Gerald Duane Longton

Gerald Duane Longton, 77, of Aumsville, Oregon, passed away peacefully at home at 8:55 p.m. on May 14, 2019, surrounded by loved ones after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s and kidney failure. He was born on July 11, 1941, in Glenwood City, Wisconsin, to Kenneth Gerald and Mercedes “Dolly” Arlene Longton. They moved to Sutherlin, Oregon in 1950 and then moved to Portland, Oregon, in 1957.  Gerald served in the Navy from 1958 to 1962, stationed in San Diego, California, where he received Photographic Intelligence training and became an Arial Survey Contractor. He obtained his pilot license in 1969 and worked for Cartwright Aerial Surveys out of Sacramento, California, and was able to work in Australia, New Guinea, and Egypt. Gerald’s career totaled over 35 years of mapping experience with 25 of those years working for the Oregon Department of Revenue with tax boundary maps and 10 years working with the Oregon Department of Forestry with timber type maps.  Flying was Gerald’s passion, not only for work, but also in his free time. When the kids were growing up, he took them flying, even on trips to California. He also enjoyed flying ultra-light craft at times. Right up until the end of his life he missed flying and would reminisce constantly about his adventures. Gerald loved adventure and adrenaline. He also enjoyed whitewater rafting and participated in the destruction derby in Salem for many years.  Gerald married Leah Lambrecht on November 8th, 1986, and the families could not have blended more perfectly. The children all got along well and everyone spent time together out on the family farm as whenever they could.  Gerald was an incredibly intelligent man – he could build or fix anything. He loved to putter around the family farm that he was able to buy from Leah’s family in 1990, fulfilling a life-long dream. Gerald spent his days on the farm tending the animals that he loved. He worked hard to create the farm life he always dreamed of until tragedy struck in 2017. One of the homes caught fire and the fire spread to the surrounding buildings, destroying almost everything, including one of the Sublimity fire engines. But the family did not lose heart and together they supported one another through the difficult time. Although Alzheimer’s had already set in, cleaning up the mess left behind from the fire kept Gerald occupied for hours each day as he diligently shoveled ash and debris.    Gerald was also a huge Oregon Duck fan and he and his brother went to many football games through the years. Near the end, even as he fought his illnesses, the family was able to facilitate one more trip to Autzen Stadium to watch an Oregon Ducks football game.  God was an important part of Gerald and Leah’s life. Gerald loved the Lord and enjoyed attending mass at St. Boniface Catholic Church. He read his bible daily and the couple would always pray the Lord’s Prayer together. Leah prayed that prayer over him, as the sun set in beautiful array over his beloved farm, as he left this life and entered his eternal glory.  Gerald is preceded in death by his parents Kenneth Gerald Longton and Mercedes “Dolly” Arlene Bates Longton and his grandson Matthew Dillard. He will be profoundly missed by his wife of 32 years Leah Longton; sisters Sandra Longton, Brenda Longton, and Mary Dumore; brothers Tom Longton and Bob Longton; daughters Lisa Anderson and Bonnie Parker; son Danny Longton; step-daughters Ammy Lowell and Molly Mitchell; step-sons Dan Mitchell and Roy Mitchell; 15 grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren.