Larry D. Knee

Larry D. Knee November 4, 1948 January 1, 2015 Salem, Oregon Larry D. Knee, age 66, passed away on January 1, 2015, with his wife and family members around him. Larry is survived by his wife Dianna G. Darst, his children, Carey Palmer, Leslie Fisher, Tim Knee, and Christie Darst, his siblings, Steve and Kay Knee and Debbie and David Martin, and his grandchildren, Caitlin and Chloe Fisher, and Zoey and Jayce Davis. Larry was born November 4, 1948 in Portland, Oregon to Carl and Gladys Knee. Larry’s father worked for the state highway department, so the family made their home in several cities around Oregon (Cottage Grove, Sutherlin, Gold Beach, Brookings, Coquille, and several more) before settling in Milwaukie. He graduated from Milwaukie High School in 1966. Larry attended Portland State after graduation, and was drafted into the United States Army in 1968. Larry served in the Military Police Corp, attaining the rank of Specialist 4, and completed his service two years later. He received the National Defense Service Medal with two Overseas Service bars, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. All the soldiers of the Vietnam War held a special place in his heart. After his honorable discharge, Larry worked for Mel Mar Campers and soon moved with his young family to McMinnville, where he worked for Neonex and later for Cabana Motor Homes in Forest Grove. He began working for Fleetwood Homes of Woodburn in 1985 where he met and later married his best friend Dianna Darst, and raised a daughter Christie at home in Salem, Oregon. He retired as a Purchasing Supervisor from Fleetwood Homes in 2013 after 29 years. Larry found joy in raising his children, salmon fishing on the Nehalem River with his wife Dianna, woodworking (particularly with his son Tim), go-kart racing with his brother Steve, collecting items he and Dianna found while estate and garage sale shopping (particularly anything he could find related to photography and cameras), summer BBQs and pool time with family, love for photography and capturing the everyday events of family and travel, grandchildren activities (births, birthdays, soccer games, music and dance events, etc.), and watching Civil War games while rooting for his Ducks. One of his disappointments might be that he didn’t catch enough fish. A viewing service will be held 1 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 7, 2015 at Weddle Funeral Chapel, 1777 N. Third Avenue in Stayton, Oregon. A closed casket funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, January 8, 2015 at Weddle Funeral Chapel followed by burial at Lone Oak Cemetery, Stayton, Oregon. Relatives and friends are welcome at a reception immediately following burial back at Weddle Funeral Chapel. A special thank you to Kaiser Permanente Skyline Medical Office and Oncology staff for their caring and compassionate help and support. Arrangements entrusted to Weddle Funeral Services Stayton, OR.