Dan B. Dunn

Daniel Boon Dunn passed away in his home on Oct. 1, 2008, just after celebrating, in fine fashion, 96 years on this earth. Sharp as a tack to the end, his last speech to his family was an expression of his deep gratitude for his long life and loving relationships. He was born on Sept. 27, 1912, in East St. Louis, Ill., where his father, Frank H. Dunn built homes and his mother, Margaret, raised Dan and his two sisters, Ruth and Irene and his brother Paul.

Dan moved with his family to Denver and after high school worked his way north following the wheat harvest. He was driving a truck around Lead, S.D., in September of 1932 when he stopped to give a young woman, Gertrude R. Naatus, a lift into town. That ride lasted 58 years. Dan and Gert were married in December 1932 and moved back to Colorado where their first daughter, Donna Rae Dunn Hendricks was born in 1934. The times were tough during the Depression and work was hard to find so Dan picked up his family and moved to Washington state to look for any kind of work.

One of Dan’s most valued assets was his work ethic. He landed a job in the woods on the green chain in Humptulips in 1934. After two days, his boss noticed Dan didn’t have the boots or the clothes needed and asked him what else he could do. Dan said he could fix any machine so he was sent to the shop to work on the trucks and the logging equipment. That boss became the first of many, many lifelong friendships that Dan would create and maintain in Washington.

While our dad’s work ethic was second to none, he played second fiddle to no one and declared early on to be his own boss. His first business was in Port Gamble where he owned the only gas station in the area during World War II and thus was able to support the war effort by delivering critical gasoline supplies to small communities and the CCC camp in Port Townsend. He also had the only tow truck for miles around and his car (always full of gas) was the unofficial ambulance-he had the honorable duty of delivering mothers-to-be to the hospital in Bremerton, always on time!

Dan’s family grew while over on the “coast” with Kathy Dunn Ritchie born in 1941. Sally Dunn Farnham was born in 1943 and Michael Daniel Dunn was born in 1945. Business was good but all the while the rain drizzled. Like many of us in the eastern lands of this state, our parents’ enthusiasm for mud and mold fizzled and Dan set out to find a new home in the emerging town of Moses Lake.

He bought a barren corner lot on two dirt roads-Broadway and Gumwood, and opened a bank account at the Seattle First Bank in 1945. It took less than a year to build the Shell gas station and then the Dunn Motel was started. Dan moved his family into an apartment in the motel in 1947. Linda Jean Dunn was born late that same year to complete his family. The next 50 years saw his business expand into Dunn Auto Electric where he served not only Moses Lake but farmers and communities throughout the Central Basin. The gas station closed in the mid 70s and the Dunn Motel turned into the Dunn Apartments. However, Dunn Auto Electric served the growing business needs of this area and helped support the boom years of Moses Lake. By his side, in all aspects of the business and friendship, from 1952 forward, was his son-in-law, Dale Hendricks. They worked at auto parts, farming, building barns, growing hay and raising horses.

The family moved to Skyline Acres in 1954, into the home that soon would be on the corner of Dunn Street and Cherokee Road. He mowed his own lawn on his 90th birthday and tended a huge, prolific garden until just a few years ago.

Dan was a member, and at one time, the long-standing secretary of the Grant County Rodeo Board during the 50s and 60s. His love of horses started with a few range ponies and reached a high point when he bought his Thoroughbred stud “Tuffy.” He had more than a few spirited rides to the fairgrounds on the big guy and was usually leading a group of kids from the Cherokee 4-H Horse club in Skyline Acres.

Besides his commitment to work and his devotion to family, Dan was a man whose life was built on service to others. He believed deeply in giving back to one’s community. He was a charter member of Franklin No. 5 Masonic Grand Lodge in Port Gamble and was a card-carrying member to the day he died. He was also a 50-plus year member of the Eastern Star, Oasis No. 191, the Wenatchee Grand Chapter of Masons, the Big Bend Shrine Club, the Moses Lake Rotary, the Oddfellows and the Elks. He served in leadership roles in most every organization and at both the local and state level. Many young women remembered “Daddy Dunn” as he served as Father Advisor for the Rainbow Girls during several terms. He bought and ate way too many boxes of Campfire mints over the years.

In 1966 Dan was elected to serve as commissioner on the Port of Moses Lake. He helped define the goals and establish the policies that continue to serve the port today. There were challenging days at the inception and he was proud to serve and to be a part of the growth of Moses Lake through the work of the port until 1973.

Our dad lived a long and good life, as they say, but it was not without deep sorrow. Gertrude, his dear wife and partner in life died in 1990. He lost his son Mike in 1983, and his oldest daughter, Donna, in 2003. But Dad was an eternal optimist with a strong desire for living life to the fullest. So, it was no surprise when his luck played out again and he and Julia Kemmer, whom he had known in business over the years, struck up a deep friendship and found a love that would immeasurably brighten the last 12 years of his life.

Dan is survived by his daughters Kathy Ritchie (Brian), Sally Farnham (Richard) and Linda Dunn (Ray Miller). He is also survived by his side-kick and son, Dale Hendricks. He had eight grandchildren whom he loved dearly and saw often; Pam Hendricks, David Hendricks, Shelley Williams, Wanda McKee, Doug Hendricks, Mycol Comolli, Sally McQuaid and Jessie Stewart. He also had two step-grandchildren, Gina Ritchie and Crystal Miller. Dan had 13 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews as well as a long list of friends so close that Dan made them “family.”

The family plans a private burial service. A Celebration of Life service open to the public will be held at Memories R Forever reception hall (424 S. Burress Ave., Moses Lake) on Monday, Oct, 13, from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The family requests donations be made to Shriners Hospital for Children, PO Box 2472, Spokane, WA 99210-2472 or to the charity of you choice.

Please feel free to leave the family a note or sign the guest book at www.kayserschapel.com.