Derrick Franklin Cedars

1972 - 2014

DERRICK FRANKLIN CEDARS Derrick Franklin Cedars was born January 11, 1972 in Hayward, CA. His family moved to Chico where he attended local schools and graduated from Chico High in 1990. He was an avid reader and enjoyed music. After high school, he attended Chico State and began taking flight lessons. In 1996 he traveled north to Alaska to fish for the summer & loved it so much he never returned. He first settled in Anchorage, where he attended the University of Alaska to earn his degree in aviation, graduating Magna Cum Laude. His passion in life had become flight. He was a flight instructor for some time before his employment began with Hageland Aviation in 2002. He worked as bush pilotfor 12 years in Bethel, Alaska which serves a transportation port and hub for over 50 villages. Derrick was an outstanding lead pilot, as his co-workers and passengers would attest. It was during his time here that he met his wife Catherine and started his family. Derrick left us way too soon at age 42. He died April 8th, 2014 in an accident during a training flight. He died doing what he truly loved, which can bring his friends and family some comfort. He is survived by his wife Catherine, daughters Cady age 10 and Lauren age 6 of Bethel AK, as well as Misti Cedars-Taylor, James Taylor & Sophia Taylor of Chico, CA, Tim Eichblatt of Roanoke, VA, Jeff Zimmerschied of Columbia MO, Willie Culp and Randy & Carol Robinson of Little Rock AR, Becky Campbell of Christiansburg, VA, Scott Threlkeld of Slidell LA, Sunni Simmons of Manteca CA, and Alyce Siegel and family of Jacksonville, FL. Services were held Sunday April 13, in Bethel AK, where over 500 pilots, friends, family and the community celebrated his life.