William "Bill" Daniel Reagan

William Daniel "Bill"Reagan, age 86, of Elgin, died February 24th at his home. He was born on May 8, 1923 in Fairfield, Idaho on the camas prairie. His parents were Lemuel Edward Reagan and Elizabeth Paralee Chandler Reagan. He attended Manard grade school and Camas County High School, graduating in 1941. He was the 13th of 13 children. He married Mary Kendall of Brogan, Oregon on April 5, 1942 at the family home in Fairfield, Idaho. They operated a wheat farm on the Camas Prairie until 1954 at which time they sold the farm and moved to a farm in Vale, Oregon where they continued to farm and operate a small dairy. He also worked for the Vale irrigation district in 1957 thru 1962. At that time they purchased a ranch in Elgin and he worked at the Boise Cascade Stud Mill in Elgin until 1970. They sold the ranch in Elgin and purchased a ranch in Union in the High Valley area in 1972, where they ranched until retirement. They sold the ranch to their son, Lloyd Reagan in 1976. They moved to their final home in Elgin in 1977.

His wife of 56 years preceded him in death in 1998. He was also preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, eight sisters and three grandsons, Jason J. Reagan, Jeffrey L. Reagan and Gregory A. Reagan. He is survived by two sons, Lynn K. and Kathy Reagan of Willow Creek, Vale, Oregon and Lloyd D. and Linda Reagan of High Valley; two daughters, Terryl and John Davis of Elgin and Robin R. and Tawin Compton of Pilot Rock; 19 grandchildren; 27 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
"Bill" was a man much loved for his quick and quirky wit and his sense of humor. His family and friends always looked forward to sitting with him and swapping tall tales, all of which had a factual basis. The great grandchildren would gather at his feet to listen to his jokes and stories and on special times an old song or two.

He had an abundance of love that he handed out readily to all who came in contact with him and he always had a smile to share even up to the last days of his life. He will be well remembered.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at the First Christian Church in Elgin on March 6, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. followed by a potluck at the church. There will be an interment at the Elgin Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Hospice, American Cancer Society or the American Kidney Foundation. Arrangements are entrusted to Daniels~Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center.

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