Oliver E. Cameron

Oliver E. Cameron, 88, of Donnelly, Idaho, and formerly of La Grande, died Jan. 17 at home with his family by his side. Funeral services were held at Five Mile Church of the Nazarene in Boise. Burial followed at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery. Heikkila Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements.

Oliver was born July 15, 1921. He married Lorene Flynn June 14, 1945, and they had three children.

Oliver served as a gunner, radio operator and navigator in a B-24 Bomber in WWII. His plane was shot down over enemy territory. Several medals were awarded him during the course of his duty.

After the war, he worked as a logger and trucker in the Payette National Forest until his truck rolled down the mountain and crushed five of his vertebrae.

Oliver was a wilderness pioneer for more than 50 years in the most remote areas of Alaska, north of McKinley Park, and Ambler, where he raised his family.

He built his own homestead using tools he built by hand and materials from the forest around him. He built and designed boats, guns, sleds, knives and many other tools for that lifestyle. Oliver is the author of two philosophy books and was working on a third book on how to live in the wilderness.

Oliver lived in La Grande where he was cared for from 2006 until the spring of 2009.

Survivors include his son, Richard Cameron, with whom he had been living for the past eight months in Donnelly; daughter, Dorene Schiro (Robert) of Nicasio, Calif.; brother, Dell Cameron (Leta) of Boville, Idaho; five grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward J. and Pansy Viola Cameron; three brothers; one sister; and his son, Gerald.

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