Darrell George Vandehey, 80, a resident of the Beaverton community, passed away Friday morning, October 17, 2014, at his home.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 23, 2014 at St Matthew Catholic Church; 427 SE 3rd Street in Hillsboro.

Friends and family are invited to attend a reception following the Mass held in the parish hall.

Rite of Christian burial and interment will take place at Visitation Catholic Cemetery in Verboort, Oregon.

Darrell was born on August 20, 1934 to Leo and Ida Mae (Wescott) Vandehey in Roy, Oregon, one of six children. He was raised in Cornelius and went to high school at Hilhi, graduating in the Class of 1953.

He enlisted into the US Army and served his country as head cook and kitchen supervisor for two years. He was honorably discharged in 1956 and then began higher education at Portland State College. Darrell then attended Oregon State University and received a Bachelors Degree in Food Technology with a minor in Chemistry, graduating in 1960.

Darrell met his future wife, Janet VanGrunsven, through mutual friends while he was in college. They were married on August 5, 1961, in Hillsboro, Oregon. Following their marriage, they raised their family in the Aloha/Beaverton area.

While getting his degree, Darrell started to work for Mrs. Reser’s Salads in Cornelius, where the mother of his best friend Al Reser started a small company making potato salad. As the company grew under Al’s leadership, Darrell helped build the now Reser’s Fine Foods into a major food production company and eventually became the VP of Operations, working for Reser’s for more than 60 years.

Darrell continued working for Reser’s until he passed away, always going in to the plant for a few hours each day. But he also followed his passions and hobbies.

Darrell was an avid and accomplished clockmaker, specializing in clock repair, collecting, and acquisition. His collection numbered in the hundreds, and he built a reputation for his collection of fine clocks and watches. For 45 years, a highlight of his week was meeting with a group of fellow clock collectors every Saturday morning.

Darrell was also a skilled handyman, and he refurbished and collected antique cars, which always found their way into local parades. He liked going out to eat, talking finance and current events. He enjoyed fishing and was a history enthusiast. And Darrell loved seeing the world, traveling extensively in Europe, with trips to the South Pacific, Africa, and South America, including his favorite adventure, a river trip down the Amazon.

He is preceded in death by his son Tod Vandehey, his parents, and three siblings.

Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Janet, three children, and their spouses: Tracy and Dale Petersen of Tigard, Kevin Vandehey and Daniel Palm of Portland, and Jeff and Sara Vandehey of Lake Oswego; five grandchildren: Hollie Lambert, Corey Petersen, Andrew Petersen, Chloë Vandehey, and Benjamin Vandehey; two great granddaughters; Olivia Petersen and Maya Petersen; and two siblings: Carolyn Beitelspachand Maxine Ledford.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggest donations in Darrell’s name to Doernbecher’s Children’s Hospital.