Duane O. Powers - Empire Chapter

[dlterpstra]

I, Duane O. Powers, kicked the bucket on December 28, 2010. I knew I was going to die sooner or later, but I had hoped it would be later. I lived a good life. I'm proud of the four years I served our country in the U.S. Navy from 1953 to 1957. I've enjoyed 50 years or more as a motorcyclist, heavy equipment operator and American Legion member. My greatest joy in life has been my family and my friends. Traveling by motorcycle has been another joy in my life, and I would like to share the stories of some of my most memorable trips: In August of 1954, my younger brother, Dale, and I left our home in DeRuyter, NY, on my Harley-Davidson motorcycle to visit our older brother, Roy, and his wife, Mae, in El Paso, Texas, where Roy was in the U.S. Army. Our entire trip was 5000 miles by the time we got back to DeRuyter, and we were gone two weeks. Then I rode back to North Carolina, where I was stationed in the U.S. Navy. In July of 1987, my 12-year-old daughter, Wendy, went with me on a two-week trip on my restored 1947 Harley-Davidson Knuckle-head from Austin, Texas, to Central Nebraska, visiting relatives and friends. The 1947 was my main ride for 15 years. In April of 2000, I bought a new Harley-Davidson and on June 1, 2003, I started a trip to Alaska with a riding partner. This ride had been at least a 40-year dream of mine. We were gone 47 days and by the time I got home I had traveled 13,020 miles. In my working career I operated bulldozer and other earth moving equipment in New York, Nebraska and Texas. My longest time with an employer was with Orchard Earth and Pipe Corp. of Solvay, NY, from 1989 to 2008. So must be I did not treat my employer too badly or he would not have kept me around that long. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. I am survived by son, Michael Powers; daughters, Wendy Powers Kelly, Michelle Powers and Rebecca Thompson; and brothers, Roy Powers and Dale Powers. I hope that when remembering me, family and friends will be more likely to laugh than cry. Instead of flowers, I would appreciate donations to the United Church of DeRuyter, the Woodford Burdick American Legion Post, the DeRuyter Library or Ho****e in my name. (Written by Duane himself - www.empirechapter.com)

[hd44knuck]

He did it his way....R.I.P. knucklehead

[46EL]

I never met him formally but I think I recognize Duane from either Oley, Harmony or maybe both. Pretty neat that he wrote his own Obit. Sorry to see another one gone. RIP, 46EL