Walking On -- Carl Robert Gregg

Carl Robert Gregg

Nov. 13, 1926 - Dec. 18, 2013

Tribal Elder Carl Robert "Bob" Gregg was born Nov. 13, 1926, in Bend, Ore., to Earl and Eva Gregg. He was the youngest of five children. He was preceded in death by both of his parents; three brothers, Clarence, Kenneth and Earl Gregg; sister, Edith Arriaga; and his wife of 31 years, Darlene Y. Gregg. He had seven children, 20 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

Growing up in Bend, going to a Catholic school run by nuns, Bob left home at age 13. He worked at a gas station and put himself through school. At age 17, he joined the U.S. Navy and he made this a 27-year career as an electrician by land and a cook by sea.

When he returned to Bend after his first deployment, "Bob" became half owner of the gas station he had worked at while in school. He married his first wife, Ruthie M. Bond, and she brought two children, Ruthie Rose and Cleone Gregg, into the marriage. He adopted them as his own, and they had two children together, Bobbie Baize and Eva Weaver. He then married Darlene, bringing three children with her into their marriage. Bob also adopted all three, Mike, John and April Gregg, raising them as his own. Because of Bob's career, they moved every two to three years. He and his wife Darlene were often called "gypsies" by their friends.

Bob retired from the service in 1975, bought five acres in Elmira, Ore., where he lived for three years before moving to Troy, Mont. There, he and his wife ran the Golden Nugget Bar up the Yaak River Road. It has been 30 years and people still talk about Bob, what kind of person he was and how much fun they all had while Bob and Darlene managed the bar. In Helena, Mont., he and wife managed apartments.

Bob moved to Cape Coral, Fla., where he delivered yachts at the marina. He lived there until 2004, when he moved closer to family to McMinnville, Ore., and bought a house to remodel and flip. He almost had it flipped when his health started failing. He lived the rest of his days at Elk Lodge and FirCrest.

Bob was a member of the VFW Post 10097, which he joined in 1946. He was a lifetime member since the early 1970s. He was a member of Elks' clubs throughout his adult life in Eugene and Willamina, Ore., and in Helena, Mont., and served as kitchen chairman, treasurer and junior and senior vice commander. Bob was stationed in California, the Philippines, Alaska and Hawaii. He enjoyed watching NASCAR and terrorizing cats with a laser flashlight. Bob lived a full life. He loved socializing, dancing, music, cooking, the ocean and making others laugh.

He is survived by all seven children; nieces Candy Biehl and Lori Lanstrom; nephews, Donny Thomas, Doug Wilson and Stacey Wilson; several cousins; 20 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, at the Chapel of Macy & Son, 135 N.E. Evans St., McMinnville. To leave online condolences, visit www.macyandson.com