Mike O Doney

Doney, Mike O. 90 Nov. 22, 1923 May 19, 2014 Mike O. Doney died at 12:45 a.m. with his daughter, Kelie, by his side. Born to William Albert Doney and Alma Kruger Doney in Portland. Mike was the fourth son of five children. He was raised on their family ranch in Cave Junction. Mike grew up hunting cougar with the hounds, fishing and working on the ranch. He graduated from Kirby High School in 1941. Mike tried to join the military and was disappointed to be classified 4F due to pulmonary hypertension. He served his country by working for the Forest Service, manning remote lookout towers, including Bald Peak in Southern Oregon. He also worked as a logger where he set chokers, picking hops in Idaho and working at Yellow Stone National Park. In 1949, he met and married the love of his life, Bety Jean Pearl. They were married for 56 years. In 1952, the family moved to Pendleton, where Mike worked as a Pendleton police officer. In 1958, he went to work as an Oregon Liquor Control Commission Inspector. He retired from the OLCC as a lieutenant in Portland in 1982. Mike was introduced to dowsing (water locating) in 1951. He spent the rest of his life studying and teaching this art. Mike could locate a well site and determine the depth of flow of the water. He could also remote dowse, and often used it when he hunted. Mike taught water dowsing at Portland Community College and Clackamas Community College. He founded the Northwest Society of Dowsers and organized the annual conventions for nearly 30 years. He was a member of the American Society of Dowsers and the Canadian Questers. ?? Mike and Bety lived in Milwaukie until Bety died in 2005. Mike leaves behind his daughters, Kelie Kolanko and Karla Pearlstein (Aaron); grandchildren, Sarah Rod (David) and Christopher Conrad; three great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Melia and Elise Rod; brother Ralph; and sister, Cleo. Mike loved his family and provided a comfortable life. He was a loving father and grandfather. After Bety's death in 2005, Mike and Kelie started Pet2Tingo alpaca farm to honor Bety's memory. Mike enjoyed his dogs, garden, golf, hunting, fishing, camping, friends and life. To Mike, "No one was a stranger." Mike moved through the world with grace and a sense of humor and joy. He leaves a powerful legacy, touching many lives and teaching many lessons. He is loved and will be missed. A memorial will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 29, 2014, at Lincoln Memorial, 11801 S.E. Mt. Scott Blvd., Portland.