardless the weather. He however was very successful at it and finished with 80 acres of orchard, vegetables and hay. He married Peggy Peterson in 1994. In 2001 he was done with the orchard and relocated to St. Maries, Idaho, where he could get back to his woods and hauling logs. In 2004 he returned to Payette and another 20 acres.

Dad lived a very full life with stories that will be always treasured. He liked so many things, such as elk hunting, fishing, flying his planes, and collecting stuff and will always be remembered for how he could figure out any problem and fix it. He loved his pets Pilot, Midnight, Blackie, Lobo, Lady, Rusty, Lacy, Jake and Indie.

He was preceded in death by his parents William and Bernice Leaton, his sister Hattie Cotter, and wife Peggy.

He is survived by his sons: Eldon Jr (Kitty), Payette, William (Joyce) Roseburg, Oregon, Lonnie, Ontario, Oregon, and his daughter Linda Wilson (Greg) Payette. He has 4 grandsons, John Raines, Hugh Blacketor II, Larry and Tyler Leaton. He is also survived by his sister Wilma Hoelig of Huntington Beach, California and many Nieces and Nephews.