Allan Crisler

Allan Crisler

My charming and chatty father, Allan Crisler, was born on the family farm in Hillsdale, WI, the fifth of six children and the youngest of the four boys. He moved to Newport at 14 when his father traded the dairy farm in Hillsdale for a house, sight unseen, on the Oregon Coast. A 1958 graduate of Newport High, he excelled at sports. Charismatic by nature, he quickly made friends with his teammates, many who he kept in touch with until the end. He loved baseball. He was fated to become a catcher because no one else could catch his older brother, Rich. He went on to play baseball at Linfield, catching all 4 years he attended and graduated in 1964 with a degree in Public Relations and Business Administration.

My parents first date was on April Fools' Day 1960 – a double date orchestrated by two of their closest friends, Wayne Braxling and Jerolea Hart. Dad's irresistible charm won Mom's (Patti Dixon Crisler) heart and their mutual respect and affection made them inseparable. They married on August 8, 1964 in the Methodist Church in Toledo, just down the street from Mom's childhood home. From there, they headed to Portland where my Dad worked at the Portland Chamber of Commerce. Mom earned her Masters in Education at PSU and landed her first teaching job at Cleveland High School. They enjoyed the bustling city life for a few years, until in 1968, Dad was hired as the Executive Director at the Bend Chamber of Commerce and they moved to Bend, a small town of around 10,000 residents.

After his time at the Bend Chamber, Dad took various jobs to make ends meet, commuting home on the weekends. To return to Bend full time, he took a position managing Town & Country Realty – a precursor to teaming up with his long-time friend, Gary Capps, to own a Century 21 real estate franchise with multiple locations in Central Oregon. He retired shortly after selling the business in 2006, to live out his retirement dreams of playing as much golf as possible. As his back and body started to "bark" at him with age, another love came into his life: a grandson. He always had a smile on his face and twinkle in his eye when Taran (who he called "Buck") was around. They were two peas in a pod: lively personalities always eager to crack a joke and lend a hand.

Maybe due to their humble beginnings and their inherently generous natures, my parents had a quiet way of taking care of their community and each other. They were safe space and found intentional ways to offer support when opportunities arose. My mom was solid ground: humble and warm. She could gently realign my Dad with her timely humor when his chattiness went off course. My dad opened doors with his positive energy and friendly demeanor. They were well matched, married for 61 years, and loved each other to the end. Witnessing and receiving their love was an honor. I was their greatest project. I am filled with gratitude for each moment we spent together. The last season of their lives was uncomfortable and challenging, and also filled with lessons, reflections and growth. Gratitudes to my family and the angels who have walked with me, held my hand, and continue to guide me through this time in life.

Allan Crisler was born on February 25, 1940 in Hillsdale, WI and crossed over August 24, 2025 at The Hospice House in Bend, OR. He is preceded in death by his parents, Mildred (Durkee) and Harold Crisler, his oldest sister, Sharon (Crisler) Pendexter (Brandon, FL) and Larry Crisler (Newport, OR). He is survived by his grandson, Taran "Buck" Davis (Bend, OR), his daughter, Casey (Crisler) Davis and son-in-law, Spencer Davis (Bend, OR), and his brothers, Dale Crisler (Rice Lake, WI), Richard Crisler (Spokane, WA), and Carol (Crisler) Podhola (Rhinelander, WI).

A Remembrance Ceremony will be held Friday, Nov. 7th at 2pm at Aspen Hall in Shevlin Park (Bend, OR) for friends and family. In lieu of gifts and flowers, please share a story about Allan and Patti. Stories can be sent to: pandacrisler@gmail.com. Letters can be sent to: Casey (Crisler) Davis c/o Niswonger-Reynolds Funeral Home, 105 NW Irving Ave, Bend, OR 97703. Tax deductible donations can be made by mail to: Partners in Care, Attn: Development, 2075 NE Wyatt Ct., Bend, OR 97701 or online at partnersbend.com/donate.