Donald Clyde Keefer, age 86, a longtime Aberdeen resident, died Friday, April 5, 2013 at Grays Harbor Community Hospital in Aberdeen. Don was born on August 21, 1926 in Evansville, Arkansas to Clyde Laroy and Ada Ruth (Matterson) Keefer.
Donald came to Aberdeen driving a Ford Model A in 1944 and went to work in the expanding wood industry, starting at Schafer Brothers Sawmill in South Aberdeen. Hired originally as a planer feeder, he later became a millwright. He held this position for his entire career.
On July 20, 1949, Donald married Druecilla Bunch in Montesano, WA. She passed away on August 23, 1990.
After they had two sons, Don was Drafted into the US Army on July 21, 1954. He served as a truck mechanic in Germany and was Honorably Discharged on June 7, 1956.
In his early years as an avid Indian and Harley Davidson motorcyclist enjoying restoring and riding them around Grays Harbor, he was a very accomplished welder and often fabricated trailers and other equipment during his lifetime. He could fix any appliance with his unique talent for fabricating needed parts to restore operation. He was fascinated with electronics doing radio and television repair and was very active during the CB days known as Little Foot. Donald was a sought out general mechanic on the Harbor. He briefly worked at Lambs Grays Harbor before going to Harbor Plywood where he retired in 1988. After retirement, he continued working at home on vehicles and equipment, more as a hobby.
Don is survived by two sons: Donald A. Keefer and Jimmy D. Keefer both of Aberdeen; two brothers Carl L. Keefer of Seattle, WA and Clarence R. Keefer of Redmond, WA and a sister: Frances R. (Keefer) Laubrick of Dunnellon, FL; sister-in-law: Willa Mae Fountain of Missouri Valley, Iowa; numerous nieces and nephews in the area.
There will be a graveside service for Don on Friday, April 19th at 10:00AM at Fern Hill Cemetery. A reception will follow and all are invited to The Cosmopolis Lions Club, 601 2nd Ave, Cosmopolis, WA.
A message of condolence or of a memory can be left for the family at www.fernhillfuneral.com
Arrangements are through Fern Hill Funeral Home in Aberdeen.
Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)
Army
Army of Occupation Medal
Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
The insignias listed here may be subject to copyright and / or trademarked. Those copyrights and trademarks are owned by the respective organizations. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Donald Keefer, please visit our flower store.
Donald came to Aberdeen driving a Ford Model A in 1944 and went to work in the expanding wood industry, starting at Schafer Brothers Sawmill in South Aberdeen. Hired originally as a planer feeder, he later became a millwright. He held this position for his entire career.
On July 20, 1949, Donald married Druecilla Bunch in Montesano, WA. She passed away on August 23, 1990.
After they had two sons, Don was Drafted into the US Army on July 21, 1954. He served as a truck mechanic in Germany and was Honorably Discharged on June 7, 1956.
In his early years as an avid Indian and Harley Davidson motorcyclist enjoying restoring and riding them around Grays Harbor, he was a very accomplished welder and often fabricated trailers and other equipment during his lifetime. He could fix any appliance with his unique talent for fabricating needed parts to restore operation. He was fascinated with electronics doing radio and television repair and was very active during the CB days known as Little Foot. Donald was a sought out general mechanic on the Harbor. He briefly worked at Lambs Grays Harbor before going to Harbor Plywood where he retired in 1988. After retirement, he continued working at home on vehicles and equipment, more as a hobby.
Don is survived by two sons: Donald A. Keefer and Jimmy D. Keefer both of Aberdeen; two brothers Carl L. Keefer of Seattle, WA and Clarence R. Keefer of Redmond, WA and a sister: Frances R. (Keefer) Laubrick of Dunnellon, FL; sister-in-law: Willa Mae Fountain of Missouri Valley, Iowa; numerous nieces and nephews in the area.
There will be a graveside service for Don on Friday, April 19th at 10:00AM at Fern Hill Cemetery. A reception will follow and all are invited to The Cosmopolis Lions Club, 601 2nd Ave, Cosmopolis, WA.
A message of condolence or of a memory can be left for the family at www.fernhillfuneral.com
Arrangements are through Fern Hill Funeral Home in Aberdeen.
Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)
Army
Army of Occupation Medal
Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
The insignias listed here may be subject to copyright and / or trademarked. Those copyrights and trademarks are owned by the respective organizations. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Donald Keefer, please visit our flower store.
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