Daniel Joseph Meddock

December 29, 2022

Daniel Joseph Meddock, 78, kind and loving husband, family man and loyal friend passed away peacefully September 12, 2022, in Salem, Oregon, from multiple myeloma cancer. A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 23,  in Bonners Ferry in the Exhibit Hall at the Boundary County Fairgrounds..

Born July 4, 1944, in Bonners Ferry to Fred and Bessie Wyatt Meddock, Dan grew up believing the celebration and fireworks on the Fourth were for his birthday and continued to remind us of that every year. Growing up in Bonners, Dan was well liked. In fact, his first grade teacher liked him so well that she asked him to redo the first grade, along with several other boys who preferred riding horses and playing cowboys to going back to school after lunch.

Dan was a natural athlete and leader in school, lettering in multiple sports, attending Boys State and serving as Student Body President, while working part time and full time in the summers (say railroad anyone?) and saving for college. His leadership, organization and love of people continued throughout his adult life in organizing his class reunions until the last few years.

In spite of flunking the first grade, Dan completed his education with multiple degrees from North Idaho College and Eastern Washington University, choosing education for his life’s work. In fact, his first teaching assignment was at Naples grade school, where he taught two grades in one classroom and learned the power of planning and preparation, which served him well throughout his career and life.

In 1965, Dan married his high school sweetheart, Lois Ann Dunning. They had two children, Melissa Ann and Scott Daniel. Though a Bonners Ferry guy through and through, Dan’s occupational path in education took him to Oregon’s Lake Oswego High School, teaching and coaching basketball, before moving several years later to the Beaverton School District, where he retired from Westview High School administration in 1999.

Dan also enjoyed his years as pitcher for the Open Seas Men’s Fast Pitch Softball Team in Oregon.

In 1991, Dan met and fell in love with Katie Neal. They married in 1993 and were inseparable best friends from day one, spending more than 31 years side-by-side through life’s adventures and challenges.

In 1999, upon Dan’s retirement, they built the home of their dreams in Naples. While living there, Dan began coaching basketball at Bonners Ferry High School, taking the boy’s team to state.

In 2003, family illness and desire to be closer to kids and grandkids, took them to McMinnville, Oregon, followed by a move in 2020 to a 55-plus community in Dallas, Oregon.

Dan was diagnosed with cancer in June 2022. In spite of the illness, he remained unbelievably positive, loving and continued to rely on his sense of humor through those trying months.

His love of family and friends, his kindness and caring for others remained important to him always.

Dan is survived by his wife, Katie, Dallas, Oregon, daughter Melissa Larson and grandsons Miles, Calvin and Isaac, Hillsboro, Oregon, son Scott Meddock and granddaughter Cece, Portland, Oregon, siblings Judy Everhart and Gary Meddock, both of Bonners Ferry, Bonnie Nieman of Sandpoint, and Rick and wife Jodi Meddock, Spokane, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please do a kind deed for someone in need or perhaps make a donation to the Boundary County Museum, 7229 Main St., Bonners Ferry, ID 83805, in Dan’s name.