Daniel A. McDougall, 85, passed away in Bellingham, Wash. on December 23, 2012. He was born on January 12, 1927 in Cashmere, Wash. and grew up in the Wenatchee and Okanogan Valleys.

Dan started work at 12-years-old and became a champion apple picker an box maker. After high school he joined the Merchant Marines as a cadet engineer. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and served as a finance expert, in charge of payrolls.

Dan married an Oroville girl, Elizabeth “Betty” Priebe, in 1948 who proceeded him in 2009.

After his discharge from the army he worked for various construction companies in Seattle until he was employed by Wright Schuchart – the largest construction company on the West Coast. The company was instrumental in building the Space Needle and many of the large buildings in Seattle and the West Coast. He became vice president of the company and after 30 years retired and moved to Marysville, Wash.

He wrote a book about his life, including his early days working in the orchards, called Old Moo and I.

Dan is survived by brothers Roy (Beulah) McDougall of Oroville and David (Dorothy) McDougall of McMinville, Ore. and sister Joan Verley of Gresham, Ore.

He was buried at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Portland, Ore.