Obituaries

Daniel Perry Bliss, retired civil engineer

Note: The following obituary appeared in the Chico Enterprise-Record.

Retired civil engineer Daniel Perry Bliss, 87, passed away peacefully on July 31.

He was born in Palo Alto, California in 1938, and moved to Oroville with his family in 1941. He met his wife, Jeri, in 1958 (living across the street from each other!) and they married in 1959.

Dan loved the outdoors and found great joy in fishing and hunting-he cherished being in the woods and enjoyed sharing it with his family and friends. Fishing and hunting, and later riding ATV’s, were just a reason to get into the outdoors.

He joined the Army in 1960 and served two years, being deployed to Korea for end of war conflict management. After the army he returned to Oroville and started working for Caltrans, where he earned his civil engineering license and would remain working for 43 years.

He made numerous friends along the way and earned the respect of many. He was known around Oroville for driving his 1952 Chevy 5-window pickup, fondly known as Old Blue. Old Blue now lives in Lake Tahoe, driven around the north shore in the summer months by Dan’s oldest grandson, making new memories and friends there.

Dan enjoyed spending time with his grandkids and enjoyed visiting them in Lake Tahoe. Dan was also an avid fan of Little League baseball, as well as softball, enjoying watching a number of local friends’ kids.

His family and friends will remember him as intelligent and sharp, a patient teacher, a great storyteller, a sweet man with always a smile and a kind word.

Dan is survived by his wife of 66 years, Jeri Bliss, daughters Deborah Bliss and Dawn Bliss Baehr, and grandchildren Nash, Maia and Bixby Baehr.