Our Friend, Carlton “Duane” McDaniel, passed peacefully on 10/31/2024 in Beaverton OR at Gracious Care AFH where he was living with his wife Betty. Born August 4,1937, in McHenry ND, Duane, 87 years old, succumbed to Marginal Zone Lymphoma (since 2021) and Cecal Colon (since late 2023) following a brief period of hospice. Duane passed quietly surrounded by family, held in love, with the same pride and dignity with which he had lived his life.

  As we come to the end of our lives, we find the things that are most important to us. Duane, in addition to his health problems, was also dealing with significant memory issues. Some people would see this as sad, but for Duane it was an opportunity each day to find the joys and pride in his life. Duane was a father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather along with being a brother and son; but most important to Duane was his being Betty McDaniel’s husband of 47 years. In his final days Duane would be in her room holding her hand. Betty’s health had declined previously, and Duane spent several years as her caretaker until he could no longer do it without help. He had very fond memories of dancing with her and enjoying the life they created together.

  Duane was a rancher, a Golden Gloves boxer in his youth, a horseman, a businessman, and a farmer; always an industrious worker he took immense pride in rising through the jobs he worked to positions of authority. He told stories of not having a great education; one story had him in a one-room schoolhouse where his older cousin also attended. Duane laughed that his cousin was always hanging outside with the young teacher and as such Duane had “less learning”. That early start left him proud of his successful accomplishments along the way. One of his most prized possessions was his manager’s badge which he earned after having started as a forklift driver at Western Transportation.

  Horses came into his life at an early age; one of his first jobs was on a ranch that allowed him to exercise the horses for the owner. Years later, on his farm in Molalla OR, he would have 13 horses of his own. He talked of the horses frequently. He also talked about boxing. He was exceptionally skilled. Articles from the time tell of this skill. A favorite article from his youth in Chiloquin OR stated, “Most of the boys who are of McDaniel’s size have met and have been beaten by him, and they don’t care to face him again.” For at least the last 20 years of his life Duane played racquetball. At the age of 86 ½ years, as the colon cancer came into his life, he gave up the sport commenting that he was just getting too slow to play with those 20-year-old guys. He played twice a week prior to that, even as he was going through chemotherapy.

  Duane was preceded in death by his parents, Alma Genevieve McDaniel of McHenry ND and Keith Forst McDaniel of ND, sisters Betty Wampler and Evelyn Ralston, and brother Darrel McDaniel.

  Duane is survived by his wife Betty McDaniel, his sisters; Bonnie Oelschlager - Milwaukie Oregon, Diane Rau - Happy Valley Oregon, and Debbie Everidge - Peoria Arizona. Additionally, he is survived by his daughters from his first marriage; Ann Layman – Grand Ronde Oregon, Pam McDaniel - Grand Ronde Oregon, Lorraine McDaniel – Grand Ronde Oregon, Perri McDaniel – Plummer Idaho, and his son Victor McDaniel – Klamath Falls Oregon. Duane was also Dad to Betty’s children; Janice Bosley of Tigard Oregon and Charles “Charlie” Butler of Vancouver Washington. In addition to those already mentioned are the many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

  A Chapel Service will be held on 11/22/2024 at 12:30PM at Evergreen Memorial Gardens, 1101 NE 112 Avenue, Vancouver, WA. The service will be followed by a Graveside Service and Celebration of Life onsite.

  In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to purchase a bench in Duane’s honor in Cooper Mountain Nature Park in Beaverton OR. Daune walked most every day of the last 8 months of his life in the park. He was at peace in the park and enjoyed the few benches. Duane always thought more benches would be nice for people to sit and reflect.