Dwight Allen Saunders, 62, passed away on October 8, 2020 at his home surrounded by his family in Richland, Oregon.  A Graveside Service will be held on October 17, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at the Eagle Valley Cemetery in Richland Oregon.  Friends are invited to join the family for a potluck following at the Saunders cabin.

Dwight was born on January 10, 1958 in Baker, Oregon to Dalton S. Saunders and Jane M. Allen-Saunders.  He grew up with siblings Marcia and Daniel.

Dwight lived in Richland for all his life; he went to grade school at Richland Elementary and attended Pine Eagle High School in Halfway, Oregon graduating in 1976. He was born into a ranching family, and was 5th generation. After high school Dwight wanted to go to college. He had all of his money saved up and wanted to be a lawyer.  Sadly, both grandfathers died the year he graduated, so he put his college money back into the farm and stayed home and ranched.

He married Deborah L. Carper in Winnemucca, NV on November 6, 1992.  They met in high school and later on found each other again. They had two children Sierra Lynne (24) and Sydney Leigh (22).

Dwight loved raising cattle, he was a hard worker.  He enjoyed playing cards, loved to visit, always said "Hello".  He enjoyed hunting, fishing and shooting guns.

Dwight got to enjoy all the colors from working outside. His favorite seasons were spring, when the calves were born and the fall, when the calves came home from the forest. He loved football and his favorite team was “whoever beat the Cowboys.” He loved his horse, Sis and recently Honey.   Dwight was a Mason, Shriner, member of the Lions Club, school board member and was a board member on the ditches for years.

Dwight’s favorite saying was “I am so poor if it took a quarter to go around the world he couldn’t get out of Richland.”  He loved being a Dad, his proudest moments were when his two beautiful daughters were born.  

He was preceded in death by both sets of  grandparents,  Merritt W. Saunders and Eva D. McDowell-Saunders, Gover D. Allen, and Ruth M. Stace-Allen; parents Dalton S. Saunders and Jane M. Allen-Saunders;  sister Marcia M. Saunders-Gover; mother and father in-law, Darrell and Anita Carper; nieces Jennifer and Kayla Carper.

Dwight is survived by his wife of 27 years Debbie; daughters Sierra and Sydney; brother Dan Saunders and Bill Fields; brother in-law George Gover; nephew Stacy Gover and wife Morgan; nieces Holly & Dustin Gallimore, Joey & Ryan Davis and families; brother in-laws & sister in laws Gene & Cindy Carper, Susan & David Clason, Jerry & Shelly Smith, Mark and Melody Weir; nieces and nephews Elisha Suldan, Raleigh Coffman, Renae Coffman-Hansen, Randi Coffman-Smith, Derek Harlan, Adrian Roach, Colton, Branden and Dalton Weir along with spouses; and many great nieces and nephews.

Debbie and girls would like everyone to remember him for his legacy of his management of his generational ranch and his special wittiness.

For those who would like to make a memorial donation in memory of Dwight, the family suggests either the Hilary Bonn Benevolent Fund or the Eagle Valley Ambulance through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home & Cremation Services PO Box 543 Halfway, Oregon 97834.  Online condolences may be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com