Donald Dickson Edmeades

Don arrived on March 22, 1931 and left peacefully on February 3, 2017.  He was just shy of 86 years old.

Dad had a robust life filled with people, experiences and adventures.  He was known by many titles; Father, Dad, Pops, Friend, Teammate, Scoutmaster, Coach, Co-worker, Son, Husband and his favorite self imposed title - Exalted Ruler.
There were many emotional titles that Dad had as well; Honey, Sweetie, Darling, Agape Mou, Prince, and a common and family favorite - Dammit Donald.

Don was born to movie star beautiful parents Lena Viola and Ernest Bebb. He was destined to have a life of ease as his parents both came from very humble roots.  They set their sights on giving their one and only son a good life,  and they did just that.
Dad never wanted for anything.  Well, unless you would bring up the whole ‘never got a monkey’ conversation.  He never tired of telling anyone that would listen that he always felt like his life was just a bit empty as he was never able to have a monkey to call his own.  Never mind that his parents nearly turned every house they ever had into a version of wild kingdom.  They had cats, dogs, fish, and a variety of other critters.  They even went so far as to have an Alligator called Aggie.  However, after repeated ‘snaps’ at Grandma, Aggie found a new location at the Portland Zoo and who knows just how long she lasted out of her Mt Tabor habitat.


In his early years Dad was surrounded by his extended family and friends of his parents and relatives.  By far his favorite memories were those he had with his Aunt Mickie and Uncle Morrey and their two children Jim and Chuck.  The three cousins were their own version of The Little Rascals. They created so many memories and most of them are even suitable to printing.  Maybe a couple of my favorites were when they decided to play cowboys and Indians and decided to tie Chuck up to a tree and light him on fire.  Well, they really didn’t have intention of letting him burn - and Aunt Mickie made sure that her second born lived to a ripe old age.  Boys will be boys and part of being a boy is owning a BB Gun.  Now couple boys, BB Gun and chickens.  Well…… see where the little rascal episode is going?  Grandpa Edmeades and Uncle Morrey decided that having some chickens would be a good investment.  Eggs aplenty and a built in Sunday dinner staple of chicken cooked just about anyway you could image.  What the family didn’t reckon on was the added metal factor.  When Uncle bit into a BB - Jim and Dad knew they were in trouble.  Big trouble! Just imagine having that cousin that you can always count on to activate your sense of adventure.  The stuff that memories are made of.

Dad was a local boy that attended his local grade school  - Mr. Tabor Elementary, and went to Washington High School graduating in 1949.  He played basketball with another league of church going miscreants who aptly called themselves The Unholy 5.

After a couple of years of working at Fred Meyer dad was called into military service and served his time in Korea.  He left a boy and came back a bit older.  I’m not quite sure I would say that he grew up at war.  I know the war affected him but I don’t think it really made him feel grown up.  He progressed and received his Sargent Stripes, he befriended a South Korean that helped him when he was injured, and was attached to a Greek contingent of soldiers that as Dad would tell you had the best cigarettes in the entire Army.

After coming home he joined Sunshine Dairy - and made that his career until his retirement.  Well, that isn’t exactly true - there was about 10 months when we worked for another Dairy - but it was only temporary until he could come back into the Sunshine Family.

On one particular morning Dad was on his route and two young boys stopped him while he was delivering and said ‘hey - you have to wait a minute and meet our sister.  She is arriving from Greece any minute now.’  And while the heavens didn’t part, they did send the lovely Evridiki up the stairs at the stately Willamette Blvd house.  Gratuitous hello’s were said and in less than two years these two were married and lived their own story for over 54 years.

Don and Evridiki had two children, Mary and EJ and lived in only two locations.  The little house at NE 34th & Prescott was a typically wonderful starter Portland Bungalow home and their final homestead was at 3405 SE 166th Place.

Blessings just kept coming in the form of three grandchildren.  Corey, Alecia and Hailey.  And it gets even better as he added 4 great grandchildren, Adam, Spencer, Mariah and Connor.  On the edge of the family were Sean and Megan - David’s son with his two, Archer and Bruce.  Lucky be the man to see such a legacy.

Don and Evridiki had a wonderful life of friends, family and adventures.  They were active in all the school sports, were always the parents at dances and events, opened their home for holidays and in the twilight and golden years brought many to live with them before they passed on.  As the friends started to fade from their path Dad felt a little more alone.  Gone were the standing tee-times with Don Kinne (Clod I) and almost everyone of his work buddies at the dairy were gone.

When Mom passed Dad did his best to be the good solider and carry on.  But there wasn’t a day that didn’t go by that he didn’t ask when Mom was going to be home or at the very least when would she be coming for a visit.  While his brain was beginning to show the signs of Dementia he still had a sunny smile and never NEVER complained about anything.  We always laughed that if you told him that we were going to cut his legs off - he would just throw his head back and say, OK… Let’s just get it done.

In Dad’s style his last meal was capped with a piece of chocolate cake.  Celia - his faithful caregiver of nearly two years - said that he had appeared a little tired, but was still talking about taking her to Greece and showing her the family.

The next morning before breakfast Dad had slipped quietly from us.   He was a man of stealth. He moved quietly and often without a sound.  He left us in just that very same way.

I suspect that there was quite a homecoming.  So many of his friends, cousins, customers, teammates, Aunts, Uncles and dear acquaintances.  At the end of the line standing in her glory would be my Mom - just looking at him shaking her head saying.  ‘Dammit Donald. What took you so long”  RIP Dad.  You gave me nearly 57 years of memories.  You are a treasure.  You will never be replaced, but you will always be in our hearts.  Love you.