Donald O. Brinlee

Donald O. Brinlee December 29, 1937 March 23, 2017 Turner, Oregon Donald was the seventh child born to Leva L. and Sarah Ethel Brinlee. He was a master of all trades including tree-topping, gas station attendant, grocery store clerk, worked for Tom’s candy, built houses, you name it, he did it! He married Mildred Louise Carpenter on April 23, 1957. At the age of 21 he opened his first business, “Don’s Market” on Portland Road in Salem. He also operated Don’s Ditching Service. He sold the grocery stores in 1974 to purchase Turner Gravel. In 1992 he sold Turner Gravel and started his business of Brinlee Excavating. He later opened “I-Jive” coffee shops in Turner and Salem. He and his wife Mildred are owners of Twin Oak Cemetery in Turner. Don was a loving, ambitious, self-motivated, and successful business man, who very much loved his wife and family, but most of all he loved the Lord. Don is survived by his wife Mildred Brinlee of Turner; sons Donald Eugene Brinlee of Turner, John Dale Brinlee of LaGrande, David Oral (Becky) Brinlee of Turner, Robin Lynn (Tammy) Brinlee of Salem; brothers Alton Paul Brinlee of Lodi, CA and Aubrey Lee (Pat) Brinlee of Lockfort, CA; sisters Lillie (Cedell) McDonald of Bakersfield, CA and Etta Lou (Wayne) Hastings of Malin, OR; 15 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Little Roy Irvin, Dick, and Leonard; and sisters Ada and Dottie. A Celebration of Life will be held at 4 p.m. on Friday, April 7 at Church on the Hill, South Campus. Arrangements entrusted to Weddle Funeral Services.