Obituary of Donald Beairsto

Donald BeairstoA celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 26, at River Road Annex in Eugene for Donald M. Beairsto of Eugene, who died May 2 of advanced Parkinson’s disease. He was 85.He was born Nov. 17, 1924, in Manitoba, Alberta, to Walter and Thelma Campbell Beairsto. He married Beverly Clark on March 18, 1956, in Eugene.He graduated from the University of Oregon with a bachelor’s degree in 1949. He served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946. He worked at the family business at Beairsto Brother’s Lane Auto sweeping floors. He became the business manager after his time in the military. He later worked for Dunham Olds Cadillac. He worked there for 36 years.Survivors include his wife, Beverly of Eugene; a son, Keith of Davao City, Philippines; two daughters, Krisanne Harsch of Los Osos, Calif., and Catherine Beairsto of Eugene; and seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.Arrangements by England’s Creswell Memorial Chapel. Remembrances to National Parkinson Foundation or Greenhill Humane Society.The memorial for Donald Beairsto is to be held Saturday, June 26 at the River Road Park Annex, 1055 River Road, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Donald passed away May 2, 2010 after a twenty year struggle with advanced Parkinsons at the age of 85. He was born November 17, 1924 in Coronation, Alberta, Canada to Walter and Thelma Beairsto. The family moved to Eugene, Oregon, when he was about six months old, at which time his father and uncle established Beairsto Brothers Lane Auto Dealership, handling Studebaker trucks and cars. Upon graduating from Eugene High School, in 1942, he was drafted into the Army serving from l943 to 1946 in the South Pacific, the last year serving in Tokyo as private secretary to the General of his unit. He was highly commended for his service by the General, receiving a personal letter thanking him for his excellent and trustworthy service. Upon returning to Eugene, he attended the University of Oregon, acquiring his Bachelor of Arts degree in the School of Administration. He was a member of the Eugene Active 20/30 Club. Don married Beverly Clark, March 18, 1956, and continued working as manager of the family business, until Lane Auto was sold in l957, at the time of his parents' retirement. He had always loved people and working with cars, and was employed immediately at Lew Williams Chevrolet, where he remained until September of 1962, at which time he was invited to work for Dunham Oldsmobile Cadillac. He accepted and worked for Dunham's for the next 36 years, retiring only when overtaken by Parkinsons. He is survived by his wife Beverly; son Keith; daughters, Krisanne Harsch, and Catherine Beairsto; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Musgrove-England's Memorial Chapel. Remembrances to the National Parkinson Foundation or Greenhill Humane Society.