John Oliver Binam, a Prineville resident, passed away on Saturday, April 26, 2008. He was 87 years old.
A memorial service will be conducted at the Missionary Baptist Church in Prineville on Saturday, May 3, 2008 at 10 a.m. Brother Bill Russell will officiate.
Oliver was born October 16, 1920 to Walter and Grace (Swain) Binam in Huntsville, Arkansas, the youngest of three children. In 1936, the Binam family sold their Arkansas farm and moved to Camp Watson - a mill camp in eastern Oregon. At the age of 16, Oliver started falling timber and working in the local sawmill with his Dad and brother, Claude.
In his late teens, Oliver joined the Navy and saw active duty in World War II and later during the Korean War. While stationed in San Diego, Calif., Oliver met Irene Nolting and they were married in Los Angeles, Calif., on March 8, 1945. After the war, Oliver and Irene moved to Prineville, Ore., where Oliver went back to work in the lumber industry.
Aside from his five years in the Navy and a 13-year stint as a foreman of a cattle ranch, Oliver worked mostly in the lumber industry and in several different Western states. Although he held a number of different positions, Oliver liked sawmill construction the best. During his career he oversaw three sawmill remodels and the construction of one greenfield stud mill. After retiring, Oliver and Irene moved to Clinton, Mo., Irene's home town, where they enjoyed traveling, buying and selling pottery, and visiting with family and friends. Irene died in August 1998 and a year later Oliver sold their home and moved back to Prineville, where he spent the last nine years of his life. Oliver is survived by: four children and their spouses, Keith and Norma Binam (Midland, Texas), Susan and Bob Cimmiyotti (Mendocino, Calif.), Kevin and Adrienne Binam (Keizer, Ore.), Alison and Jim Nivens (Fort Worth, Texas); eight grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews and their children, and many friends.
Arrangements are by the Prineville Funeral Home. |
