Dan Richard Gaston, 79 years old of Hood River passed away in his sleep at home on May 29, 2018. He was born in Pagosa Springs, Colorado on June 27, 1938 to Ethel Elnora Castle and Emmitt Richard Gaston.

Dan most of his childhood in Pagosa Springs his family then moved to Oregon in 1947. They moved to Rainer, Oregon where he attended school until 1955 then moved to Newport, Oregon. He went to Newport High School his senior year graduating in 1956.

After graduation he moved to Corvallis, Oregon attending Oregon State College for 2 years. After that he moved to Klamath Falls, Oregon to attend college at OIT where he graduated in X-Ray Technology.
On March 21, 1960 he married Virgie Parsons, and they then moved to Butte, Montana for his internship. After finishing his internship in Butte, Montana he was homeward bound for Oregon.

He thought the Columbia River Gorge would be a great place to settle, so April of 1961 he took a job in Hood River at Hood River Memorial Hospital running the X-Ray department. He ran the radiology department 50 years. After retiring from Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital, he worked part time for Skyline Hospital for another 2 years.

While living in Hood River he had access to fishing and hunting which he loved from the Oregon Coast to the Columbia River to eastern Oregon. He hunted for elk and deer with his buddies in Eastern Oregon. His hunting and fishing endeavors not only included Oregon but also Canada and Alaska. He went to Canada with Sterling Hanel and brought home a big moose which dressed out 800lbs of meat. He went on a big fishing trip to Alaska, bring home halibut and big salmon.

He loved skiing on Mt. Hood and taking his family there for skiing and sledding. Sheri loved skiing with her dad. He loved taking the family camping at the coast and different other places in Oregon and Canada.
He loved planting a garden each year and canning most anything he grew, especially a variety of tomatoes. He made great salsa which was his specialty. He was a great gardener and he loved to play golf.

He is preceded in death by; his parents, Ethel and Emmitt Gaston; brother, Jack Gaston; brother, William “Bill” Gaston; son-in-law, Thane Mihacsi.

He leaves behind his wife, Virgie Gaston; daughters, Sheri Mihasci and Shelli Gaston; granddaughters, Marilyn Mihasci and Angela Mihasci; grandsons, Travis Gaston and Dalton Gaston; great-grandson, Tristian (the joy of his life); sisters, Judy Baugess and Paula Simmons; brother, James Gaston (and wife, Sharon); sister-in-law, Sally Berg; several nieces, nephews, cousins and lots of friends.

He loved Hood River, his job at Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital, all of the people he worked with and that is why he worked there for 50 years. He also loved the 2 years he spent at Skyline Hospital in White Salmon. When he found out he had cancer he finally retired. During his retirement he did a lot of wood cutting with his grandsons.

A celebration of life for Dan is planned for 1:00 p.m., Saturday, June 16th at Anderson's Tribute Center (Funerals • Receptions • Cremations) 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031. All are invited to a hosted reception that will immediately follow at the Port Marina Park (on the Columbia River where Dan enjoyed much time). Private graveside services will be at Idlewilde Cemetery (980 Tucker Road, Hood River, Oregon).

Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.