Feb. 25, 1928 - May 19, 2008

Edward Bergeron, 80, passed away Monday surrounded by his loving wife and daughters at home.

He was a devoted husband of 60 years and 7 days, a caring father, grandfather, uncle and friend.

He was born in Bellflower, Calif., to Jack Gabriel Bergeron and Etta Manda Gann. As a young lad in the Long Beach area he herded cattle in the oil fields riding on his pony, played golf caddy at the golf course where his father worked, and as a teenager he enjoyed surfing on the California coast.

In 1944, at the age of 16, he joined the Merchant Marines and was witness to action in the Pacific in the last months of World War II. U.S. Merchant Marines were civilians serving in war zones, transporting military troops and supplies under the direction of the War Department. Induction and boot camp was at Santa Catalina Island, in California. He graduated from bakers school and served as a cook and, when needed, a gunner too.

He married Carolyn Clark on May 16, 1948, in Minden, Nev. The marriage was a success and they had four children, Marva, Edward, Jackie and Lynette. They raised the children in Oregon and Alaska.

Ed had a charmed life in many professional endeavors. He worked for Hill Timber Company in Sweet Home during the early 1950s driving trucks and supervising tree planting crews. Ed worked for the Forest Service as a crew chief and fire watchman. Ed and Carolyn also lived at Quartzville while he worked for Linn County Fire Patrol checking log trucks and managing the forestry section. Ed planted the property he and his wife purchased in 1948 with trees for the future. He enjoyed taking friends to watch his trees grow and involved the family with the trimming, pruning and replanting under his guidance. He spent most of his time nurturing the flowers and trees that were so dear to his heart, at the "top of the hill."

He moved his family to Fairbanks, Alaska, in June 1963 and served as first sergeant of the Alaska National Guard, which was the same position he had previously served in Lebanon. The following year the family relocated to Juneau, where they lived for the next 30 years. Ed retired from the National Guard in 1974. The Bergeron ancestors were fishermen on the Great Lakes out of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. Ed, with his father and brothers, fished off the western U.S. coast. Ed retired from commercial fishing in 1989 in Juneau.

Ed enjoyed the outdoors, whether hiking in the Juneau area with his family or exploring the small communities on the way to the fishing grounds in Southeast Alaska. Each of the children and some of the grandchildren fished on the F/V Carolyn L or the F/V Adak with Dad. He was always available to help someone or play the part of Santa at the Juneau Children's Home. Ed's quick smile, sparkling eyes and wonderful sense of humor will be missed by all who were privileged to know him.

After their return to Oregon in 1991, Ed volunteered for many community improvement efforts. He supported and worked on the Strawberry Festival site with his Kubota tractor and his time. He supported the National Guard Youth Challenge Program in Bend. He was instrumental in many young peoples' lives giving guidance and encouragement. He was a lifelong member of the Masons, a charter lifetime member of the Sweet Home Elks Chapter, and a lifetime member of the American Legion. Ed enjoyed spending time at the American Legion making new friends and recruiting new members. Dinner at the Legion always included his "girls."

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn; son Edward C. Bergeron and wife Johanne Bourque of Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada; daughters Jacqualyn Pendleton and Lynette Bergeron of Lebanon; grandchildren Olivia Orsborn and husband Michael, Charles, Alex and Jasmine Bergeron, Anthony Payne and Carl Robinson; two great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

His daughter Marva Dell Robinson preceded him in death on Dec. 9, 2007.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to your local American Legion Post.

A memorial service will be at 11:30 a.m. May 31 at Santiam Place, 139 Main St., Lebanon.

Huston-Jost Funeral Home is handling arrangements (www.hustonjost.com).