Arlen Warren Hukill

Arlen W. Hukill
September 18, 1934 -October 27, 2013
In the comfort of his home in Elkton, OR, Arlen Warren Hukill passed away Sunday after a lengthy battle with cancer; his wife Sharlene was always by his side.
Born at home in Griffin Creek near Medford, OR September 18, 1934,Arlen was the third of four childrenborn to Henry and Elma Hukill, behind his brothers Bernard and Philip and ahead of his little sister Silvia. In his young years, Arlen lived and worked on the family farm picking pears. A significant memory was receiving his first motorcycle at age 14, a Cushman scooter;it was a gift from his father that he used on the farm. His first paying job came at aged 16 when he went to work at the Bear Creek packing house. At 18 Arlen took a job with the forest service, he worked behind the road grader picking rocksso well liked by his boss that a forest service road was named "Hukill" after him. During this time Arlen also worked to log timber on their property with his father using a large workhorse named Meg, and milled the lumber using their Oliver tractor.
Arlen's real trade began at age 21 through employment with the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. as a lineman. Just five months later he married Sharlene Hopper of Jacksonville, ORin a small ceremony August 31, 1956. The nuptials took place at the Hukill farm in Griffin Creek. A year and a half later the young couple welcomed the birth of their first child, Diana Lynn, born Dec 7, 1957. In April the following year, the telephone company moved them to Portland, OR where on June 14th of 1959 the family grew from three to four when son Daniel Arlen was born. In July of 1960 the phone company transferred them once more, to the small college town of Corvallis, OR. Arlen and Sharlene purchased their first home thereand continued to raise their young family. Summer vacations were spentcamping together in the northwest, and in the fall Arlen and his son shared a great interest in hunting. They also shared a love of motorcyclingat age 45 Arlen purchased his first Harley-Davidsona dresser. It was in Corvallis where both of their children met and married their own loves and extended thefamily circle. Diana Hukill married Tim Hostetler and theylive in Corvallis, OR. Dan Hukill married Chris Singleton and they've made their home in Monmouth, OR.Arlen and Sharlene remained in Corvallis for 32 years.
After 37 years with the phone company, Arlen retired in April of 1992. In retirement, they purchased an RV and traveled the scenic landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. Theyalso enjoyed multiple trips to both Hawaii and to Alaska. In their travels they visited Elkton and loved it enough to make it their permanent home; in December 1996 they purchased a beautiful residence along the Umpqua River and applied their talents ingardening and fishing, and relished their ability to view such a variety of wildlife.
Arlen and Sharlene have been blessed with four grandchildren: Eric and Carl Hostetler, and Jennifer and Kellen Hukill. There are now five great-grandchildren: Cale and Drew born to Eric Fisher and Jennifer (Hukill) Fisher of Redmond, OR, and Damian, Kobe and Keiraborn to Kellen Hukill of Monmouth, OR.
Arlen is preceded in death by his father, mother, two brothers and sister, and survived by all those mentioned above.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Nov 2ndat the Elkton Bible Baptist Church on 2nd Street in Elkton at 11am. Donations to any cancer foundation in lieu of flowers are appreciated.