Donald Myrick Tuesday February Th , June 23, 1923 — February 19, 2019

DF was born June 23, 1923, in Portland, Oregon, and passed away February 19, 2019, at the Autumn House. His mother and step-dad, Frank Myrick, were in the theater business, where young Donald learned how to run the projector, splice film and perform odd jobs. His father, Don Clark, was in the taxi business in San Francisco, where Donald would spend time selling newspapers on the street corners and accounting to his dad for his daily take of dimes.

During other times, he would come to Josephine County and work for his grandmother at Spalding’s Swede Basin saw mill, where he split wood for the cookhouse, fished for trout and chased off rattlesnakes. He was schooled at Hill Military Academy and Grant High School in Portland, Oregon. He met his wife, Dolores, in grade school and were married 73 years.

His beloved Dolores passed in 2015. Shortly after their marriage, he served our country in WWII. He was transferred to the Air Force flight school, where he became an accomplished pilot and flight instructor in AT-6, P-40 and P-51 aircraft.

His graduates flew countless missions in the war effort across the globe. Even at 95, he could walk you through the takeoff and landing protocols of those planes he loved. After the service, he attended the U of O, graduating from Law School in 1950.

During his time in Eugene, he offset college expenses managing the Mayflower Theater and running an illegal nickel pinball business in several local donut shops. Locals knew him as “Nichols” Myrick. He moved his wife and sons to Grants Pass, where he practiced law for over 56 years.

He was an exceptionally successful and skilled trial lawyer. He loved golf, playing as a child with his dad at Harding Park, flyfishing with his Winston Cane Rods, and took great pleasure exposing those passions to family members, including great-grandchildren. He was very devoted to the Grants Pass Golf Club, where he gave his time and efforts to make the club what it is today.

He served on the Oregon State Bar Board of Governors, was active in politics on a State level. He belonged to the Active Club and was the group of men who took the ‘Gladiola’ parade to what became the exceptional community event, the Boatnik. As a Mason, he mentored young men as dad advisor to the local DeMolay Chapter.

DF has three sons, Donald, Lynn and Bradley, five grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. To send flowers to the family of Donald F. “DF” Myrick, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

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