Byron W. Mabee, loving husband and father, passed away at home January 9, 2023, surrounded by family. Byron (Bill) was born on May 25, 1929, in Riverside, California to the late Byron Mabee and Nyla (Long) Mabee of Sweet Home, Oregon. He married Doris Garrison on April 19, 1951, in Albany, Oregon. He is survived by his loving wife of 72 years, 4 children, Debra, Pamela, Teresa, and Cheri. He leaves behind his loving sister-in-law, Marni and her daughter, Lisa. Byron has 8 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren.
Byron and his parents moved to Sweet Home, Oregon when he was 15 years old. He graduated from Sweet Home High School where he met and married his beautiful wife, Doris. Byron entered the US Navy in 1947, served 7 years stationed in San Francisco, California; Kodiak, Alaska, Guam, and Long Beach California. His ship assignments took him around the world, and he often talked about his adventures and great love of the sea.
After his service, he joined the US Navy Department, Aeronautics Administration and studied electronics and radar engineering, ultimately joining the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) where he served over 35 years. His work took him to Vietnam, Iran and throughout the US. At the end of his career, he was the Sector Chief at the Oakland, California FAA Air Traffic Control Center.
Retiring to a ranch in Sweet Home, OR, Byron started living his dream by starting Mabee’s Red Angus in 1984. He became a prominent and well-respected leader in the national Red Angus Association. He won the prestigious Midland Bull Test many years and consistently earned championships at the Oregon State Fair. Byron was proud to be a founder of the Western States Red Angus Association and the widely recognized and popular ‘Bet on Red Show and Sale’ in Reno, where many of his outstanding heifers were sold. He admired his fellow breeders and was grateful to be part of the Red Angus community.
Byron’s love of life also extended to the outdoors where he was an avid fisherman and hunter. He will be missed for his passion, honesty, and ability to bring out the best in everyone. May his memory be a blessing. Before closing, we want to thank all the “Caregivers, the Sweet Home Paramedic Teams, the Samaritan Brownsville Clinic, Signature and Lebanon Hospital staffs”, for all they did to extend our Dad’s life. We are planning “A Celebration of Life” for Spring.
Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements. www.sweethomefuneral.com