Donald Lawrence Lucas

Donald Lawrence Lucas, born November 4, 1934, died May 12, 2023.

Born to Kenneth Leroy Lucas and Virginia Elizabeth (Sargert) Lucas in Long Beach, California.

Joined the Navy in January 1954 and was stationed in NAS Los Alamitos, CA.  He was honorably discharged in January 1956.

He married Doris Ann Butler (Wende) Butler Lucas on November 6, 1954, in Whither, CA, and raised 4 sons together.

After leaving the Navy he Attended College at Cal Poly Pomona.  He then transferred to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Soil Science in 1961.

He was hired by the US Forest Service in the fall of 1961.  

He moved to Madras Oregon worked for the Pacific Supply Coop until the summer of 1962. He was hired by the Langel Valley Irrigation district manager until the fall of 1964. After which he worked for Oregon Agricultural Chemicals in Tulelake until the summer of 1965. In the late Summer of 1965, he was hired by Soil Conservation Service in Yreka, CA. where he worked until his retirement in 1986.  While working for SCS he worked in California, Oregon, and Nevada before retiring in Alturas, CA, and moving to Lakeview Oregon. In 1989.  After retiring he joined the Westside Grange and became a Vice President for Oregon Farm Bureau and volunteered with the National Resource Conservation Service where he helped write the grant for the flood control Dam on Bullard Creek above Lakeview.

Don loved to take his sailboat the Terrapin out on Lakes and the ocean for a day of sailing and fishing.  He enjoyed taking his sons and grandkids out camping, hunting, and fishing.  He loved to watch his grandkid's sight in riffles for hunting season and shoot archery.

He was a big rockhound (moved 2000lbs of rock from Yreka, CA. to Mariposa, CA.) and loved sharing his knowledge of Geology with everyone.  He was big into teaching his sons and grandkids about rock formations and soil types.

Don is survived by his brother Gerald Lucas of Poteau, OK.  His four sons; Kenneth Lucas of Lakeview, OR, Phillip Lucas of Lebanon, OR Stephen Lucas and wife Maggie Lucas of Bremerton, WA and Lawrence Lucas and his wife Teresa Lucas of Lakeview, OR.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Wende in 2012.  His daughter- in law Joyce Lucas in 2021.

He was the loving grandpa to 11 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

Donations can be made to Alzheimer’s Association or donors’ choice.  

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