Francis ‘Elmo’ Calkins Aug. 10, 1933 — March 17, 2016

Published 10:35 am Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Francis “Elmo” Calkins, 82, of John Day, died March 17 in Prairie City. His ashes will be spread in his forest at a later date when family can be present.

Calkins was born Aug. 10, 1933, in New Mexico, to Golden R. Calkins and Gertrude C. Bell.

He lived in a railroad boxcar at a young age, and left home early for work.

He attended Atascadero Middle and High schools in Atascadero, Calif. He served in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged on April 10, 1952.

He attended Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, Calif., and San Jose College in San Jose, Calif.

In 1976, he discovered John Day during a family vacation, and moved his family to the area in 1979, when he began working for the U.S. Forest Service as a transfer from California.

He worked for the U.S. Forest Service as chief of surveying on the Malheur National Forest. He was also a railroad switchman, a pilot and a commercial fisherman.

He married in 1969 in Atascadero.

He was an outdoorsman whose interests included hunting and fishing, and local bowling leagues. He was a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks.

Survivors include his sons, Joe W. Calkins and David R. Calkins, both of Dallas; adoptive son, Phil Calkins of Arroyo Grande, Calif.; stepson, Steve Anderson of Portland; and friend/companion, Jennie Roller.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis Ann Calkins.

Memorial contributions may be made to Blue Mountain Hospice in care of Driskill Memorial Chapel, 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845.

For online condolences, visit www.driskillmemorialchapel.com.