Donald Conat

Donald C. Conat, a resident of Keizer, Oregon, for over 23 years, passed away on June 20, 2015, after a courageous battle with cancer. He died peacefully, surrounded by family and friends and the wonderful staff at Avamere Court at Keizer.

Don was born on Feb. 28, 1924, in Bemidji, Minnesota, to Roy and Ella Conat.

He was a proud World War II veteran, serving in the U.S. Navy with honor and distinction. He was even prouder to have been married 69 yeas this July 13 to the love of his life, Blanche Conat.

He moved to Montana in 1946 and ran C & C Timber in Olney with his father and brother. Don was involved in the start up of Little League baseball in Whitefish in the ’50s. In 1961, he began a career in professional baseball and rose to the AAA League. He decided to leave baseball to spend more time with his family.

He worked for Dunne Paint Co. in San Jose, California, for 19 years before retiring to Oregon. He published a newsletter in McNary Estates for 23 years.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, Roy Sr. and Ella; brother, Roy Jr.; and sister, Dorothy.

He is survived by his wife, Blanche; sons, Terry and Rick Conat, of Whitefish; daughter, Linda Carpenter, and husband, David, of Mount Vernon, Washington; five grandchildren, Stacey Taylor and Col. Michael Taylor, Brandie Elia and Jeff, Sara Kurashige and Aaron, Weston Conat and Enya Chiu, and Lexie Conat; and six great-grandchildren, Tyler, Morgan and Zack Elia, Kate and Owen Taylor, and Benjamin  Kurashige.

Services were held on June 26 at Faith Lutheran Church in Keizer.

The family is requesting donations in lieu of flowers to one of Don’s favorite charities — Make-A-Wish Foundation or Wounded Warriors.