Dale Leroy Perala

Native Portlander Dale Perala (Sonny) passed away peacefully on July 9, 2016 from pancreatic cancer, at the age of 77. He was born April 26, 1939, to Alfred and Miriam Perala, and the middle child of two other brothers, and survived by Gerry and Gene Perala, his son Travis, granddaughter Tiffany, and his significant other Darlene Myrick and many other loved relatives. He graduated from Benson Polytechnic School in 1957, and was an Army Veteran. He was a loyal lifetime member of Gateway Elks and an associate member of Portland Elks.

Sonny was a master mover for United Van Lines, Swartz of Course, and retired in 2006. Sonny lived life to the fullest; he worked hard and played hard all his life. Two of his favorite sayings were “eat when you are hungry and drink when you are dry,” and “busy hands are happy hands.”

Sonny was a one of a kind and left his mark on many lives. He will be deeply missed, one time he was moving a thousand pound safe and it got away from them and rode him down fifteen steps, and landed on his chest, messed up his foot, gash in the head. As the paramedics were taking him away, he said, “Save my beer I will be right back.” Sonny was the tough guy to the end! Rest in peace Sonny.

A celebration of Sonny’s life will be held at Spirts Pub at 4037 NE Cully Blvd. 97213 at 2pm Saturday July 23, 2016.