Gene Cameron Cleeland

1937 - 2021

Camano Island - That Man is a Success

"A man is a success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much; who has gained the respect of intelligent men and the love of children; who has met his goals and accomplished his tasks; who leaves the world better than he found it, who looked for the best in others and gave the best he had."

Our family is deeply saddened to announce the death of our father, husband, grandfather, brother, and uncle, Gene Cameron Cleeland. Gene was born on January 7, 1937, in Los Angeles, California, to Roy and Sylvia (Asplund) Watson. He passed away on Sunday, October 3, 2021, at Providence Everett Medical Center in Everett, WA after a valiant and incredibly resilient 20-year health struggle.

Gene's biological father Roy passed away when he was 3-years old, and he went to live on the family farm in Kingsburg, CA with his beloved grandmother Anna. She cared for Gene lovingly while his mother Sylvia was establishing herself as a Registered Nurse in Wickenburg, Arizona. Sylvia met Gene's stepfather, Reverend B. Ross Cleeland, while living in Wickenburg and they married. At that point, Sylvia brought Gene from Kingsburg to live with she and Ross in Wickenburg. During this time, he was adopted by Ross, his brother Byron was born (1943), and his memories were vast and wide. His biological father's brother lived in Wickenburg, so he was able to spend time with his cousins while living in Arizona as a child. He began his grade school career in Wickenburg, and always told our family that

he skipped two grades in elementary school, as his knowledge base far surpassed the average early-elementary student. He loved going to Yarnell, Arizona in the summer as a child, as the temperatures were much cooler in comparison to Wickenburg. While in Yarnell, he would climb the huge boulders and play endlessly. His friend "Old Man Wagner" used to take him to Yarnell to trade with the Apache tribes and he would play with the Apache children while the trading was taking place.

In 1945, when Dad was 8, his parents moved to the remote village of Klawock, Alaska as missionaries. His memories of his time in Alaska were filled with hunting, fishing, and learning to be resilient. Dad's time in Alaska as a child wasn't always filled with good memories, but he did often talk about how he would spend time in the woods hunting, became a firearm expert, chopping tons of wood, and helping his mother around the house constantly. He loved playing basketball at the school, setting up the speakers for Sunday service for his parents, clearing the snow and ice off the church steps, and the "homesteading" lifestyle that he learned while living so remotely. It is during this time that he developed a passion for singing, as he would sing with his family in church quite often. He established a few friendships at that time that lasted the span of his lifetime and returned to Klawock in 2017 to be officially "adopted" into the Tlingit tribe by his friend Aaron Isaacs. His family returned to Arizona in 1949, when dad was 12. He attended Tempe High School, graduating at the age of 17 in 1954. While attending school, he was very involved in acting in the school plays, singing in the choir, and playing basketball. He was awarded the Air Force ROTC Cadet Wing Tactical Training Program Scholarship and attended Arizona State University with a major in Aeronautics. (His life-long friendship with John Will began at this time.) He joined the Air Force Reserves Officer Training Corp as a Major Cadet in the summer of 1958 and became a qualified pilot.

Dad's parents relocated to Maui, Hawaii in the summer of 1954 and he joined them there after pilot school. It was there in Maui that he took further courses at Maunaolu College (played basketball), established a life-long friendship with his special friend Ron Vaught, and began traveling across the United States with the Na Hui O Na Mea Nui choral group, singing Hawaiian music with his friend Ron and Ron's wife Alexa. In 1960, Dad was drafted into the Army and was stationed at Fort Lewis Army Base in Tacoma, WA. While stationed at Fort Lewis Army Base, he met Camille Dunmire and they were married in Tacoma, WA on August 8th, 1964. In 1965, Dad graduated from Officer's Candidate School and became a Lieutenant in the Army National Guard Reserves. He was notified that his cadet group would be going to Vietnam (it hadn't been declared a war yet) and he was offered a position as an aide to Brigadier General Howard D. McGee, who was the Adjutant General of the State of Washington in 1965. While working as an Aide to General McGee, he also was employed by Russ Dunmire Oldsmobile in Tacoma, WA as a top salesman. In 1968, Gene and Camille left Tacoma and moved to Los Angeles, CA so that Dad could pursue a career in radio announcing. He received training at Don Martin School of Radio and Television, graduating in 1969. Upon graduation, Gene's first job at a radio station was in Eugene, Oregon, culminating in Newport, Oregon in 1972. In 1970, after six years of marriage, his daughter Elise was born in Lincoln City, Oregon. Dad's desire to return to the automobile business brought him to Skagit County in 1972. He began work at Hinton Oldsmobile in Mount Vernon as a sales manager. In 1975, his son Cameron was born. Throughout the span of his 21-year career path, he ventured into the auto industry, travel business, and many other sales endeavors.

For the past 12 years, Gene made his home on beautiful Camano Island with his life partner, Deborah Schacker. Dad and Debbie took numerous wonderful and rewarding trips, attended a plethora of gospel concerts, partnered to create a beautiful home, and shared a life together filled with friendship and love. Over the last ten years, Dad's health struggles increased, and Debbie lovingly cared for him in their home. Our family is extremely grateful for the love, support, care, and friendship she provided Dad throughout the latter years of his life.

Dad was an integral member of Bethany Covenant Church, beginning in 1974. He sang in the church choir, often performed solos for funerals/weddings, and was well-known for being highly engaging and friendly in conversation and relationship building with his church community. During his time at Bethany, he established strong friendships that resulted in the creation of a gospel quartet named "Kerusso". This gospel quartet toured churches in Washington spreading joy and the gospel through music and worship. Dad was gifted with an incredible bass baritone voice and was sought out to sing in many events in the community. In the early 60's, Dad's voice led him to be selected as the MC/Vocalist for the Miss Tacoma Pageant for two years in a row. He also sang the National Anthem at the University of Washington in the 1990's, and he went with the UW Marching Band to Europe to tour and sing in 2005. Gospel music was a large part of Dad's life, and he used this music to connect strongly with the Lord. His faith was very strong, and he looked forward to "Resting High On That Mountain." Dad was a very avid fan of athletics. He supported his children and grandchildren in all their athletic endeavors and encouraged each of them to be the best athlete they could be. He was an integral part of the Sedro Woolley High School sporting community and created many life-long friendships throughout that time. Among those life-long friendships were the important bonds with Ted W. Anderson and Mark Collins. Dad was a very well-read, well-researched, and opinionated individual in areas of politics, history, athletics, and family relationships. His mantra was always resilience and tenacity, despite obstacle and challenge. He taught us all that the way to promote success in our own lives was to never give up. We continue to carry this legacy of learning with us as we continue our lives without him.

Dad is survived by his long-time life partner Deborah Schacker of Camano Island; his former wife Camille Dunmire Cleeland of Big Lake; his daughter Elise (Tim) Cleeland-Roberson and their children Kaelyn, Christian, and Kyrin of Big Lake; his son Cameron (Mindy) Cleeland and their children Roice, Treynor, and Dulcie of Vancouver, WA; his brother Byron Cleeland of Kauai, Hawaii

He was proceeded in death by his biological father Roy C. Watson, his mother/adopted father B. Ross and Sylvia L. Cleeland, as well as his lifelong friends John Will and Ron Vaught.

At Gene's request, there will be no service. His biggest desire was for people to know that he lived a wonderful and full life with a host of blessings. Dad wasn't scared to leave this life, as he knew he would be with the Lord in Heaven. We rejoice in his newfound freedom from the constraints of his earthly body, as he is free and full of joy!