The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

In a quiet ceremony, Molly, Scott, Heidi and their families laid their father, Michael G. Duggan to rest next to their mother, Diann Newsom Duggan, in Pankey cemetery. With respect to the rampages of COVID, it was an intimate burial in the place Mike and Diann had chosen with their three children and families bearing witness.

Michael Guy Duggan was born in Medford, on May 1, 1942 to William and Rosellen Duggan. He was raised in Sams Valley, where his family were founding settlers in the valley and many of them are buried in both Pankey and Jacksonville cemeteries. Graduating from St. Mary’s High in 1960, Mike attended Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) where he obtained his associates in construction management.

Mike Duggan and Diann Newsom married in 1962. Mike worked in the family construction business, building a subdivision in Sams Valley that still boasts the family names, including Duggan Road. Mike and Diann continued to live in Sams Valley, where Heidi and Scott were both born.

In 1968, Mike and Diann moved to Portland, where Mike started working for general contractors in Portland until he started his own construction company. His brother, Denny, joined him working in construction and to this day it is easy to point out the many freeway lights that they installed. Molly was born while in St. Paul, where they renovated a turn of the century Victorian home with the help of many members of their families and friends.

The call of smaller towns led them to Central Oregon where the family settled in the Lone Pine valley outside of Redmond. Mike designed and built one of the first true log cabins in Central Oregon, again with help of family and friends. Over his life he built and remodeled many homes for his family while also providing a simple life of ranching, farming, sports and construction.

One of his most endearing legacies was when he joined Jay Moberly to run the Rafter V Ranch which later became the DD Ranch. With his family once again pitching in, Mike and Diann brought to life the first pumpkin patch in Central Oregon. Families from far and wide would visit to see Grandpa Mick drive the tractor for hayrides, find a pumpkin and buy one of Grandma Diann’s famous wreaths.

The DD Ranch became a home for many. Countless parties, gatherings and the infamous Fourth of July party are where the best memories are found. Baseball games in the front hay field, cattle brandings, weddings and a good cup of coffee with a little Irish in it could always be found. Mike and Diann knew no strangers.

Michael Guy Duggan passed on November 22, 2020 at 5:32 a.m .; his favorite time of day. He is survived in death by his children, Heidi J. Ellsworth and husband Tim Ellsworth, Scott Duggan and wife Merry Duggan, and Molly Duggan Gehley and husband Steve Gehley; his sister, Dixie McKannay and husband Bruce McKannay; and five grandchildren, James Ellsworth and wife Annaliese Ellsworth, Megan Ellsworth, Kelley Duggan, Anya Gehley and Jacob Gehley.

Michael and Diann are buried at Pankey Park Cemetery in Sams Valley. Their children invite all to stop by and say their goodbyes when they are passing through the Medford, Oregon area. They would like that.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations in Michael G. Duggan’s name to Partners in Care Hospice House (www.partnersbend.org/donate-to-bend-hospice/) and/or the American Cancer Society Mosaic Page in honor of Mike and Diann Duggan (www.main.acsevents.org/goto/duggan).