Obituary: J. Allan Sharkey

He began his banking career in 1948 as a check sorter at the Hood River branch of First National Bank of Oregon. He graduated from the University of Washington’s Pacific Coast Banking School in 1966. At the age of 34, he became the youngest vice president in the bank’s history while working at its downtown Portland headquarters. Given his love of helping people in smaller communities, in 1972 he returned to branch-banking — this time in Bend, Oregon, where he became vice president/branch manager, overseeing multiple area branches. He arranged financing for most of Central Oregon’s iconic businesses, including Mt. Bachelor Ski Area, Brooks Resources, Sunriver, Black Butte, Deschutes Brewery, The Bend Bulletin, and more. He left Bend for a few years to serve as senior vice president in charge of statewide loan administration at Western Bank’s headquarters in Coos Bay, Oregon, and later returned to resume his position at Bend’s First Interstate Bank — where he worked until he retired in 1988, completing a 40-year banking career.

Al was absolutely dedicated to his family, friends, and the communities where he lived. He participated in leadership of the Bend Chamber of Commerce, United Way, and Rotary Club. A lifelong lover of music, he taught himself to play harmonica while herding sheep in Wyoming with his brother Gene when they were under age 10. He could play almost any tune after hearing it once. Always up for new adventures, he loved hiking, backpacking and camping. He traveled widely, both in the U.S. and abroad to Canada, Nepal, Thailand, Chile, Russia, Costa Rica and French Polynesia. He skied until he was 80 and hiked into his 90s — inspiring many much younger than he while living along a remote section of beautiful coastline in northern Sonoma County, California, near the end of his amazing life.

Preceded in death by Doris — his beloved wife of 66 years, daughter Diane, grandson Rowan, five of his six siblings, and many friends, Al is survived by two sons, a daughter, a granddaughter, and five great-grandchildren. He brightened many lives while cheerfully sharing work, fun, and countless adventures. He was a profoundly Good Man whose presence made the world a better place. While gone he will never be forgotten by those who knew and loved him dearly.

Columbia Gorge News, May 6, 2026