Ruel Teague passed away peacefully in his home Oct. 14, surrounded by family.

Ruel blessed his momma, arriving on her birthday, Aug. 17, 1927. Growing up in the Great Depression in a tar paper shack, Ruel knew what it was like to struggle for the simplest of daily necessities, like food and clothes. The struggles that he and his brother, Nate, lived prompted the journey to Oregon in 1946, and it was Nate’s Navy buddy from Burns, Earl Tiller, who spurred the move to Seneca to find a better life for the rest of the family who stayed in Missouri.

At 19, the boys worked as loggers in the woods for Edward Hines Lumber Co., or anywhere else they needed to, so they could send money back to their family in Arkansas to make sure they were clothed and fed.

During that time, Ruel met the love of his life, Margaret, and they were married Sept. 26, 1947.  They brought four beautiful children into the world, Peggy Ann, Patsy Jean, Paula Sue, and Peter Ruel. Later, they were blessed to lovingly add their foster son, John Tyler, to the family.

Ruel never met an obstacle or challenge he couldn’t or wouldn’t overcome. He saw them as stepping stones, and there was nothing in his life that he didn’t accomplish if he set his mind to it. He was an accomplished logger with Hines Lumber Company, and he and Margaret owned H&H Petroleum.

He started Ruel’s Repair, and that led to Ruel Teague Motor Company. Ruel’s love of helping people and cars were a perfect fit. They not only sold new and used cars, they had a full-service repair shop, rental car service, and 24-hour towing. Ruel never believed in the run-around, and he went above and beyond to make sure the family had safe transportation. One that Ruel loved and always had a special place in his heart for was Jerry Woodfin. Jerry has proven himself to be a man with amazing drive and work ethic. Ruel was grateful for the effort taken in the relighting, honoring, and retiring of the Ruel Teague Motor Company sign and his contributions to the community.

One of Ruel’s and Margaret’s first loves was flying. They managed the Burns Municipal Airport for years, they had a flight school at High Desert Aviation, Ruel flew for the BLM every year to count wildlife, and he chartered private flights in his personal planes or corporate jets. He was the first Air Life Flight in Oregon before the service even existed. He flew a 207 plane, and they would take out the back seats so there was enough room for the nurse and a stretcher, and he would fly them to the nearest hospital. He enjoyed flying all over the country, taking family and friends on vacations, flying to play music, or flying with Margaret on a whim just because they could.

Ruel was an avid outdoorsman and taught all his family not only to love the outdoors, but how to provide for their families. He loved to hunt, fish, hike, and camp. Being outdoors was one of his favorite places to unwind and recharge.

Another of Ruel’s loves was music. He traveled coast-to-coast playing music. He not only played any stringed instrument there was, but he wrote music and taught countless students over the years…young and old. He and Margie started the High Desert Fiddle Contest, which was hallowed as the largest contest held on the weekend before the National Fiddle Contest the entire time it was in operation, and it is still talked about today in the contest world.

Ruel has been the Businessman of the Year and the Man of the Year for Harney County, and he and Margie were also huge supporters of the Harney County 4-H livestock program. They bought animals every year at the livestock sales and usually multiples of each.

Through all of this, his greatest accomplishment was his family. The family that was his by blood and the “family” he welcomed in for various reasons. Whether it be someone going through a hard time, someone he connected with through a common like, someone most people would turn their heads and pretend wasn’t there, or someone he just decided was one of us, Ruel always had time for them and made sure they felt special and were taken care of.  To many, he was the dad they never had. He loved Jesus, and he showed it in the way he lived his life and loved those around him. He taught his family by example that this life is about more than just us; it’s about something bigger. His purpose in life was to show love to all he met. God blessed him with such a wonderful gift. He helped and loved, never expecting anything in return. His greatest joy in life was to see others succeed.

Ruel is survived by his sister, Mae Scott of Ridgedale, Mo.; sister-in-law, Mary, and husband, John Greene, of Meridian, Idaho; many nieces and nephews in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Missouri, Oregon, and Utah; children, Peggy and husband, Cliff Asmussen, of Burns, Patsy and husband, Dan Olson, of Hayden, Idaho, Paula Teague of Burns, Pete and wife, Glenda Teague, of John Day, and John and wife, Alyce Tyler, of Dexter; grandchildren, Deana and husband, Matt Gilcrhist, of Meridian, Idaho, Kellie Phillips of Meridian, Alison Freeman of Hayden, Matt Harvey of Logan, Utah, Stacey and husband, Dwight DeFord, of Spring Creek, Nev., Montie and wife, Amber Reynolds, of John Day, Mike and wife, Stephanie Teague, of Sandy, Marci and husband, Jesse Judd, of John Day, Melanie and husband, Brandon Smith, of John Day, Michelle Gibson,  Marcus Teague, Malachi Teague, and Mindi Teague all of John Day, and Angie Tyler of Portland; 25 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; longtime friends, Cliff and Alice Gunderson of Jordan Valley, and daughters, Mary and Terry and families.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Ethel; father, Bill; “mom,” Zora; wife, Margaret; brothers, Stanley and Nate; and sister, Deloris.

Ruel will be missed by so many, but his greatest wish is to be remembered for his love of family and life.

A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, at the Harney County Fairgrounds Memorial Building in Burns.

In lieu of flowers, you may donate to the Ruel Teague Agricultural and Music Arts Scholarship. The account has been set up at US Bank.

LaFollette’s Chapel is in charge of arrangements.  You can visit www.lafolletteschapel.com and sign the online guestbook.