Don Tehan: 1937-2026

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Don lee Tehan was born 2/19/1937 in Weaverville, CA to Harold and Joyce(Reinhart) Tehan. He passed peacefully in Gig Harbor, WA on 2/27/2026 just 8 days after his 89th birthday.

Don was raised along with his younger sister June in Humboldt, Mendocino, and Trinity counties. His mother died when he was twelve. Harold did his best to keep the family together and soon Don and June were sent to be raised by their Grandparents Alice and Willis Perry. They spent a lot of time with their Aunt and Uncle Juyne and Andy and their sons, Richard and Jim Reese of Redway CA who became like brothers. He joined the Navy in his senior year at Ukiah High School in 1953. He served in the Korean war as a minesweeper. He was proud of his time serving our country and was very patriotic throughout his life.

Don met his first wife, the late Martha Smith of Trinidad, CA after his discharge from the Navy. They were married in 1961 and had two sons, Jeff and Mike. After their divorce in 1973, Don continued to be an active and involved father to his sons. Family was important to Don and he made sure he taught his boys to hunt, fish, camp, and ride motorcycles. He instilled in his boys the love of nature and its resources. His boys could name every river, ocean, bird, and wild game. He assured that his sons had knowledge and respect for guns and taught them how to safely shoot, site in, and clean their guns. When his boys were growing up, many summers were spent in Redway and Klamath CA with his sister and cousins and their families. Don enjoyed traveling with his sons to hunt and fish in Trinity county (Ruth Lake and surrounding areas). He also enjoyed trips to Colorado to hunt Mule deer and Elk and to Las Vegas to watch NASCAR. Don was loved by his grandchildren and was a regular at all of their sporting events. On weekends, he could be found at the fields and court watching them play soccer, basketball, and baseball.

Don was introduced to his second wife, Doris Edwards, by his “cousin brother” Richard and his wife Maryanne. They were married at Patrick’s Point in 1999. He gained a whole new crew of grown children: Barbara, Sandy, Beau, Kim, and Patty and their extended families, all of whom affectionately called him “Tehan”. Doris and Don moved into Doris’ childhood home in Fortuna where they resided until 2023. They then moved to Gig Harbor, WA to be closer to Doris‘ daughters. Don will be lovingly remembered for keeping an immaculate lawn, firewood stack, and for his endless fires in his woodstove that would heat the rest of us out!I He also collected and repaired wooden clocks. He loved his precious dogs and recently lost Shane, his side kick.

He worked briefly at the USPS and in local mills but will be remembered most as “the appliance repair man” from Sears. He tirelessly repaired thousands of appliances in people‘s homes and businesses throughout Humboldt County. After Sears closed, he continued to work till he was 86 years old at Poletski‘s and Eel Valley Appliance.

Don is survived by his wife of 27 years, Doris Tehan and her extended family. He is also survived by his son, Jeff (Jenny) Tehan and their children, Bailey, Dalton(Macey) and Benjamin Tehan of Eureka, CA., his granddaughters Sarah Tehan of Idaho, and Jessica Tehan of Roseburg, OR., cousins Jim and Penny Reese of Brookings, OR (previously longtime Redway, CA residents) along with his many nieces and nephews and their families in Redway and Klamath CA and surrounding areas.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his sister June and her husband George Maciel, his cousin Richard Reese and his wife MaryAnne, his nephew Tony Sanderson, his Mother and father in law Anne and Ray Edwards, and His cherished son Mike Tehan.

Don will be buried in Roseburg Veteran’s Cemetery at a later date. He requested no services. Donations may be made to the charity of your choice or to the Veteran’s Society or NRA.