Gilbert “Corky” Bennett Calkins III, Portland, Oregon

December 22, 1965 – March 5, 2024

Corky peacefully passed away in the early morning of March 5, 2024, in the care of Providence Medical Center in Portland, Oregon. He was incapacitated, succumbing to complications resulting from an ischemic stroke on February 19 that left him paralyzed. It was fortunate that family and close friends were able to visit, comfort, and say goodbye to Corky in his final weeks of life. Corky was 58 years old.

Gilbert Bennett Calkins III was born December 22, 1965, at 5:55 am at Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys, California. He was the first child born to Katherine and Gilbert Bennett Calkins Jr.

The family moved from California to Alpine, Oregon in 1967 where Corky was raised on the rural family farm. Early years he spent stomping around open pastures, climbing trees, and thumping on his younger brother, Glenn. Taught that he could do anything, Corky was set on the haying tractor when he was old enough to steer and worked many summers learning the carpentry trade from his father. Always wanting to learn, he found his way around the tools in his dad’s shop and gained hands-on experience wrenching engines into shape. He graduated from Monroe Union High School in 1983, where he was active in sports; Notably, he was a championship wrestler, but also earned award letters in football, track and field, and graduated from high school with honors.

Corky continued on to study and receive a bachelor’s of science degree in Business Administration from Oregon State University, in Corvallis, Oregon, in 1992. At OSU he was a member of Delta Upsilon and DJ’d at KBVR 88.7. He had his own weekly show, “HardCorvallis” (1988-1992), which accelerated his interest in music. He was a core part of the underground Corvallis music scene where he played in two hardcore bands, Arcweld (Bert Schoenfeld, Margaret McNamara), and the Jerkoffs (Jon Musch, Jobe Scott, Tait Roelofs).

After college, Corky put his degree to work for him in a brief career as a computer programmer at Nike (think Air Jordan days). This was the beginning and end of any corporate career he’d ever undertake. Following in the footsteps of his father, an independent general contractor, Corky broke off from the status quo and spun off into a lifetime of independent business ventures — including, but not limited to, starting the Quality Snowboard Company in Bend, working as a freelance computer programmer, picking up jobs as a finish carpenter, and opening his own mechanic shop in St. Johns.

In hindsight, from this sibling’s perspective, what didn’t this man do? He lived his life fast and hard, seemingly doing anything and everything his heart desired. Corky had an avid love for outdoor sports. Foremost, he was known in his community as a skateboarder and snowboarder, but he also was an avid mountain biker, certified scuba diver, loved surfing the waves in Melaque, Mexico and catching salmon out on the Sandy River.

From an early age Corky always had a love for cars, starting with his first car, a 1976 Dodge Challenger. In 2008 Corky took this passion to a different level. He joined the Sports Car Club of America, built a street-modified race car, a Dodge SRT-4 with 420 HP engine and drove it to win multiple SSCA road races around the Pacific Northwest.

Always quick-witted and joking, Corky had a way of always making you laugh. His punchy humor is one of the things that will be deeply missed.

Corky lived a full and active life without hesitation. I have no doubt he’s out there now in the afterlife high balling the cosmos of the great beyond in epic style.

Corky is survived by his father, Gilbert Bennett Calkins Jr., brother, Glenn Calkins, sister, Christina Calkins (author of this remembrance), and niece, Theresa Ann Marie Calkins.

Corky was preceded in death by his mother, Katherine Calkins. His inurnment was in a family gravesite next to his mother at the Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City, California.  A portion of his ashes were spread at the base of a tree at the bottom of the Magic Mile Run just above Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood.

Special thanks to the Providence Care team who cared and kept Corky comfortable during his transition and for their emotional support. The family would like to express our absolute gratitude to Udo Coleman for being that brother who showed up with heart and kindness to care for Corky when he was down. Your kindness will always be remembered