Eugene Callaway Whitney

Eugene C. Whitney, formerly a longtime resident of Fortuna, passed away Wednesday, July 31, 2013 in Bend, Oregon following a brief illness. He was one of three sons of the late Dow and Clara Whitney. Born in October 24, 1925, he resided in Humboldt County with his wife of 62 years, the late Mary Christiansen Whitney. He moved to Three Rivers, CA, upon his second marriage to Kathryn Whitney in 2012. He was the brother of Kenneth (Donna) of Bakersfield and the late Leroy Whitney of Three Rivers, CA. He attended schools in Lemon Cove and Woodlake, California, graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Eugene is survived by his wife of one year, Kathryn; his daughter, Suzanne (Suzi) Decker, who was married to the late Donald J. Decker, Bend, OR and a brother, Kenneth (Donna) of Bakersfield, CA.are four married grandchildren, Russell E. (Lori) Decker and children, Jared, Emily, and Ethan of Bend, Oregon; Mary (Dustin) Baker, and son, Kase of Nyssa, Oregon ; Amy (Nathan) Gillespie of Boring, Oregon, and Matthew (Melodie) Decker and children, Digeo, Natalie of Knoxville, Tennessee. Also surviving, are many nieces and nephews from both the Whitney and Christiansen families. >Eugene enjoyed cowboying the most in his long life. He worked on several California ranches before employment with the Department of Agriculture in Humboldt County as an Agriculture inspector. He retired after 21 years from the county and enjoyed many years as a tree farmer, winning the Western Regional Tree Farmer of the Year in 1991. Eugene enjoyed teaching about forestry in his redwoods, where he hosted many students and teachers. He was a 57 year member of the Farm Bureau of Humboldt County; a Board member of the College of Redwoods Forestry Department; the Bear River Regional Resource Conservancy as well as a member of the Hydesville Community Church. Eugene and Mary enjoyed travelling to several parts of the world. Each grandchild upon turning eleven had the opportunity to travel with grandpa and grandma to Europe to visit with family and friends in Denmark, Sweden (Katarina and Dan Persson and family) and, Germany (relatives), Scotland, France and England. This was a highlight of each of their lives. He also travelled to China, South America, and Norway as part of forestry practice tours. His stories, with great detail; whistling, and laughter will be missed by family and friends from near and far. Memorial services will be held at the Hydesville Community Church at 11 a.m., Friday, August 23, 2013 followed by refreshments. Interment will be held August 22 in the Christiansen Family plot, Ferndale Cemetery at 4 p.m. In lieu of Flowers, contributions may be made in Eugenes name to the: Scholarship Committee, Humboldt County Farm Bureau, 5601s Broadway, Eureka, CA 95503. Funeral Home: Niswonger-Reynolds Funeral Home New 105 NW Irving Ave Bend, OR US 97701

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Eugene Callaway Whitney

October 24, 1925 - July 31, 2013