Parkie Darrell "Dude" McMaster

Long-time Quincy resident Parkie Darrell McMaster, more commonly known as Dude, passed from this life on Thursday evening, December 11, 2014, at the age of 71 years young. He was born to Edward and Lena (Cox) McMaster on April 14, 1943 in Cove City, Arkansas. Due to Dude's father being a logger, his first few years of life were spent traveling between Arkansas and California, until Lena made the decision to live in California on a permanent basis. The family of eight first moved to Susanville where they lived for a couple of years then moved to Meadow Valley. While living in Meadow Valley, Dude attended the Meadow Valley School until the 2nd grade. Dude's family then relocated to Quincy. Dude attended Quincy Jr. Sr. High School and graduated in 1961. While in high school, he was considered a football and track star, but he also enjoyed wrestling. Dude was the Student Body President his senior year. He was a Golden Grad and enjoyed participating in the 50th year festivities while raising money for the QHS football team. Dude briefly attended Sacramento City College while waiting for the girl of his dreams "to grow up". He then returned to Quincy, where he owned and operated a full-service Mobil Service Station (now known as One Stop) for 3 years. Dude starting dating his girl, Gayle Welbourn, in 1963 and they were married on April 4, 1964. Dude and Gayle celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in April 2014, with their family and Maid of Honor, Sonia Monlux. During the first few years of their marriage, Dude sold the gas station and went to work for Jay Spray where they traveled all over Northern California until their first daughter, Laura, was born. In January 1967, Dude started a long, successful, rewarding career with Pacific Gas and Electric Company. He started out as a laborer and lived at Rock Crest Camp in the Feather River Canyon. While living in the canyon, Dude and Gayle had another daughter, Diana, and then a son, Darrell, was born. The family of five then relocated to Quincy where Dude lived ever since. Dude enjoyed being in the mountains and loved working for Pacific Gas and Electric in the Hydro Power Generation Department because it fit his lifestyle. He was an Electrical Machinist for many years and liked being a PG&E Project Supervisor for Nevada Irrigation District and PG&E Consultant to Oroville-Wyandotte Irrigation District. After 47 years with PG&E, Dude retired as a Crew Foreman. Many people were concerned that Dude would be bored when he retired, but he continued being involved with the Quincy Elks Lodge, his five grandchildren and volunteering at Quincy Elementary School where he worked in his youngest granddaughter's classroom. Dude joined the Quincy Elks Lodge in 1975. He worked his way up through each office and was the Exalted Ruler twice. In 1997, Dude was North East State Vice-President and two years later the North East District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler. In 1977, he won 1st place as Inner Guard in the District and State Ritual Contest and traveled to Nationals in New Orleans where everyone asked "Where in the H**l is Quincy?" Dude's latest award was in 2013 where he placed 1st in the District Ritual Contest as Esquire. Dude started as the local Hoop Shoot Chairman in 1976. His children and four of his grandchildren have participated in the Hoop Shoot. The youngest granddaughter was looking forward to participating next year when she turns eight and then Poppa could retire from the Hoop Shoot if he wanted. Dude has also been the District Hoop Shoot Chairman and the State Hoop Shoot Director. He loved the youth of our community. Dude has also been the Lodge and District Major Project Chairman and also the Lodge Chairman for Elks National Foundation, Publicity, Bequest and Living Trust and active in the Past Exalted Ruler's Association. First and foremost Dude was a loving husband, father and grandfather who worked hard to support his family and was extremely generous not only to them, but anyone who needed a hand. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, fish, hunt, watch Westerns and going back to school with his youngest grandchildren to help in their classrooms. In passing, Dude leaves his wife, Gayle of Quincy, CA, his daughters; Laura Miller and her husband Don of Quincy, CA, Diana Ruch and her husband Robert of Quincy, CA, son; Darrell McMaster of Quincy, CA, Aunt Mildred "Midge" and Uncle Norville "Dean" Wilson of Quincy, CA; his sisters; Edna Stites and her husband Duane of Quincy, CA, Wilma Sellers and her husband Gene of Darby, Montana, his brothers; Ron McMaster and his wife Donna of Auburn, CA, Don McMaster and his wife Carol of Darby, Montana, Bill McMaster and his wife Jeanne of Citrus Heights, CA, grandchildren; Sierra McMaster, Parker McMaster, Morgan McMaster, Dylan Miller and Kaitlynn Miller all of Quincy, CA, many nephews and nieces, plus the many other people that adopted him over the years. With Dude's past auto accidents, renal kidney and heart disease plus polycythemia vera, he used all of his nine lives and joins in his eternal home his parents, Goose and the other family pets, and his closest friends. A celebration of Dude's life will be held 11:00AM Saturday, January 10th, 2015 at the Quincy Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Interment will take place in the Quincy East Lawn Cemetery with a reception following at the Quincy Elks Lodge. The family suggests in lieu of flowers, any remembrances in Dude's memory be made to the Dude McMaster Scholarship Fund c/o Quincy Elks Lodge #1884, P.O. Box 1177, Quincy, CA 95971. An opportunity to express your condolences to the family along with signing the memorial guest register is available online at www.fehrmanmortuary.com.