Donald Richard Huckeby

Donald “Don” Huckeby passed away suddenly and peacefully on October 3, 2024 at the age of 82 in his home in Mill City, Oregon.

Don was born August 21, 1942 in Augusta, Arkansas to John Albert and Gladys Black. Raised in a family with 5 siblings, Don went on to graduate from Bald Knob High School and attend the University of Arkansas for two years until he journeyed out to Oregon, at the insisting of his oldest brother Charles, to fall timber in the Santiam Canyon. He quickly fell in love with the forest and community and all it had to offer, and the Canyon became the home he would live out the remainder of his life in. Once he was established in his timber falling career, he returned to college at Oregon State University to obtain a forestry engineering degree. He met and married Janeta Johnson in 1966. With the Vietnam War and the draft at the forefront of the time, Don left the university to join the United States Army and go on to serve two tours. In his first tour, in 1967, as a Lieutenant engineer building roads and bridges. Upon return to the States, Don decided to continue with the Army and began training to be a helicopter pilot. He returned to Vietnam, for his second tour in 1970 to fly Chinook helicopters. His son Ryan was born while Don was serving this tour. He was Captain of his platoon and continued to honor the lives of his men long after the war had ended.

After Vietnam, Don returned to Mill City. His second child, daughter Chalese, was born in 1975. He joined the Oregon National Guard as a Major in 1973 and continued to fly helicopters until he retired in 1988. Don was a proud American who was politically and civically minded and driven. While raising his family and falling timber he returned to OSU to finish his degree. He maintained straight A’s and even became Mayor of Mill City. Throughout his time in the Canyon he sat on multiple city councils, spent years as a board member of the Santiam Canyon School District, coached baseball and Olympics of the Mind with Ed Humble, and was very active with the local Fraternal Order of Eagles.

Don married his best friend and the love of his life, Janet Schaecher in 1991. They loved to travel together and spend time with their many friends, family and extended families. He started his own timber falling company, C & R Cutters, named in honor of his two children Chalese and Ryan. After a lifetime of working in the woods Don spent time doing all the things he loved including reading, cooking and roasting many whole hogs, pit style, to feed his many friends. He and Jan were finally able to slow down and relax after many years picking and maintaining their blueberry patch on Kingdom Lane.

Don cherished his fishing and elk hunting trips with his longtime friend and fellow National Guard pilot, Steve Shaw. Don had many strong friendships, and he was grateful to reconnect with former Vietnam pilot, Dennis Schlabach.

Don is survived by his wife, Jan, brother Thomas, his favorite sister, Kathleen and his children Ryan and Alisa, Chalese and Brian, Alex, Josh and Amber as well as his grandchildren.

There will be a viewing at Weddle’s Funeral Home in Stayton Oregon Wednesday October 9, from 2-4pm. A Celebration of Life will be planned for later this Fall.