It is with a heavy heart that I write this. On August 29, 2024, Dana passed at his home in Willow Creek.

We moved into a house on the hill above the little red house that our dad and grandpa built. Dana went to grade school in Big Lagoon and later to McKinleyville High School. Dana didn’t graduate high school — he took the GED test and got out early. He was smarter than me (lol).

After school, Dana went to work for A&P truck service at the Mobil station in Orick. He worked there for quite a few years. Later, Dana went to work for Blankenship Trucking as a mechanic. I’m not sure for how many years. After that he worked for Arcata Redwood company as a millwright, where he retired.

Over the years in Orick, he surf-fished commercially, sports-fished in Redwood Creek and in the ocean. He was also an avid deer hunter.

Throughout his life in Orick and later in Willow Creek Dana made a lot of lifelong friends. I don’t think Dana ever met an enemy!

I’m gonna miss you, bro!

Dana was born in Orick on Jan. 22, 1958 to Corky &=and Nita Whitaker. He was the youngest of three boys — Darrell, Dennis and Dana.

Dana was proceeded in his death by his dad (Corky, 2010) his mother (Nita, 2012) and his oldest brother (Darrell (Butch), 2012).

Dana lives behind his next-older brother, Dennis, and his two children, Bailey and Brett; Bailey‘s two children, Rylan and Bella; Uncle Pete McAtee of Arcata; and Aunt Gloria Shuster of McKinleyville; and various cousins.

A memorial for Dana will be arranged for a later time.

###