Byron Thomas Loney

Byron (BT, Tom, Tommy) Thomas Loney (1943-2023)

    Byron was born in Dunsmuir, California on April 21, 1943, to Leif and Edmo Loney. He passed away peacefully on August 27, 2023, in Klamath Falls, Oregon, with family by his side.

    Raised in Dunsmuir, Byron grew up fishing the Sacramento and McCloud Rivers, and deer and bird hunting the surrounding areas in Siskiyou County, where he made life-long relationships and friendships in the community.

    He graduated from Dunsmuir High School in 1961. While there, he excelled in football, basketball and baseball. He attended Shasta College for two years while working summers for the Southern Pacific Railroad. After completing school, he became a full-time employee of Southern Pacific.

    Byron was a member of the California National Guard for seven years.

    In November of 1966, he met his wife, Diane (Totten), while she was visiting a friend in Dunsmuir. Byron and Diane were introduced by a mutual friend and would marry six weeks later. They spent their honeymoon in Pasadena, California, in order to attend the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day, 1967. Their first son, Thomas, was born in March,1968, and second son, Blake, in July,1970.

    Byron and Diane raised their family in Dunsmuir before relocating them (and their baby-blue 1971 Ford Bronco) to Klamath Falls, Oregon, in August,1982. Days after the move, he joined a hunt club on the Sprague River where he spent most of his vacation time each year hunting ducks and geese during the fall months.

    He retired from Southern Pacific in 1992. Years prior to retiring, and several years after, he traveled to many high school and college sporting events with friend Rob Henderson. They would include their children when time and patience allowed. He and Diane traveled cross country several times to visit relatives in Ohio and Connecticut, stopping at many colleges and state universities along the way. They planned many of their trips to coincide with the OSU Beavers playing in the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, where brother- in-law, Tom Totten, always accompanied him.

    Byron was a member of the Sons of Norway and volunteered for the SMART Reading program.

    Byron would see both his sons through college before his family began to grow. He welcomed his favorite grandson, Blake Thomas, in 2000, and favorite granddaughter, Raigan Cathleen, in 2002. He loved being a grandfather, watching his grandchildren compete in sporting events and develop into wonderful adults. He and the grandchildren had an amusing and enjoyable relationship. There wasn't a dull moment when they were together.

    Byron was preceded in death by his parents, Leif and Edmo Loney, father and mother-in-law Clarence and Merna Totten, brother-in-law Jerry "Whip Saw'" Goodwin, and beloved friend Vikki Wheeler.

    He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Diane; son Tom and daughter-in-law Lana; son Blake and daughter-in-law Stephanie; grandchildren Blake and Raigan; sister-in-law Linda Goodwin; brother and sister- in-law Tom and Cynthia Totten; nieces Barbara Cardoza and Kim Oros; nephew Jeffery (Denise) Goodwin; two great-nieces; four great-nephews, and one great-great niece.

    Services will be held on Friday, September 29th at 3:00 pm. at O'Hair-Wards Funeral Chapel, located at 515 Pine Street, Klamath Falls. Please consider wearing a favorite sports team's clothing (shirts, jersey, etc. or a Hawaiian floral or any printed shirt). He would have loved that. A reception will follow at the Klamath Yacht Club, located at 2700 Front Street. Family, friends, and all those who knew him are welcome.

    In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Bristol Hospice of Klamath Falls, Oregon, or a charity of your choice.

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