Walking On -- Eldon Lee Leaton Sr.

Eldon Lee Leaton Sr.

Aug. 7, 1930 – Feb. 8, 2019

Tribal Elder Eldon Lee Leaton Sr. was born to William and Bernice Leaton on Aug. 7, 1930, in North Bend, Ore. He grew up living above the Gold and Silver Falls and Allegheny in Coos County. His early years were spent working hard and with a strong work ethic.

He married Elizabeth J. Hinds in 1950, and of this marriage was born Eldon Lee Jr. He then joined the Army in 1955 and was stationed at Fort Lewis, Wash., and then Fort Bliss, Texas.

In 1956, he married Edith Wilson. While at Fort Bliss, he and Edith would have a son, William Lee, in 1956, and a daughter, Linda Marie, in 1957.

After being discharged, Eldon started his trucking career in Cimarron, N.M., and then at several locations in California, including Arcata, Eureka, Baker and Palo Alto, and then Grangeville, Idaho. He drove logging trucks, belly dumps and operated other types of logging and highway construction equipment.

In 1966, they completed the family with Lonnie Lee. In 1972, he gave up the logging and moved the family to Payette, Idaho, where he started with a 20-acre apple orchard. What was unique to this idea was that he knew how to fall timber and haul it to the mills. He thought you only had to pick the fruit. Thinking he would only have to work one or two months out of the year, he learned hard and fast that you basically worked year-round and long hours regardless of the weather.

He, however, was very successful and finished with 80 acres of orchard, vegetables and hay. He married Peggy Peterson in 1994. In 2001, he was done with the orchard and relocated to St. Maries, Idaho, where he could get back to his woods and hauling logs. In 2004, he returned to Payette and another 20 acres.

Eldon lived a very full life with stories that will be always treasured. He liked so many things, such as elk hunting, fishing, flying his planes and collecting stuff, and will always be remembered for how he could figure out any problem and fix it. He loved his pets: Pilot, Midnight, Blackie, Lobo, Lady, Rusty, Lacy, Jake and Indie.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Bernice Leaton; sister, Hattie Cotter; and wife, Peggy.

He is survived by his sons, Eldon Jr. (Kitty), of Payette, William (Joyce) of Roseburg, Ore., and Lonnie of Ontario, Ore.; daughter, Linda Wilson (Greg) of Payette; four grandsons, John Raines, Hugh Blacketor II, and Larry and Tyler Leaton; sister, Wilma Hoelig of Huntington Beach, Calif.; and many nieces and nephews.

The family suggests memorial contribution be made to Meals on Wheels. Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel assisted the family.

A graveside service was held Wednesday, Feb. 13, at Cloverdale Cemetery in Boise, Idaho.