Gordon Jack ‘Bud’ Fulton passed away Jan. 18 in Brownsville, Texas. He was 82.

Bud was born July 21, 1936, in Vernonia, to Thomas William Fulton and Gladys Jewell “Judy” (Smith) Fulton. He was raised in Vernonia and attended Vernonia High School where he played basketball. In 1955, Bud joined the U.S. Army where he served four years as a member of the 95th Engineer Company in Germany as a cook and baker. While in the Army, he received his GED.

Upon Bud’s return from the Army in October of 1958, after an honorable discharge, he began working for Kinzua Corporation in Kinzua, and continued working there until the mill closed in 1978.  While working at Kinzua Lumber Company, he was an officer of the Lumberman’s Union and traveled to San Francisco and Chicago to represent the union. Bud played on an adult basketball league. He lived in Kinzua, Fossil, and Condon.

Bud married Rollene Walter in September of 1961, and they had one daughter, Sandra Lynn. They later divorced.

After Kinzua Corp. closed and the town was returned to its natural state, Bud relocated to Burns, where he worked for Edward Hines Lumber Corporation as a saw filer until he retired in 1996.  The metal saw fibers/shavings took a toll on his lungs, and he suffered from commercial (industrial) asthma for the remainder of his life. After a short time living in Payette, Idaho, Bud moved “down the Canyon” on the Brownlee Reservoir outside of Huntington, where he would spend the rest of his life. He loved to fish and, if possible, he would fish daily, which made every day a good day! He could filet a fish perfectly… with no bones to be found. His BEST DAYS were spent FISHING. Bud traveled south for the winters and would explore throughout Mexico and meet friends who were vacationing there. In his later years, he stayed in Brownsville, where he made many friends. Bud attended two Army reunions back East and enjoyed those trips very much. He loved to travel by train and never got a sleeper. He didn’t need that!

Bud was an avid sports fan, especially college and NFL football. He liked to hunt, he never missed a garage sale, and he had a huge collection of marbles. When he visited Mexico, he always took along basketball nets for the hoops, which thrilled the children. Bud was a good cook and made angel biscuits that melted in your mouth. Bud had a feisty disposition. He was stubborn and independent. He did not ever complain about his health. He could sharpen a knife like no other. He was proud of his grandsons and visited them always during the holidays before his travels south. He played a smart hand of pinochle. He was very humble, a good story teller, and could easily make people laugh. He’d tell you he couldn’t go “online,” as the only line he had was a clothesline. He loved watching his grandsons’ sporting events and was always proud of their accomplishments.

He is survived by his daughter, Sandra Lynn Fulton Goebel of Klamath Falls; grandson, Austin Goebel and his wife, Tonja, of Arkansas; grandson, Alden Goebel of Klamath Falls; brothers, Bill Fulton of Burns, and Richard Fulton; half-sister, Judy Ann (Wayne) Davis of Heppner; numerous nieces and nephews; many dear friends; and special friends, Mark Daniels of Klamath Falls, Robert Misener of Fossil, Jorge Portugal of Brownsville, and Fred Beckley of Eugene.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Tom Fulton and Judy Hampton; sisters, Mary Lou LaGore and Jackie Williams; and half-brothers, Troy Carey, Doug Carey, and Butch Carey.

His remains will be laid to rest by his family at a later date.