Died June 16, 2009

Reprinted from the Santa Rosa (California) Press Democrat On-line, 6/19/2009 to 6/22/2009

Harold Eugene Looney passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday afternoon, June 16, 2009.

A resident of Cloverdale, California for 56 years.

Born in Molalla, Oregon to Otto and Ethyl Looney, he was the third of four children. His brother, Glen passed away in 1942. Harold was raised in Molalla, Oregon, attended Molalla High School from 1941 to 1944 and played third base for the Molalla High School Indians Baseball Team.

After High School, he worked for Willamette Iron and Steel Company in Portland, Oregon in the shipyard as a cutter and welder during World War II.

After World War II, he became unemployed and returned from Portland to Molalla, his hometown. One afternoon, he visited a friend at a local sawmill, Molalla Forest Products, while waiting for his friend, a man, Floyd Lair approached him, asking for his social security number and told him to go to work. A friendship with Floyd Lair began and lasted nearly 50 years.

Eventually, his father, brother, and brother-in-law were all employed by Molalla Forest Products, which was owned by Jim and Floyd Lair. Later, the Lair family purchased timber on the North coast of California and relocated Molalla Forest Products from Molalla, Oregon to Cloverdale, California. Harold, along with other transplanted Oregonians, including his brother, Allen and brother-in-law, Robert Cain along with other employees from Molalla relocated to Cloverdale to help in the construction of a new saw mill that was located in a valley in Cloverdale bordering the Russian River.

Molalla Forest Products was later sold to a group of investors which included Henry Trione of Santa Rosa, California who Harold became good friends with. The mill was subsequently purchased by Masonite Corporation and Harold continued to work for the Masonite Corporation until his retirement in 1982.

At his Retirement dinner Harold was presented with a gold watch inscribed with 36 years of service, from 1946 to 1982, for his tenure at the mill.

Harold is survived by his wife, Kathleen, of 58 years, his daughter-in-law, Deborah Looney and his son, Gary Looney of Santa Rosa California; his brother Allen Looney of Woodburn, Oregon; his sister, Geraldine Cain of Heaver, Oklahoma; nieces and nephews, Caroline Hutchinson of Heavener, Oklahoma, Susan Layman and Alfred Weber of Molalla, Oregon, Connie Nolan of Medford, Oregon, Ronald Stockman of Belmont, California, Steven Stockman of El Granada, California, Kelly Bell, of Half Moon Bay, California, Ginger Atkinson, Don Atkinson, and Eldon Atkinson of Princeville, Oregon, Norman Atkinson of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Tanya Wilson, Trent Young and Derek Young of Boise, Idaho, Cheryl Brown and Denise Verducci of Everett, Washington and his two beloved cats, Scooter and Mama.

Throughout his life, he enjoyed cooking, barbeques and family outings. Before he became disabled, he enjoyed fishing and hunting. He loved the San Francisco 49ers and Giants.

During his retirement years, despite his disability, he traveled the United States visiting many cities and the world, including Australia, New Zealand, the Islands of the South Pacific, the Far East, Canada, Central America, the Caribbean, England, Europe, and a special trip to the Holy Land.

Harold will be remembered as a kind and loving husband for 58 years, for never having a bad word to say about anybody, for his thoughtfulness, caring generosity and remarkable spirit. Harold will be laid to rest in the family cemetery in Canby, Oregon next to his mother, Ethyl, his father, Otto and his brother, Glen.

Two viewings for family and friends will be held. Sunday, June 21st and Monday, June 22nd both from 1:00-5:00 p.m. at FRED YOUNG FUNERAL HOME, 428 N. Cloverdale Blvd., Cloverdale, CA (707) 894-2540. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Harold's memory to Forgotten Felines of Sonoma County, P.O. Box 6672, Santa Rosa, CA 95406, (707) 576-7999.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Fred Young Funeral Home at a later date.

Published in (Santa Rosa, CA) Press Democrat from 6/19 to 6/22/2009 print