Allan Poole

Allan Poole, of Merlin, passed away at his home on Saturday, May 9, 2015.

He was born January 17, 1936 in Mascoutah, Ill. In 1947 he spent three years in Roseburg, Ore. with his family. Allan then moved to Merlin in 1950. He always said he ran out of gas and was too poor to move away. He attended schools in both Roseburg, Ore. and Mascoutah, Ill.

At a young age he worked on farms in Roseburg but as a teenager got a job at the sawmill. When the sawmill moved to Merlin in 1950, he moved with it. He also worked in logging with his brothers Francis, Bill and Don then was working for Debbs Potts when he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1959. After 2 years with the U.S. Army he went back to logging.

In 1964 in Grants Pass he married Faye Wingerd Leefeld. Shortly after their marriage he went to work for Peter Kiewit Construction building I-5 freeway and operating heavy equipment. When it was completed in 1965, he chose not to follow the company but create a stable life for his family in Grants Pass.

Allan went into business for himself forming Busted Rock Company in 1966, which he operated for 40 years. He built many driveways, house pads and county roads in the North Valley area and made many friends. When his good friend Debbs Potts passed away in 2003 and Allan became one of the directors, it was too difficult to do both Busted Rock and Pottsville. In 2007 he retired from his business and was a director for the Eugene Debbs Potts Foundation until his passing.
Besides the Eugene Debbs Potts Foundation, he belonged to the Early Day Gas Engine and Tractor Club Branch 9, Josephine County Planning and the Oregon Cavemen. He attended Parkway Christian Center for 30 years.

He was one incredibly amazing, fun-loving, life-loving man. He made so many friends with his 'Howdy, Neighbor!'. He loved visiting with people and making them laugh with his many jokes and one liners. With his trusty 'Rolling Toolbox' truck, he loved to help when he saw a need. He loved to travel and see God's magnificent creation and saw beauty in the desert as well as the mountains. He'd been to many states and Hawaii but his favorite was Alaska and British Columbia where he made many friends traveling in his own 'Hippy Van'. He had an adventurous spirit.

Allan loved God and his family and is survived by his wife of 50+ years, Faye; children, Susan (Jim) Maue, Allan T. Poole, Brenda (Brent) Sackett, Laurie (Ron) Monize, Mick (Rachael) Poole; sister, Mary Lou Maue; brother, Bill Poole; 14 grandchildren, Joe, Ben, Austin, Erin, Addison, Hunter, Brittany, Baylie, Brenna, Anthony, Simone, Morgan, Ella and Arielle; and two great-grandsons, Kolbe and Cohen.

He was preceded in death by parents, Laclede 'Pappy' and Emelia Poole; sister, Pat Maue and brothers, Francis and Donald Poole.

Allan was buried at Pleasant Valley Cemetery. A memorial service is planned for Friday, May 22 at 1:00 p.m. in Grants Pass at Parkway Christian Center with Pastor Dennis Webber officiating.

Donations may be made in his name to The Eugene Debbs Potts Foundation, PO Box 324, Merlin, OR, 97532 or the ROC Food Bank, 564 SW Foundry St., Grants Pass, OR 97526.