Obituary of John Clifford Gregor

EUGENE — John C. Gregor died peacefully under hospice care on July 13, 2023, primarily due to complications of Parkinson’s disease. He was born to Elsie May Allen and Clifford Stanley Gregor in Eugene in 1933.  He was 90 years old.  

 

John graduated from Eugene High School in 1951 and from the University of Oregon in 1956 with a degree in accounting.  During this period, he ran the College Crest Water District in South Eugene. After college he worked briefly for Price Waterhouse in Portland before serving for years in the Army and as a civilian with the Army Audit Agency in South Korea.  

 

After his period of oversea service he returned to a public accounting practice based in Eugene — including many years specializing in general tax advisory and business planning, Oregon municipal audits and advising artistic institutions across the local nonprofit community. Over the years he also established and managed a range of entrepreneurial projects in the area, including real estate management, computer processing, rock crushing, local produce and beekeeping businesses.

 

John married Kyung Sook Cho at the South Post Chapel in Seoul in 1959.  They moved to Eugene and had three children, Eugene, David and Nicholas, in the 1960s.  

 

John enjoyed birding, hiking, fishing, farming and other outdoor activities, as well as co-hosting guests with Kyung at their homes in South Eugene and, more recently, the Oakway area.  He was a member of the Jaycees, Central Presbyterian Church, Eugene Rotary, McKenzie Flyfishers and a life member of the Eugene Country Club.  John also regularly supported the University of Oregon business programs and the Oregon Bach Festival.

 

John is survived by his spouse Kyung Gregor; sister Deanna and Gat Eisinger of Lorane; sister Sheryl and Alan Wright of Saginaw; Eugene and Barbara Gregor of San Francisco; David and Jennifer Gregor of Portland; Nick Gregor and Sandi Woo of Oakland; six grandchildren and one great grandchild; and several other groups of extended Gregor and Cho family relations (and their partners and children) based in the Emerald Empire, Portland, the Bay Area, San Diego, Houston and beyond.

 

The family plans to hold a small celebration in the coming months and to place a memorial to John at the Eugene Masonic Cemetery. Please access the obituary and feel free to sign the guestbook. The family also encourages, for those so inclined, donations in his honor to the Eugene Mission, Lane County Audubon Society or a charity of your choice.  

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