Donald Arthur Sweet

Donald Arthur Sweet, loving husband, father, and granddad, passed away peacefully on January 19, 2023, in Clackamas, Oregon, at the age of 87. An only child, Don was born in Vancouver, BC, Canada, on June 23, 1935, to Pauline and Art Sweet. Don grew up in Vancouver and earned the degree of Bachelor of Commerce from the University of British Columbia. While in college Don met his bride, Marilyn Farr Wells.

Shortly after Don graduated from college they married and began raising their family in Edmonton, Alberta, where Don worked for Canada Packers. Seeking a warmer climate, Don moved his young family to sunny Mission Hills, California, where he began his career in the insurance industry. In 1995, after more than 30 years of service, Don retired from Farmers Insurance and moved to Medford, Oregon.

Among other things throughout his life, Don enjoyed camping, fishing, hiking, swimming, traveling the world, and Barbershop singing. He was even awarded “Barbershopper of the Year.” He was also an excellent pianist. Don was an active member at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Medford, Oregon, for many years.

The following memories have been written by Don’s third child, Judy Sweet:

My first and perhaps fondest memory of my father was watching him build a birdhouse in our garage and sharing a can of Cactus Cooler afterwards with 2 straws.

I remember how every morning before heading off to work he would open our bedroom door and say, “Time to get up Boobies!”

When he returned in the evening, I mostly remember him behind his newspaper.

My father worked as an underwriter for an insurance company. Once I asked him what that meant. He said it had to do with re writing insurance policies so that people could more easily understand them. This made sense to me. My father was gifted with words, and he even told me once that he would have liked to write stories in his life or even a book.

On another occasion I asked him what he would have done if he hadn’t worked for an insurance company. He thought for a moment and then he said, “I would like to have been a forest ranger.”

Perhaps in a way he did become a forest ranger through our annual summer camping trips. These were epic journeys. I remember the excitement, the meticulous way all the gear and equipment had to be loaded into the station wagon and the 4 of us children somehow packed and squeezed in amongst it all. Then off we set before sunrise to make headway before the scorching heat of the day.

These were unforgettable experiences and in this manner we camped and travelled the length and width of the Western United States.

So, another important memory – the way my father awakened in us a deep interest, love and respect for nature, for travel, for adventure.
Another one of my father’s talents and life-long interests was Barbershop singing. He had a beautiful tenor voice and sometimes his quartet would practice at our house. It is another fond memory as a child – drifting off to sleep with the sounds of laughter and the harmonious blending of their voices.

Memories of my father would not be complete without mentioning that in addition to his utter devotion to his family and most especially to our mother, he was nevertheless a somewhat strict father who found it difficult to show affection.

Towards the end of his life he expressed some regrets.

But the truth is, he was the kind of father who prepared us for life, who showed us what it means to work hard, to be responsible, independent, resourceful and self-reliant.

In my last conversation with him he was able to say that he had lived a good life. He was successful in his career and in raising a family. He and my mother enjoyed an early and long retirement and could afford to travel and to live comfortably for over 20 years in a beautiful home and in beautiful natural surroundings.

His last few years were no doubt a difficult stage in life and a painful process of having to let go – of his home, his beloved wife of over 60 years, his independence, his ability to be in control and altogether his life as he had always known it.

Having enjoyed exceptionally good health, he also had to experience what it means to be severely ill, to be in need and to accept the help of others.

In our last conversation I read to him a little prayer that he had given me several years ago:

The light of God
surrounds me.
The love of God
enfolds me.
The power of God
protects me.
The presence of God
watches over me.
Wherever I am
God is.

At the end of his life and in his time of greatest struggle it seemed to me that these words were waiting for him … A week later he achieved his final letting go.

Don was preceded in death by his wife Marilyn. He is survived by his four children, Louise, Danny, Judy, and Brad; two daughters-in-law, Wendy and Jane; seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

A private family ceremony will be held in beautiful Southern Oregon.