Donald Lee Laskey
Reedsport, Oregon
A memorial service for longtime Reedsport resident Don Laskey will be held at 11:30 am, Saturday, January 30, at Reedsport Community Charter School, in the Pacific Auditorium. This will be followed by a gathering at the RCCS cafeteria adjoining, for food and beverages. A graveside service will then be conducted at 3:00 pm, at the Reedsport Cemetery. Services are being directed by Dunes Memorial Chapel, in Reedsport. (541-271-2822) The family requests that those who knew Don and would like to share a story about him, either write the story down and it will be collected and read at the memorial, or tell the story themselves.
Don was born on May 7, 1933, to Herb Laskey and Ines (Wittick) Laskey, in North Bend, Oregon. Don could trace his earliest family beginnings in the North Bend area to 1892, when his maternal grandpa Wittick and family came to the USA from Gamlakarleby, Finland, to tow logs for Simpson Lumber Company, the founder of North Bend.
In 1936, Don’s father, Herb Laskey, owned a logging company. They had a steam donkey, and fell the trees by hand. Tragedy struck Don’s family that year, when his dad was killed in a logging accident. Don was without a father at age 3.
Don went to school at Kentuck Inlet Country School, from 1st grade through 8th grade. He then attended North Bend High School, where he graduated in the class of 1951. He walked several miles to school in North Bend every day. He often hitched a ride home from school on a Coos County dump truck, which was driven by Sam Main.
Don ran on the track team for North Bend, and also played football briefly, before he was required to quit sports and work for his family in the logging industry, as a whistle punk on a steam donkey. Don was always proud that he “knew what it is to be poor” and managed to improve his lot in life through hard work, long hours, and plenty of ambition.
In April 1953, Don was drafted into the US Army, and served during the Korean War, stationed in Berlin, Germany. Don was lucky enough to meet up with his best friend from Kentuck Inlet, Dick Russell, in Berlin, and the two were able to serve their country together until 1955.
Once he returned home to North Bend, Don went to work for Coos Bay Supply Company. He started there sweeping floors, unloading boxcars of railroad spikes by hand, and he worked his way up to a field salesman, selling logging rigging, in his time there.
In 1957, Don met his future wife, Jo (Shepherd) Laskey, in Reedsport, when he found her stuck in the mud alongside the road in her dad’s jeep, and pulled her out. They enjoyed 58 years of marriage together, building their business, raising their only son, and taking advantage of the great outdoors in Oregon.
In 1959, Don went into business with his lifelong business partner, Dennis Clifton, by purchasing a small loader. The two started a construction business, Laskey-Clifton Corporation, which remains today, now operated by second and third generation Laskeys. Don was very proud of his company and the projects that they constructed. He and Dennis provided employment for local families for many years.
Don enjoyed a semi-retirement, and loved fishing, especially at Wickiup Reservoir in central Oregon. There, he caught one of the largest German Brown trout on record in Oregon. He enjoyed all manner of outdoor recreation, including camping, fishing, hunting, and crabbing. He also enjoyed meeting new people, and talking to them about their lives. Don did not know a stranger. He was from the old school, and valued a hard day’s work. He will be remembered for his funny laugh, which some say sounded like an old engine trying to start.
Don passed away from complications related to pneumonia, with his family by his side, at River Bend Hospital, in Springfield, Oregon. Don is survived by his wife, Jo; his only son, Don; his daughter in law, Patty; his granddaughter, Megan; and his grandson, Don(Clay). The life lessons Don taught will ensure that his memory lives on, through his family.