Dallas E. Best, a resident of Oregon City, Oregon died on November 30, 2009 at his Oregon City home. He was 83 years of age.

Dallas was born on May 3, 1926 in Scotia, California and he was the son of John Harvey and Mabel Mahala (Bennett) Best. He moved around as a child and attended school in Sacramento, California.

On August 25, 1944 Dallas was inducted into the United States Army. He served with Company M of the 349th Infantry in the European Theater of Operation during WWII and led pack mules loaded with equipment through the hills of Italy. He later performed the duties of a cook. Dallas received an honorable discharge on August 27, 1946. He achieved the rank of Private First Class and was awarded the Army of Occupation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, the Victory Medal and the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal.

On September 22, 1948, Dallas married Neva Norene “Rene” Goins in Vancouver, Washington. They made their home in Portland and Dallas worked for H.A. Andersen Construction as a Superintendent and Carpenter. He was involved in the construction of various hotels and Fred Meyer stores in the Portland Metro Area. Dallas moved to Oregon City in January of 1977 and he retired on May 3, 1981.

Dallas had many hobbies. He had a passion for working on older model Chevrolets. He also enjoyed traveling, especially to California and always by car, boating, fishing and camping. He was an extremely caring person that was always eager to lend a helping hand. He was a hard worker, always dependable and a big hearted man that simply adored his wife, son and grandchildren.

Dallas is survived by his wife; Norene “Rene” of Oregon City, son; Edward (wife, Marge) of Oregon City, brothers; Eugene Best and family of Portland and Kenneth Best and family of California, sister; Juanita Schantz and family of Portland and sister-in-law (wife of Frank) Helen Best and family, grandchildren, Deavena Fleming (husband, Rob) and Tyland (Ty) Taylor, great grandchildren; Jayden, Jaslynn, Treigh, Tori, Ty Jr., Matthew, Armando, Taylor and Leah and special nieces, Debra VanDinter and Kay Domich along with the Gary Goins Family, the Leroy Barnes Family, the Joan Davis Family and the Dottie Pecham Family and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his 3 brothers, John, Frank and Lee Best and his sister, Doris LaRose.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, December 4, 2009 at 10:00 am at Bateman Carroll Funeral Home in Gresham. Visitation will be on Thursday, December 3, 2009 from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm also at Bateman Carroll. Interment with military honors will be at Willamette National Cemetery. Contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or to Providence Hospice. Bateman Carroll Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Dallas Edward Best