Gene Thomas Streight

Gene Thomas Streight was born on December 13, 1930 in Boneita Springs, South Dakota to Thomas and De Ell (Morrison) Streight. While in high school in Oregon City, he met and started dating LaVona Jeanne Brogden, who he would go on to marry in Oregon City, Oregon on June 22, 1954. Gene attended college at Oregon State University and during this time was part of their track team. Gene was very gifted at track and earned a scholarship for those talents. After college he was drafted into the United States Army and served as a food inspection specialist. During this time, Gene lived in the Seattle area. In 1957, Gene was honorably discharged from the Army and the two moved to Langlois, Oregon where Gene taught vocational Agriculture at the local high school. He taught there for about 5 years before he was offered a position at Cascade Union High School in Turner, Oregon teaching vocational agriculture. He accepted the position and the family moved to Turner, Oregon. During this time, he also got involved in the greenhouse project at the school and helped get it started. In the late ‘70’s Gene left Cascade High School to take on a position at Chemeketa Community College until his retirement. While at Chemeketa, he would again start up a greenhouse project that is still going strong today. Gene was well respected by many of his students, especially those who he taught agriculture to, as many of his students became farmers in the community. Gene has lived in the Aumsville and Turner and was a long-time member of Bethel Baptist Church. He has also received state and national recognition from the FFA. Besides his career, Gene enjoyed landscaping, traveling and spending time with family, especially with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Gene passed away on December 22, 2018 in Stayton, Oregon. He was preceded in death by his loving wife LaVona; his parents Thomas and De Ell; siblings, Glen, June, Pauline, Virginia, Ray, LaVerne, and Gordon. He is survived by his children, Michael and Kathleen; grandchildren, Nathan, Sara and Terra; great-grandchildren Darien, Liam, and Jaxon; siblings, Ruby, Wayne, and Leslie.