Lonnie Alvis Brumfield Sr. passed away peacefully in his sleep July 26, 2016 in Golden Shores, Ariz. at the age of 83.

He was born May 3, 1933 at the family home three miles out of Evansville, Ark. to Delbert Clarence Brumfield and Beulah Montclair (Woods) Brumfield. He was the youngest of their seven children. He was preceded in death by his parents and his four brothers Ernest, Bernard, Tom, and Denny and his sister Betty Brumfield Roberts as well as his daughter Cheryl Brumfield. He is survived by his wife Ellen, his former wives, Janice Landberg and Rosie Browning, his children Lonnie Jr. (Doris), Daryl, Gwendolyn Mielke (Larry), 34 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his sister, Bonnie Brumfield and his sister-in-law, Lucile Brumfield.

At the age of seven, Lonnie moved with his family from Arkansas to Montesano, Wash. where he attended school until he joined the U.S. Army to fight in Korea. He returned to Montesano and married Janice Whitney with whom he had his four children. He worked in the logging industry for many years. He and Janice owned and operated L.A. Brumfield Logging, Golf Shake, We Did It (now Monte Square), and the Oxbow Tavern until they divorced in 1975. He was briefly married to Rosie Browning, and really cared for her two children Deanna and Johnny.

Lonnie moved to Alaska where he operated heavy equipment. He met Ellen Martin while working on the airstrip in Kake, Alaska. They were married from 1992 to the present. He cared deeply for Ellen’s children Mylo (Jennifer), Mylene (Victor), Melody (James) and her eight step-children. He and Ellen operated a hunting and fishing service while in Alaska before retiring to Arizona.

Lonnie loved writing stories. He always used the names of loved family members in his books. He was the greatest horse trader his step-daughter, Mylene, ever knew! He was a very outgoing person with an expansive personality. He was truly a unique person.

Family and friends are invited to a potluck picnic celebration of Lonnie’s life on Friday, Aug. 5 at 4 p.m. at the Milky-Way Ranch, 26 Abbott Road, Elma. Please bring a lawn chair.