Levern Dick Draper

LeVern Dick Draper passed away on January 7, 2012 at the Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande at the age of 96 years. He was a resident of Union. He was born on his grandfather's ranch in High Valley, about seven miles east of Union, to Dick and Beulah Bunnerll-Bennett Draper on March 17, 1915. When he was a small child, the family moved into Union. His father started to work for Tony Ketchrict, and they lived out of Union about 3 miles, in a house that was owned by the Ketchrict family. He walked to school from there to the Grade School in south Union and also to the High School. When he graduated, he was the smallest boy in his class, but not for long after graduation he grew and reached his full growth of 6 ft. 3 in. He worked for Bert Shelton logging outfit, getting the caterpillars started and warned and ready for the days work. One morning he felt that someone was watching him. He looked up in the trees above hims and a cougar was watching him. He also worked for J.B. Weaver, who had prune and cherry orchards. He also helped sometimes in the woods where his father cut cord wood.

In 1937, he took a job in the winter for the Union Pacific Railroad sweeping switches to keep the snow out, but the south wind was so hard it was almost impossible to keep them clean, but that established his seniority date on the railroad and when the Second World War started he was called back into service with them. He started out on Pool Freight, but worked his way up to conductor on passenger trains, working out of Portland, until the railroad took the passenger trains off. He then moved back to Union and went back to the Pool Freight. He retired with 40 years of service with the railroad.

When he was about 9 years of age an old airplane landed near Union and the pilot asked if he would fill in the irrigation ditches, the pilot would take him for a ride. His folks were very strict and he didn't have time to go home and ask if he could go up, so he went without asking. His mother was very angry about this and told his father he was to punish LeVern, but his father didn't because he had worked for his ride. But that put the flying 'BUG' in his blood and later he became a pilot and also an instructor, working out of the La Grande and Baker Airports. Eldon Downs taught him to fly, and soloed in four hours. He was in business with one airplane, with Rus Kilpatrick, then after that business dissolved, he went into business with Mike Trindle , flying passengers into Red's Horse Ranch and back out. He flew for the Forest Service during forest fire season and also he flew retardent in a B-25 tanker on forest fires. He was accurate in dumping his loads and he was always on target. He had a perfect season. He was a member of the Elks Lodge #338 in Baker.

LeVern was married four times and they and two brothers, Clifford L. and A.L. "Bud" Draper and his parents all preceded him in death. He is survived by one daughter, Darla Gregory of McMinnville, Oregon; sister, Vivian Larsen of Pendleton; grandchildren; nieces and nephews and close friend and companion, Randy Mills of Union.

In lieu of flowers please send contributions to the Meadowood Speech Camp in care of Daniels~Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 7th Street in La Grande or through the Elks Lodge in Baker.

A graveside service will be held at the Union Cemetery on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. Viewing will be held at Daniels~Knopp on Tuesday from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m.

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