Douglas Everett Christison

  Douglas Everett Christison, 70, of Yellow Pine, Idaho, passed away peacefully on August 28, 2025. A lifetime tag dutifully notched.  He was born in Emmett, Idaho on June 3, 1955. The eldest of four kids to Everett and Mary Ann Christison.  
  In 1960 the young family moved to Boise following Everett's sawmill job within Boise Payette Lumber into equipment procurement within the newly formed Boise Cascade Corp.
  Doug attended Mt View Elementary, West Jr. High, and Capital High. The mountains of Idaho seemed to speak to him lifelong. A bit misfit below 4000' and totally aligned above. Switch backs, a froggy horse, two-stroke mix, bright star nights, tall timber wind, summer frost, and fresh fallen snow brought him added being.   As such, well beyond classroom curriculum: Doug was cleaning fish with his grandpas at 3, running chainsaws at 7, excelling in shooting at 8, working cows and skidding logs at 10, jump shootin' ducks, downing geese and game at 12,  and at 13, he was hired to fence several grazing parcels around Smiths Ferry, and helped put up grass hay in Round Valley.
  He extended his country traits in the area with his younger siblings. They pushed cows through High Valley, down into the Smiths Ferry grazing grounds, rotating areas on both sides of the North Fork of the Payette River. They also swam stock across the North Fork above the mouth of Murray Creek. Cattle were also pushed from the 'Ferry' up over the old road, through Round Valley, into Long Valley nearly to McCall, grazing again along the North Fork. 
  The family were among the locals to later walk the '62 wreckage-site of the Air Force Boeing B-47E Stratojet that crashed on top of Packer John. It was the nighttime flight on a refueling, training for a low-level bombing that came out of AZ. 
  At 16 Doug packed in the high country of Valley County. He cherished his time under the immense sage of Lafe and Emma Cox of Yellow Pine, Idaho who were central Idaho pioneers, and Distinguished Citizen Recipients.
  Doug graduated High School in 1973 at the uniquely planked 'University Of Yellow Pine', of the McCall/Donnelly School District. During winter Doug snowmobiled back and forth from Cox's Dude Ranch to school. That trek was 10 miles down Johnson Creek, into Yellow Pine.
  His working years include cattle and horse operations in Idaho and Oregon. At 24 he began professionally guiding hunts and packing for outfitters; notably were the Diamond D Ranch on Loon Creek, and Mackay Bar on the Salmon River. He was a caretaker of the Greyhound Mine on Sulpher Creek and worked for the Y3 Ranch at Stanton Crossing. He installed warehousing systems in ID, CA and TX, logged and thinned near Deadwood Reservoir in the high mountains of Utah, and in the Owyhee Mountains on the ID/OR border. He worked for Precision Propeller, Concrete Placing, and was self-employed with Cougar Mountain Services.
  Reflecting on Doug's forestry experience, he cut his teeth on old world McCullochs. Eventually running a solid selection of Stihl chainsaws. Diligently fostering other's interested in his domain of wood- "Careful Now Of The 66. It Can Throw You Over A Log."
  Doug was a voice of reason during the late '80s permitting of the Horseshoe Bend Hydroelectric project on the Payette River; not that he was a proponent for, but he thought it sensible. 
  The CB radio has been an aspect of rural & remote living. Doug's handle for decades was 'Oregon Poacher.' Those remembering him in the outfitting world of land and water may remember him as 'Christi.' Doug's initial email address of many years earlier 'Elk86er,' and fittingly so.
  Doug preferred the .06 for an all-round caliber. Not regulary exposed to grizzly or hunting heavy framed moose he didn't subscribe to large caliber rifles... a 'magnumitus' in his words. He commonly offered that scopes have their place, although can be a curse while hunting central Idaho elk in the dense pistol butted brush, which is akin to hunting Texas pigs in heavy brush or jump shooting ducks. If ya know- Ya Know!
  He retired September 30, 2020 upon 23 years dedication to Motive Power, Boise, Idaho. Upon retirement Doug completed his move to full-time living in the village of Yellow Pine, ID. A tenured old timer of the area he revered. During his 'Yellar Dog' years he eagerly took charge of the US flag replacements, volunteered as firefighter, mechanic, and donated his snow blowing service for the post office and heliport; a trusted community service where winter comes fast and actual spring is a long-time coming.
  Doug was a stoic presence in the face of adversity. A conviction of no expressed fear. Worthy traits supporting those around him, especially youngsters commonly in his midst. He had  workable solutions well in advance of most folks knowing there was or even could be a problem.
 He excelled lifelong in the mountains, valleys, waters and basic industry with equipment, firearms, wildlife, livestock, and some time-tested good luck too.
  Doug was engaged in public concerns, deeply formative. Dutifully reaching out, also submitting substantiative comments within NEPA and RFI enquiry. He practiced and supported sustainable consumptive use of natural resources. Including the highly vaunted North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. 
  Doug mentored many youngsters, unbeknownst to most of them in the moment. Many times reflected upon during later events. A sharp quip- "Chain up, before you need them, not after, you need them!" and a bark, "Give some thought to shooting down in there!! It can take a week to get anything big out of that hole."  He ushered with his considerable talent in his packing, hunting, mechanical, livestock and forestry knowledge. He was also known for his lure and tip-up making for those "football fish" in the Cascade Reservoir, durable leather craft, including shoulder holsters for large frame revolvers of the era as well as academia level ammo reloading, sighting in rifles, sharpening all things metal, wood and leather preservation.
  "Durable" is descriptive of him, through and through. He was no stranger to singular existence, risk, or hard work. Leather gloves have been a signature in his hip pocket. He could be culinary around a cookstove, woodstove or a campfire. He certainly did cook- baked pie and cookies too. Cold camps weren't a problem either. If'n a person went hungry around him... maybe they shoulda stepped forward before he hollered 'Dogs!'
  A Few Of His Christi isms...
  "There are good times to sleep on a cot and better times to sleep on the ground." "Don't set the parking brake at night during extreme cold." "Opening a cooler in the a.m. can provide cooling or warming."  "Putting a scoped rifle in a bed roll or a warm tent at night can be a bad idea come the cold morning air."
  Hunters, fishers, forestry, and Ag are a huge body of lands, waters, wildlife and livestock stewardship. Not surprisingly, Doug was embedded in each.
  Doug was preceded in death by his dad, Everett Christison; grandparents, both Christison and Zimmerman; numerous aunts and uncles, a couple of cousins, and Wally Cory- his longtime pal.
  He is survived by his partner in life, Lorinne Munn, his mom, Mary Ann Cartwright; brother, Dirk Christison (Rhonda); sister, Lisa Keegan and brother, Drew Christison; a bunch of cousins- Christison, Elsberry, Howard, Rhodes, and Mingus; two aunts, an uncle, nieces, nephews, and longtime family friend, Jim Atkins as well as numerous in-laws, outlaws, and a few like-minded, fun lovin' renegades. 
  Mother Nature Pulsated Through Doug's Veins. She Nourished Him in Life, As She Will Nurse Him in Rest.
  Graveside Services for Doug will be at 12:00 PM on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at Yellow Pine Pioneer Cemetery in Yellow Pine, ID (off of Johnson Creek Rd).  
  Reflecting On Doug, please consider donating to the Idaho Hunter Education Program.

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