Alfred Franklin Finnell, 101, of Sweet Home, Oregon died Saturday, August 3, 2013. He was born in Nashville, Arkansas to James Desmore and Ella (Short) Finnell.

As the child of a saw filer, Alfred traveled with his family across the US, also spending time in Nicaragua and Mexico. The family settled in the Portland area where Franklin attended and graduated from Beaverton High School.

Believing in higher education, he attended Oregon Normal School and Oregon State University. He taught in high school for two years in Dundee, Oregon and worked as a school principal and basketball coach in Vida, Washington. Teaching convinced Alfred that he had no interest in the politics involved with public education nor the low paying salary. He went back into the field that flowed through his veins, becoming a master saw filer in the Pacific Northwest.

Alfred met and married Floretta Ruth Mundale in Vader, Washington. They were married for 65 years at the time of Floretta’s passing. They had three children, ten grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and 22 great-great-grandchildren. Alfred and Floretta were loved by countless family and friends.

Alfred filed saws in Ketchikan, Alaska, Lebanon, Oregon, Entiat, Ardenvoir, and Oroville, Washington. Retiring at age 75, he lived an additional 38 years of leisure while enjoying family, friends, gardening, traveling, and napping.

At age 91, Alfred moved to Craig, Alaska with his granddaughter and family. All of the teenagers knew him simply as “Alfred.” At age 95, Alfred moved back to Sweet Home, Oregon to live with his son and extended family. He had lost the sight in one eye, his hearing was limited at best, but he was healthy as a horse and retained all of his facilities until the very end. Alfred died peacefully in his sleep August 3, 2013, 18 days short of his 102nd birthday.

Viewing will be from 12:00 (noon) to 2:00 p.m., Saturday, August 10, at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel. A funeral service will follow at 2:00 p.m., also at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel. Burial will take place at Riverview Cemetery in Oroville, Washington.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.