Dr. Eli S. “Buck” Jenkins, Ph.D

Published 10:00 am Tuesday, June 19, 2018

June 25, 1932 – November 14, 2017

Eli S. Jenkins, lovingly and respectfully known by family, friends, and colleagues as Buck, passed peacefully at Hospice House of Bend on November 14, 2017, with his daughter, her mother, and close friends by his side.

Buck was born in Beverly Hills, California. He graduated from University High School in 1949 and obtained his formal education in L.A. schools, earning degrees of Associate of Arts, both Bachelor and Master of Arts in English, and a Ph.D in American literature from USC. He moved to Bend, Oregon, in 1960. From 1961 to 1974, he taught English literature and composition at Central Oregon Community College and California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.

From a young age, Buck spent his summers at the family ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where he developed his deep love for nature and photography. He extensively collected moths, butterflies, rocks, minerals, and petrified wood. At one point, he amassed one of the largest and finest private collections of petrified wood, stone, and minerals in the US.

Buck was well known as a world traveler, naturalist, professional photographer, and author. Throughout his lifetime, he traveled over a million miles in both the US and over sixty countries, taking tens of thousands of photographs to share his devotion for both natural and man-made beauty in this world with us all. His Buck Jenkins Art Gallery on Oregon Street in Downtown Bend had many visitors. As a longtime member of the Photographic Society of America, Buck earned the recognition of Master Level Photographer and was well on his way to Grand Master Level when he passed.

During his lifetime Buck wrote articles for such magazines as, – The Saturday Evening Post, Alaska, Iceland Review, Scandinavian Airlines, Norseman – and – Viking – . He wrote two novels, seven autobiographical books on photography styles, and a number of studies and literary analyses.

Buck was a fun-loving man who touched many lives with laughter, compassion, and generously showed others how much he cared for them. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Buck is survived by his daughter, Jaimi Jenkins~Warren of Bend, Oregon; five grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, two nieces, two nephews, and numerous cousins. Buck was preceded in death by his parents, Elizabeth M.V. and C. Byron Jenkins.

The public is cordially invited to a 3pm reception, which precedes the 4pm Celebration of Life service to be held at Aspen Hall, 18920 Shevlin Park Rd., Bend on June 25, 2018.

The family wishes to thank Bend Hospice House for their compassionate care.

Donations may be made in Buck’s honor to

Hospice House of Bend, 2075 NE Wyatt Ct., Bend, Oregon 97701.