Travis Neal Todd, 49, a resident of the Forest Grove community and a life-long Oregonian and Idahoan, passed away April 8, 2019 at the Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland. Travis Neal Todd was born February 16, 1970 in Boise, Idaho, the son of the late Marvin Todd and Janet S. (Beeler) Todd. He was raised and received his education in Boise, Idaho and later La Grande, Oregon, where he was a graduate of the La Grande High School Class of 1987. Upon his high school graduation, he attended the University of Oregon in Eugene and Southern Oregon University in Ashland. He was an independent writer, having self-published several chapbooks including Charismatic Mammals Hallelujah Under Moonlight, I'll Meet You in the Sweet By and By, My Particular Demonology, among others. He was also an avid reader who published his long reading list in 2018 of over 100 challenging texts that covered poetry, religion, politics, classes and some of his favorite fiction authors. Travis enjoyed a connection with a group of self-published writers at Powell's Books in Portland. The connection was made through Kevin Sampsell who manages the small press section in Powell's and is the person who took a risk on Travis and first bookseller to buy his chapbooks. Kevin also gave Travis several of the Staff Pick flags that you see in Powell's Kevin's support fueled Travis's confidence, his writing and much of his focus the last several years that have yielded so much more of his writing that we all now enjoy. An additional major influence on Travis' writing was his late mother, Janet's continual push to have him write more as she knew this was his passion. Among Travis' special interests were writing, reading, music, politics and just observing and connecting with so many people. Travis believed strongly in being true to themselves and focusing on those things that matter in life. He enjoyed engaging in honest, open discussion and respected and honored people from every walk of life, especially those who were struggling. Travis was reclusive and spent most of his time alone and in later years in his life, he found peace and understanding in this being what he needed. He enjoyed immensely the company of a few friends and family even if it was in small doses and most often one-on-one. He was preceded in death by his parents, Marvin and Janet Todd. Survivors include his sister and brother-in-law, Shannon Todd-Olson and Rodney Olson, and their children, Siona Olson and Ryler Olson. Also surviving are his aunts and uncles, Marilyn Kokes, Ron and Dory Beeler, Gary and Loretta Todd, Randall Todd, Ollie Todd, Penny Todd, along with many cousins and extended family. The family suggests the following to remember Travis (mostly, Travis would want people to do whatever it is that they want to do, but just a couple ideas): 1. Go to Powell's in downtown Portland or online and buy something from the small press section. Support writers like Travis, who are not part of the mainstream. The downtown Powell's has been a regular haunt of Travis' for years so people would be visiting a place he loved. 2. Support Kevin Sampsell's small press, Future Tense Books. Kevin runs his own small press on a bookseller's salary and has dedicated his life's work to getting books out there from lesser known but talented authors. It is not a non-profit but a very worthy cause that is limited by funding. Any contributions to Future Tense Books would be meaningful. Please send contributions directly to: https://futuretensebooks.com/about-future-tense/ Future Tense Books P.O. Box 42416 Portland, OR 97242 To send flowers or a remembrance gift to the family of Travis Todd, please visit our Tribute Store .