Donald Eugene Alliston

Don is survived by his wife, Susan Alliston of Portland, OR; daughter, Lisa Curt of Olympia, WA and daughter Melanie Odom and son-in-law Ben Odom of Portland, OR; grandchildren, Kimberly Rowning of West Linn, OR, Whitney Filby of Olympia, WA and Maxwell Odom of Portland, OR; great grandchildren, Michael Hall and Braelynn Filby of Olympia, WA. He is preceded in death by his father, Robert Alliston; mother, Carula Klar of Springfield, Oregon; brother Robert Alliston of West Linn, OR and grandson Michael Rowning of West Linn, OR.

Don Alliston was born on May 12, 1941 in Davenport, Washington to Robert and Carula Alliston. He graduated from Springfield High School in 1959 where he held the 1st place backstroke title for all four years. He also played football and after a shoulder injury, went on to be the school’s only male cheerleader. Shortly after graduating he entered the U.S. Armed Forces where he had the opportunity to serve in Germany.

He married Susan Renner, after meeting her on a blind date in 1969. Don began his career in sales working for Herzog Motors in finance and then built his 40 year career in automotive sales. Over the next few years, the couple raised their children Melanie and Lisa where they spent their free time travelling the great Northwest in their RV pulling their boat named the Mel-Isa, fishing and enjoying the outdoors with notable stops in Crater Lake, Yellowstone Park and The Grand Tetons. Don enjoyed family vacations. The most memorable, was the time spent on a houseboat touring the San Juan Islands.

Don was accomplished tennis player and member of the Mountain Park Racquet Club where he played daily with a group of men that grew to become some of his dearest friends. He was a fan of many sports but took particular interest in the Blazers and held season tickets for the many years.

He was witty and quick with the one-liners and loved to make people laugh. He was passionate about his family and spending time with his grandson Maxwell attending every sporting event he was involved in. He even made it to every practice, rain or shine.

A memorial service is scheduled this Sunday, March 8th at 2:00 at Skyline Memorial Garden’s Funeral Home with a reception to follow. Doug McCleary will officiate the ceremony. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Don Alliston's life.

The family would like to thank the caring staff in the Progressive Cardiac Care Unit at Kaiser Sunnyside, and his cardiologist Dr. Kathy Thigpen for the care and comfort they provided that allowed him to pass on his own terms.