Wasco-Yamhill-Multnomah County OR Archives Obituaries.....Conklin, John E. December 15, 2004
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Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com April 5, 2006, 8:36 pm

The Dalles Chronicle, December 21, 2004
     John E. Conklin, formerly of Minatare, Neb.; Ft. Morgan, Colo.;, Greeley, 
Colo.; and McMinnville, died Dec. 15, 2004 at the Veteran’s Home in The 
Dalles. 
     A photographer, he was born in Minatare May 2, 1921 where he grew up a 
block from his father’s drug store and soda fountain. He was athletic and 
social, participating in all available sports. After high school, we attended 
the University of Nebraska enjoying his fraternity, Sigma Chi and ROTC, but 
decided photography school was more appealing. 
     From his small town in Nebraska he ventured to New York City to attend 
the Rochester School of Photography and found his niche. From photography 
school he returned home and enlisted in the Army Air Corps where he was 
assigned to the 43rd Reconnaissance Long Range Photo Squadron in the South 
Pacific. 
     On leave one snowy night in 1945 he found himself in Cheyenne, Wyo., and 
ran into an old high school sweetheart, Betty Sue Myers. They hooked up again 
and married as soon as he returned from World War II. 
     He tried to make it as a photographer in Chicago, but a new baby and an 
ill mother took him back to Minatare and Conklin’s Drugstore. He helped his 
father with the store, developed a photography section and continued to take 
photographs whenever possible. 
     In 1954 the couple and their two children moved to Fort Morgan and opened 
Conklin’s Camera Shop. 
     He was active in Lion’s Club, city council, chamber of commerce and a 
variety of community activities in Ft. Morgan. 
     After closing the camera shop in 1962, he went on to sell mutual funds, 
cars, and eventually manage the Fashion Bar in Greeley and Ft. Collins. But he 
was always, at heart, a photographer. 
     When they retired in 1984, they moved to McMinnville, and made frequent 
trips to the Oregon coast. They were near, their daughter Susan, and saw their 
grandson Martin, who visited with his parents, John and Dawn Conklin. His wife 
died of cancer in December 1993. They had been married 48 years. 
     By 1996 he was showing signs of senile dementia. 
     He is survived by his son John S. Conklin, daughter Susan J. Conklin, and 
grandson Martin James Michael Conklin.
     In accordance with his wishes, his ashes will be placed at Willamette 
National Cemetery in Portland. The family will observe private ceremonies of 
remembrance.
     Memorial contributions may be made to The Sierra Club. Arrangements are 
by Columbia Cremation & Burial.


Additional Comments:
Written permission to reprint given by The Dalles Chronicle, The Dalles, 
Oregon, Dan Spatz, Editor (e-mail dated 3/7/2006).


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