Clyde Eller, the “Mayor of Fort Dick,” passed away peacefully the morning of July 8, 2025, at his home in Sacramento CA after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Clyde was born on September 6, 1935, in Eureka, CA and spent his childhood years in Fieldbrook, CA where he met his lifelong love, Dawn Anker. Clyde and Dawn grew up together in Fieldbrook and spent their lives together. This September would have marked their 70th wedding anniversary.
Clyde attended elementary school in Fieldbrook in a one-room schoolhouse with the same teacher for all eight years. He said when the school acquired too many students, a wall was built down the middle of the room making it a two-room schoolhouse: just with less room to move. Clyde continued his education at Arcata High school where he excelled in basketball and track and field. Some of his track records remained unbroken a full 30 or more years after his graduation and could be seen recorded on the Arcata High school gymnasium walls.
In 1953, Clyde joined the United States Army and performed duties as an Air Defense Artillery technician. Seeking ways to further his career, Clyde transitioned to military intelligence where he enjoyed tours in Taiwan, South Korea and Germany as well as several state side postings. While stationed in Tiawan, Clyde served on the Special Advisory Group to Generalissimo Chaing Kai-shek, the leader of the Nationalist government in free China. He received a personal award from the General for his efforts. In Helsinki, Finland while on Foreign Embassy Duty, Clyde covered the Strategic Arms and Limitation Talks (SALT); Clyde also served Special Security duty in Germany, where he was the personal intelligence briefer to General George S. Patton IV during the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia.
Midway through his military career, Clyde earned his Bachelor of Science degrees in business and psychology from Campbell College in Fayetteville, NC. He furthered his education at Northern Colorado University earning a Master of Science in Psychology. He also completed postgraduate work at the University of Arizona in Public Administration.
Toward the end of his military service, Clyde took advantage of his education and transitioned to the Army Medical Corps serving as a psychologist and practiced in the Army’s Mental Health efforts. He was the only enlisted member in the Army at that time with the education and credentials to serve as a clinical psychologist on active duty. He retired from the Army in 1975 and continued his psychology and counseling practice for the state of Arizona until 1979 as the state Child Abuse Prevention Coordinator, the first of its kind for the state of Arizona. In 1981, Clyde decided it was time to leave his private counseling practice when he and Dawn purchased the Fort Dick Market from his older brother Bud and moved the family “home” to Northern California. Clyde and Dawn entered the grocery business unaware but unafraid. For nearly 40 years, they operated a successful local grocery store, Eller’s Fort Dick Market by placing strong emphasis on the needs of the community. Clyde continued counseling and giving sage advice from behind the counter to those who would listen.
Having come from humble beginnings, Clyde extended his hand and heart to those who needed him. Even when he was taken advantage of at times, he would smile and know it helped someone who needed it more than he did. You will never know a more honest man who tried more to help his community.
Clyde’s community postings and accomplishments include serving two terms as the Del Norte County Supervisor for District Four, he served on the Del North County Grand Jury, the Del North County Planning Commission and on the Fort Dick Fire Protection District Board of Directors. Clyde loved politics but always approached it from the lens of making things better. A needlepoint plaque given to him by members of his district hung on the wall of his County Supervisor office and quoted Abraham Lincoln, “Government of the people, by the people and for the people.”
Clyde is survived by his wife of nearly 70 years, Dawn Eller, Daughter Lenneé Eller, Son Gary “Mac” Eller and his wife Donna, Kenny Eller and his wife Rose. He had five grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Lessie Eller of Fieldbrook and his siblings Claria Wagle, GC “Bud” Eller, Ralph Eller, and Donald Eller.
The dash between two dates on a headstone (birth-death) is not the sum representation of a person’s life. In Clyde’s case, that dash contains a life full of many joys: service to others, determination, focus, love for his family, caring and nurturing others; making that “dash” as full as it could be.
For those in the Humboldt and Del Norte County communities, Clyde would much prefer you to celebrate his memory with a glass of wine and great stories shared by family and friends. His most voiced words of wisdom ring truer now than ever, “Nothing is ever good or bad, only thinking makes it so.”
To our Husband, Dad, Grandfather and Great Grandfather, we do not say goodbye, for he lives in our hearts and minds. Our family carries his legacy of wit and wisdom. We consider ourselves the fortunate ones as we were blessed enough to have been loved by such a magnificent soul. His children could not have wished for a more loving and caring dad.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Fort Dick Fire Department and the National Alzheimer’s’ Foundation.