Having nearly established himself as a local over the past decades wintering in Mazatlan, Mexico, after a brief stay in hospital, Dallon has gone to find the fishing buddies who went before. JoAnne Fairbanks, Jim Maynard and nephew “Butch” Magallon will undoubtedly have a good spot picked out and will be happy to see him.
Born in Boise, Idaho, Dallon would go on to wear a variety of hats through his various careers. After serving honorably as a Supply Clerk in the US Army National Guard (Reserves) for 6 years, Dallon followed in his father’s footsteps pursuing a career teaching until retiring from the Grays Harbor School District with 30 years of service. A highlight of this teaching career came from coaching both Basketball and Football, the latter endeavor resulting in an undefeated streak versus the school rival lasting his eight year tenure as coach. He also stayed busy during his teaching career as Skipper on various charter fishing boats out of Westport, Washington during the summer breaks, even going so far as to get his Master Pilots License. Dallon would also spend some of those summer breaks trekking to hard to reach fishing spots in Idaho and Montana with kids in tow, some of which lived up to one of his favorite book titles in becoming what might be remembered as “A Fine and Pleasant Misery.”
Dallon would later pursue Alaskan fishing trips with his nephew Butch. He even braved the Bering Sea as a cook on an AK islands supply ship . A grand experience, yet as he put it, 40 foot waves was an experience he didn’t relish repeating.
The only thing greater than his list of friends and endless fishing tales was his collection of cookbooks and recipes. An avid outdoorsman, Dallon enjoyed everything from walking along the local beaches looking for agates, digging and raking for clams, and of course both crab and salmon fishing.
Dallon is survived by his sister Wilma Stone, his niece Teresa Magallon, his two children, Riika Justus and Glen Fairchild and his grandchildren, Keagan, Jack and Delilah (Riika) and Zachary (Glen), as well as one of his favourite singers, Willie Nelson.
Dallon Fairchild was possessed of wry wit and at times, a raunchy sense of humor. He enjoyed riddles and word puzzles as well as any handheld prank devices that would get a laugh. A small pouch of “rattlesnake eggs,” the “hooey stick” and showing off the “magic noses” of his kids were certainly favorites.
“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” is something that, while no slouch in the knowing of things, is one thing you could easily pick up about Dallon. He seemed to know everybody. For those of us that were close to him, it’s safe to say that whenever and wherever we next meet we’ll be able to say, you were always on my mind.
