Donald A. Lucas, “Dad, Uncle, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, Great-Great Grandfather” Born January 4th, 1924 In Rainer Oregon passed away peacefully at his home in Hoopa California surrounded by his loved ones on December 9th, 2019. 

Dad was a proud World War II Veteran and in 1943 he earned two bronze stars and a Combat Infantry Badge for his participation in the German and Northern France campaigns as an Ammunition Handler and Relief Machine Gunner.

During his lifetime, Dad wore many hats and enjoyed the outdoors and working with his hands.  He came to the Hoopa Valley in 1955 to work in the many lumber mills in the area and never left. He loved the Valley.  Although most of his 64 years in Hoopa was spent working in the mills, Dad always found time to spend in the outdoors, fishing, hunting for shrooms, gardening and he loved to go deer hunting with his hunting partner Dania Rose.  Among his many hobbies and passions, Dad loved to sit by a mountain stream and swirl his gold pan in search of the elusive motherload. He was a member of the 49ers Gold Miners Association and Lost Dutchman Association and proud of it! Among his other hats he sometimes wore, Dad operated a tow truck and was known to be an accomplished and respected auto mechanic. He was known to always have the right tools and knowledge to fix pretty much anything.

After his retirement from the mill industry and too old for manual labor, Dad stayed active and loved to drive.  We jokingly called him Hoopa’s Taxi because he was always on the road hauling someone around, either because they needed a ride to the store or an important appointment or just because he enjoyed the company.  He loved to run around and it was hard for him when he finally had to give it up at the young age of 93.

The last of his siblings, Dad is preceded in death by his wife Gladys Lucas, his parents Isaac and Lillett Lucas, his brother Newt and wife Alice Lucas, his brother Ike and wives Edna and Harriet Lucas, his sister Elsie and husband Joe Ware, his sister Opal and husband Bill Hartford, his grandson Leo Nix III, his great granddaughter Jessica Blacksmith, and His adopted sons Leroy Martin and John Blake.

Dad is Survived by his children; Kathy and Gary Colegrove, Carol Pease, Pat and Henry MacDonald, Christine Nix and Randy King, Kenny and Ida Lucas, twelve grandchildren, thirty-five great grandchildren, and fifteen great great grandchildren.

On January 4th 2020, Dad would have been 96 years old. He said he had a full life and wouldn’t have changed anything.

Services will be held the Assembly of God church in Hoopa on Tish Tang Road Saturday, December 14th 11:00 am. Grave side burial to immediately follow at the VFW cemetery in Willow Creek with the reception following at the American Legion Hall in Hoopa.

Paul Bearers; Fred Lewis, Jon Matilton, George Lewis, Darrel Mabry, Randy King, Glen Jones

Honorary Paul Bearers; Kenny Lucas, William MacDonald, Wally Morton, Gary Colegrove Sr., Gary Colegrove Jr., Chester MacIntosh, George Bailey, Charlie Junior Moon, Heath Bubs Jackson, Johnny Blake, Eddie Allen

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Donald’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.