George Jeffery Haston

George lived in the Willamette Valley all of his life. He graduated from Newburg High School in 1961 and joined the Navy shortly thereafter. He spent much of his time in the Navy in the South Pacific. He was awarded the Navy’s Medal of Honor for attempting to rescue a fellow crew member who had been washed overboard, during a typhoon.

When he left the Navy, he began his Machinist Apprenticeship at Albina Engine and Machine Works, where he later earned his Journeyman Machinist card.

George married Sandy Scheidman in 1965 and their daughter Deanna was born in December of 1970. Sandy passed away in 1982.

In 1984, George married Marsha. They met at the Gateway Elks lodge. He was a devoted stepfather to her 5 children. They divorced in 1996, and “Papa George” is still a part of the kids’ lives.

George continued to work as a machinist until he retired. He stayed with Albina for many years. He progressed from Shop Foreman to Superintendent / Safety Supervisor. During this time, he took night classes to complete his degree in Occupational Safety and Health. The shop shut down in 1983 and he moved to Reynolds Metals in Troutdale. He worked there until they had a major plant slow down in 1985.

In 1986, George went to work for the Port of Portland, where he became the Lead Man in the ship repair yard. In 1987 Cascade General purchased the Shipyard. George worked for Cascade General until he retired in 2005. During that time, George continued his education and passed the requirements for many other trades and had 8 Journeyman’s cards!

In 1969, George joined an organization that changed his life. The Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks, Gateway Lodge #2411. He was a dedicated member and spent countless hours serving the community. From scholarships to spaghetti sauce, veterans to teenager of the month, and the children’s eye clinic to ritual, George helped with it all!

He became Exalted Ruler in 1988-89 after holding all but one minor office. He was a Trustee for 12 years and a champion coach for the ritual team, traveling to National Convention multiple times. He raised tens of thousands of dollars for the Elks charities. Veterans, scholarships, and the Elks Eye Clinic, just to mention a few. And the motto of his year was “real men wear pink”.

But even with all of his other commitments, George lost his heart to Camp Meadowood. For 50 years, he traveled up to Camp Meadowood Springs on Memorial Day weekend. They built cabins, repaired machinery, cleared trails and did the maintenance required to keep the kids safe and happy. For you see, these were special kids. They all had some form of speech and/or hearing disorder. For many, Camp Meadowood was the first time they would meet someone with the same issues they had. Over the years George raised money for the camp. If they needed it, he got it for them. And his most prolific source of funds…..The Monday Night Football Burgers. Every week, all fall, he was in the lodge flipping burgers. Thousands of them.

In the summer of 2011, George met Nancy. She is also a member of the Elks. They spent the last 15 years together. They traveled to the National Conventions and even spent 3 weeks in China. George had heart issues and life slowed down. They had talked about getting married, but never quite got around to it. They even picked up the marriage license, but still he waited. On June 1, he was admitted to the hospital. On June 3, Nancy notified the nurses that there would be a wedding in his room at 2PM the next day. They were married in the ICU on June 4.

The doctors moved him to OHSU, for more tests and some different treatment later that day. He spent 3 days there and things looked hopeful. He saw friends and family on Sunday and talked for hours. On Monday June 8, George’s heart just stopped. He had done all of the things he was put on this earth to do.

George is survived by his wife Nancy Goldsworthy, daughter Deanna Noble and son in law Corey, grand daughter BreAna, daughter in love Tiffany Hutchinson, her husband Chris, their sons Tyler and Jeffrey George's brother Randy Strickland and his sister Donna Grubbs.

The Lodge of Sorrow will be held on July 12, at 1PM, at the Gateway Gresham Elks Lodge #1805. It is located at 3330 NE Division St. in Gresham, Oregon. All are invited to come and share a story, share a hug and celebrate a life well lived.