John Leo Williamson

John Leo Williamson, 37, of La Grande, died Dec. 26 at Grande Ronde Hospital after a long battle with bone cancer. Funeral services will begin at 10 a.m. Friday at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in La Grande. Burial will follow at Grandview Cemetery.

Mr. Williamson was born in Baker City Jan. 21, 1969, to John H. Williamson of Baker City and Alice (Stroud) Williamson of La Grande. He attended school in both La Grande and Baker City. He married Martha Eoff of Elgin. They have two sons, Donald, 13, and Lucas, 10. The couple later divorced.

Mr. Williamson had worked most recently for the Oregon Department of Transportation with the surveying crew. He also worked as a wildland fire fighter, sawmill worker and often mechanic for those who needed him. He enjoyed fatherhood and often spoke of it as the most rewarding job of his life. He stayed strong for a very long time of his boys. He was an avid fisherman and hunter.

He was always happy to teach his sons, niece and nephews the amazing wonders of fishing and hunting. Mr. Williamson was also the best handyman anyone could find. He could fix anything mechanical, electrical or otherwise, even after he lost his right arm to cancer. He was a member of the Sons of the American Legion of Baker City.

Survivors include two sons Donald of La Grande and Lucas of Otis; his parents, John H. Williamson of Baker City and Alice (Stroud) Williamson of La Grande; three sisters, Sue Carner of Lincoln City, Christine Carlson of La Grande, Beth Schmidt and husband John of Monmouth, and a brother James H. Devine of Sandpoint, Idaho. He is also survived by a niece, three nephews, four aunts and five uncles.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents and aunt, Mary DeVose.