Hugh David Allison

Buz Allison was born in Detroit, MI to Harriet and Lewis Allison. He was their first child and only son. His birth was followed by three sisters, Alice Allison, Connie (Wagoner) and Janice (Abrams). He was preceded in death by Alice and Connie. He took his "job" as big brother very seriously throughout his life, always being available to them in time of need. He was also preceded in death by his beloved nephew, Richard H. Wagoner, Jr. in 1978; and great-nephew, Richard Henry Wagoner, III in 2010. The family moved from Detroit to Fowler, CO and eventually to the Portland, OR area, where Buz would live for the rest of his life. Lewis Allison was a Railroad trained Electrician and with his cousin, Kenneth Allison, sold electrical outlets and plugs door to door during the depression years. Eventually, Lewis and Kenneth formed two different electrical construction companies - Oregon Electric Construction, Inc. and Allison Electric in 1947. The two companies would later merge in the 1990's. Buz was trained as a Commercial Pilot and had dreams of flying commercial airlines, however, when his father was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 1959, he gave up those dreams to help with the family business. He continued flying, owning private planes. In 1951, Buz married Irene "Betty" Brown. Betty was a recently graduated Registered Nurse, who had traveled to Portland from Saskatchewan, Canada to work at Providence Hospital. They met while living at a boarding house operated by a relative of Betty's. This February 13th, would have been their 60th Wedding Anniversary. Betty was at Buz's side almost continually as his health declined in the last months. She will forever be his "Nurse". Buz and Betty led a very active life - taking up sailing in the 1960's and continuing their love of boating and fishing throughout their adult lives. They were active members of Portland Yacht Club and Columbia River Yacht Club. They were able to travel the world together and with many of their great friends. Buz and Betty have two daughters - Jo Ellen (Upham) and Heidi (Patterson). They dreamed of having sons and their dreams were fulfilled when Jo Ellen and Heidi met and married their lifetime loves - Rick Upham and Glenn Patterson. Rick and Glenn were both athletes and sports fans, which allowed Betty to become the avid sports fan she was meant to be. Buz and Betty spent many hours attending high school, college and post-college basketball and baseball games and later enjoyed watching their four grandchildren - Carie Upham, Cody Upham, Sonja Patterson Rheaume and Michael Patterson compete in softball, volleyball, basketball, baseball and golf. Buz and Betty also played a big part in the lives of their three great-grandchildren - Allison, Callie and Easton Rheaume. Toward the end of Buz's life, his brightest moments were when his great-grandchildren stopped by for visits and lively discussions. Over the years, Buz attracted many new leaders to Oregon Electric including his two sons-in-law in 1975 and 1976. Oregon Electric grew to be one of the largest electrical contracting firms in the NW. Later, each of his grandchildren would work in the industry, two continue to work at Christenson Electric, Inc. Buz was a strong supporter of the National Electrical Contractor's Association, NECA, and served in leadership roles locally, regionally and nationally. He was also a lifelong advocate for IBEW Local 48 and believed strongly that management and the trade unions working together to achieve high quality and safe work for their customers was key to the Industry's success, Buz was especially proud of his contribution to helping improve benefits especially pensions for Local 48 members. He was very pleased when a retired electrician would thank him for their pension, one of the best in the industry. We also want to thank those that cared for him his last year at the Pleasant Family Care Home, Liliya and Lidia and Danny Grosav. They gave him extraordinary care and love, attending to his needs.

Hugh David Allison

June 10, 1929 - January 9, 2011