Daryl Earl Whiteley, 82, of Baker City, died May 14, 2005.
A celebration of Daryl’s life and graveside memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Pine Haven Cemetery in Halfway. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception after the service at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall in Halfway.
Daryl was born on July 26, 1922, to Earl Arthur and Ruby L. Mehlhorn Whiteley near Pine Town. He was raised in Halfway and graduated from Halfway High School in 1940. Daryl joined the National Guard when he was 17 and in September he was a part of the Rainbow 41st division and began training for battle.
Daryl received the Central Solomon’s medal, the combat infantry badge, Guadalcanal medal and was also eligible for the Purple Heart but refused it. Daryl also received the Bronze Star on April 6, 2004, for his 11 months served in battle on Guadalcanal and New Georgia. He served in the U.S. Army for five years and 19 days.
Daryl married Carmen Whiteley on Dec. 22, 1945. They were married 57 years. During his life, they worked in many places. They spent a number of years in the livestock business and managed large cattle operations, which took them all over the Western states and Canada.
Daryl worked for MK Construction on the Oxbow and Brownlee dams in Oregon; and other construction jobs in Los Banos, Calif.; Green River, Wyo.; Libby, Mont.; and Hawaii.
Daryl was very involved in the community, he was a people person and was always willing to take on a project. He just recently was recognized for 4,000 hours by the Trail Tenders for his volunteerism to the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. In 2001, he was recognized by the Baker Chamber of Commerce as Legacy Man of the Year.
He enjoyed going to the Friday night jam sessions in Baker City and traveling. Daryl will forever be remembered as a wonderful friend to many.
Survivors include his son, Larry, of Walla Walla, Wash.; granddaughters, Lehua Hansen of Pasco, Wash., Kuuipo Whiteley of Othello, Wash., and Heather Clark of Richland, Wash.; eight great-grandchildren; a brother, Lloyd “Bub” Whiteley of Halfway; niece, Jerri Kay Goodwin; and very special friend, Georgia Wells.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and his wife, Carmen.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Trail Tenders in care of Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, May 27, 2005
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
