Daniel McKrola

Daniel McKrola, 80, of Prairie City/John Day, died May 9, 2022 at the Blue Mountain Care Center in Prairie City after a long and difficult struggle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. A memorial service will be held August 6th~10 AM at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Canyon City, Oregon. Interment will follow at the Prairie City Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to a reception at Holliday Park after the committal service. It will be a potluck picnic. The family will furnish the meat, bread and cold drinks and ask guests to bring side dishes as they are able. Come and visit with the family and share your memories of our “Uncle Dan.”

Danny Jo was born in Burns, Oregon to Duce and Kathryn McKrola of Seneca, Oregon. He was their third son and was followed many years later by a sister. Several months after his birth, his name was changed to Daniel Joseph. He was a devoted uncle to his three nephews and two nieces and carried that devotion on to his 8 grandnieces and 6 grand nephews. He loved to give gifts and reveled in shopping for unusual items. His great joy was filling the Christmas stockings and preparing elaborate Easter egg hunts.

The McKrola family moved to John Day around Dan’s first birthday. He attended John Day Elementary School and graduated with honors from Grant Union High School in 1960. While he was in high school, he participated in band, football, Varsity Club, Class Plays, basketball and served as the baseball team manager and as a Senior served as Student Body Treasurer. He was named to the Shrine East West football team as well as the Elk’s Team. He was also selected as the Elk’s Outstanding Student.

Daniel graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy in 1965 and served as a professional mariner for a little over 25 years before retiring. He had the opportunity to visit over 40 countries. In the early days of his career, he worked on ships delivering supplies to the military during the Vietnam War. Later he worked on ships delivering supplies in the Middle East. For the last several years of his career he worked on S.S Cornucopia traveling up and down the west coast delivering liquid ammonia from Alaska.

Daniel retired when his request for time off for his nephew's graduation was denied; insuring such conflicts would not arise again. He continued to travel throughout Europe, Russia and visited all 50 states. Daniel returned to college earning three more degrees, do genealogical research, shop, follow Grant Union sports and keep up with his nieces and nephews and their children. He said, “I have many wonderful grand nieces and nephews of whom I am very happy with. Most of them are very literate when it comes to computers and if they're too little their parents are.”

We are so grateful for the help we received these last 8 years from Bev and Bill Davis of Mother's Creek Ranch, the staff at Settler's Park in Baker City, Dr. David Hall, Dr. Emily Lieuallen and finally the tender care from all the staff at Blue Mountain Care Center in Prairie City and Blue Mountain Hospice. We would not have been able to navigate our way through this journey without you.

Daniel was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Michael Charles and Dale Charles.

He is survived by his sister Beth Spell and her husband Jim of John Day; sister-in-law Mary McKrola and her husband Scott McNeely of Springfield, Oregon; nephews, Jason McKrola of Springfield, Oregon, Shane Spell and his wife Laura Jane of Seaside, Oregon, and Colby Spell of Newberg, Oregon; nieces, Sarah McKrola of Eugene, Oregon and Mikaela Cloyd and her husband Jerry of Ogallala, Nebraska; grand nephews, Matthew, Logan and Gavin Cloyd, Charlie and Olin McKrola-Dey and Beckett Spell and grand nieces, Alcina, Natasha and Abigail Cloyd, Summer and Kara Spell, Ruby Joey McKrola-Dey, and Claire and Lily Spell.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to either Shriners Hospital,  St. Thomas Episcopal Church Cove Scholarship Fund  or to the Grant Union Alumni Scholarship Fund through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home and Cremation Services, PO Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834. Online condolences can be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com