Donald "Don" Drayton

Donald “Don” Drayton of Boardman was born April 15, 1949 in Longview, WA the son of Donald Drayton and Beverly Parks-Palm. He passed away in Richland, WA on Friday December 17, 2021 at the age of 72.

Don grew up, attended schools and graduated from high school in Clatskanie, Oregon. He moved to Eastern Oregon in 1979 and resided in Umatilla for several years. He moved to Boardman in 2003 where he resided for the past eighteen years. Don worked throughout his career as a millwright in sawmills and paper mills.

Don’s passion was in serving the communities where he lived. He served as a volunteer firefighter/EMT in Umatilla for many years. He served as Fire Chief of the Umatilla Fire Dept in 1993-94. In Boardman he served on the Morrow County Fire District and also the Boardman Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the Hermiston Amatuer Radio Services Club (Emergency Communication Services). He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and going to car races.

Don married Mary Burbank in Westport, OR in 1972.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Mary; son, Donald “Pat” Drayton; daughter, Lisa Boullester; mother, Beverly Palm; sisters, Vicki Remick, Cheryl Palm and Lori Brown; brothers, Gary Palm, Rick Palm and Bruce Palm; four grandchildren, Aden, Aaron, Alex and Evelyn Boullester; one great granddaughter, Hailey Boullester.

He was preceded in death by his father, Donald and a sister, Karen Nolan.

A Private family celebration of life will be held at a later time. Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.

Dad

My heart is broken
It doesn’t seem real
No words can explain just how I feel
So many memories 
Some great and some not
All that I know 
is I miss him a lot
Warm gentle hands
That carried me to bed  at night
A strong brow spoke 
When my judgment wasn’t quite right
Cowboy boots 
Full of puppy kibble 
Warm Sunday pancakes
Made with beer 
that we all loved to nibble
Walks in the mountains 
Warm breezes with sap scented air
An adventure too close 
to a family of bears
Because of those walks
 I knew just what to do
Calmly and quietly 
I slipped right through 
Bows and arrows
Campfires and fishing poles
Family and community 
always giving and involved
Committed with entirety
A wonderful man 
As many folks know
A Good Samaritan 
Even now at the end
He continues to give
He is my Daddy
My first best friend

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