John Oscar Thissell, 71, of John Day died on Oct. 19, at the Blue Mt. Hospital.

He was born on  July 10, 1937, to Laurence and Vivian (Olsen) Thissell in Tidewater, the eldest of 10 children.

Thissell was raised in Tidewater and Burns and spent his childhood working on the family farm and ranch. He was a skilled horseman and spent countless hours gathering cattle.

After being drafted in 1955, Thissell elected to join the U.S. Navy, serving two years of active duty on the USS Cavalier in the Asian-Pacific Ocean. Following his active service, he traded his cowboy boots for cork boots and began his career as a timber faller.

On July 11, 1959, he married Sally Jane Ray. Together they raised their four children in the Tidewater-Waldport area.

Thissell was an avid outdoorsman, who loved nothing more than recreating with his family and friends. He relished his time at the Alsea Riverbank and covered many miles in his four wheeler on Steens Mountain as well as the Silvies and Juniper units. His ashes will be spread near his childhood home on the Silvies River, where he taught his children and grandchildren to fish with willow poles.

Thissell was a man of few words who possessed a steadfast work ethic and a streak of stubbornness.

Thissell is survived by his siblings Larry Thissell, Kathleen Woosley, Irene Adair, Marge Woosley, Barbara Fredricks, Shirley Larson and Donna Helms; children Johnny Oscar Thissell, Jr., Barry Joe Thissell, Laurence Thissell and Kathryna Sue Weatherspoon; 12 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Cecil Thissel and Lynn Thissell.

A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Driskill Memorial Chapel, 241 S. Canyon Blvd, in John Day. A reception will follow.