Horace Franklin "Butch" Faulkner Jr.

Horace "Butch" Franklin Faulkner Jr. December 28, 1928 - August 2, 2010 INDEPENDENCE - Surrounded by his family, Butch passed away peacefully on August 2, 2010 after a short, but valiant, battle with cancer. Butch was born in Wadesboro, North Carolina to Horace Franklin Faulkner Sr. and Daisy Elizabeth (Honeycutt) Faulkner. Butch joined the Air Force in 1948 and moved to Phoenix, Arizona. During the Air Force he attained the rank of Master Sergeant and served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Before retiring he was awarded 18 metals and ribbons. It was in Phoenix where he met his wife Mary Jane Durizzi. They married in 1951 and together had three children, Steve, Kim and Doug. Retiring from the Air Force in 1968, they moved to Monmouth where he worked for the Monmouth Post Office as a mail carrier and made friends all along his route. Children would follow him on their bikes trying to keep up with him. We have been told that some children wouldn't take their naps until he would deliver to their house, making it difficult for those parents on his days off. Butch was loved by everyone and made friends wherever his path took him. Mary Jane and he loved to travel and travel they did when he retired in 1989. They took their motor home across the United States and saw many places, making sure to be home in time to go Camping and Fishing at Lava Lake every June with their family and friends. They also Spent the month of September on the Alsea River and became a permanent fixture at the Driftcreek Campground. When back in town, Butch was an active member of the "Burgerville Coffee Club". They dubbed themselves the "holding place for Heaven." There they would talk about their families, fishing, and how to settle the world's problems from their "base camp" booth. Butch was the 'Ultimate Family Man'. They meant everything to him and he to them. He was a 'Mr. Fix-it' of everything. If it was broke there was a way he would fix it. He would always say a tool box is not complete without WD40 and duct tape. If you had those things, you could fix anything. His grandchildren would bring toys to him to repair and he would have them fixed and delivered as soon as he could. He loved to work with wood and was really good at it. This was a gift he passed on to his children. He made furniture, toys for the grandkids, and book shelves. He built model air planes and watched car racing. Being from North Carolina, he grew up on NASCAR and loved it until the day he died. Butch is survived by his wife, Mary Jane, the love of his life of 59 years; children, Steve (Laurie) Faulkner of Enumclaw, Wash., Kim (Rory) Heide of West Salem, Ore., Doug (Debbie) Faulkner of Bellevue, Wash. Other survivors include one brother, Ben, six grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and many nieces and nephews in North Carolina. A Private Burial service for family with internment will be held at Fir Crest Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sat., August 21 at the Elks Club in Independence. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Union Gospel Mission or charity of your choice. Arrangements entrusted to Farnstrom Mortuary.