William Neil Boak

William Neil "Bill" Boak Passed peacefully in his home on Sunday, August 25, 2013. He is survived by his six children: Marijane Johnson (Mike), John (Candy), Patti Williams (Kevin), Billy (Cindy), Kathleen Ausburn (Greg), Colleen Boak, and fifteen grandchildren, twenty-one great grandchildren, and three great- great-grandchildren. Bill was born in 1927, the only child of Ted and Edith Boak. He spent his childhood in the woods learning the trade of his father, a logger, splitting wood for the original steam donkeys. He was an avid outdoorsman, mastering hunting, fishing, sailing and archery. At age 12 his skills earned him the West Coast Championship in archery where he held the cup from the time of his eligibility until he was 18 - as a result he had the rare opportunity to have lunch with Errol Flynn. As a young adult, he followed the timber industry with his father and mother throughout Washington and Oregon. After high school he went on to college in Colorado Springs and joined the US Navy near the end of the war. He returned to Roseburg, Oregon where he met and married Bettie Brannon in 1951. They built a life alongside Ted & Edith in the timber industry, founding Ted & Bill Boak Logging Company. This partnership became Boak Logging Company, which has continued on for five generations. As an activist in the timber industry, he willfully took up the fight for sustainable logging to safeguard the livelihood of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He participated in the convoy to the White House in 1977 with the famous carved Redwood Peanut. Well known for his hunting skills and as a black powder expert, he had more "one shot kills" than most riflemen on safari. He was active in various organizations such as Safari Club International, Northern California Scaling Bureau, Trinity Houseboat Owners Association, and the NRA, to name a few of his ongoing interests. He enjoyed his role as range master and cannon shooter, and loved anything firing on black powder! Intertwined in all of this was his immeasurable sense of humor: he did not often miss an opportunity to express his sharp wit or opinion. Anyone who had met him would know his incredibly diverse character. Dad stressed to his family that he had lived the life most men dream of: he had spent his life with the woman of his dreams and had the hunt of a lifetime in Africa. He asked us not to be sad at his passing, reminding us how wonderful his life had been. We want to thank the staff of Timber Ridge; James, Don, and Tim of Assisted Living Services; and the many friends who visited for making Dad's last few months and days comfortable, peaceful, and filled with dignity and respect. We cannot thank you enough for your skills and compassion. We welcome everyone who knew Dad to bring your stories of Bill Boak "the Chief" and join us in his Celebration of Life, Sunday September 29, 2013 at Azalea Hall, McKinleyville, from 2 to 5 pm. Please sign the guestbook at www.times-standard.com clicking on obituaries.