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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 15, 2018)
10 Wednesday, August 15, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Obituaries Willard Harvey Wattenburg AJ (Albert John) Demaris, Jr. February 9, 1936 — August 2, 2018 September 1, 1944 — July 22, 2018 Willard (Bill) Harvey Wattenburg, Jr., passed away peacefully on August 2, 2018, surrounded by his family. He was born February 9, 1936 in Chico, California, to parents Willard “Pop” Wattenburg, Sr. and Hazel (Conover). In his early childhood, his family moved often as his father’s work as a mechanic took them to Livermore, Oakland, Berkeley, Turlock, back to Chico, and then to the mountains of Plumas County in Northeastern California in 1942, which many generations of Wattenburgs have called home ever since. Bill graduated from high school in 1953, attended college in Chico, earned his bachelor’s degree in engi- neering, then moved on to U.C. Berkeley where he earned his Ph.Ds in engi- neering and physics, sub- sequently becoming a pro- fessor of those subjects at that same institution. He then joined the nuclear weapons design teams at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, a rela- tionship that would persist throughout the rest of his life. He ventured into televi- sion and radio in the early 1970s, a passion he enjoyed for the next 40 years, which also led to dabbling in the movie industry. Throughout these adventures, he main- tained his connection to the mountains and often had business ventures pertain- ing to logging and mining. Bill fashioned his career as a scientist who came up with novel solutions to per- plexing problems, some of which are chronicled at www.drbill.us. Bill was impor- tant to many people and AJ Demaris, a strong, wise, Godly man and gre- garious friend to many, left this Earth to walk with his Heavenly Father on July 22. His passing was sud- den, as he was doing what he enjoyed, out irrigating his pastures under the big Central Oregon sky. Being a natural leader, thought- ful teacher and caring man, always ready to assist any- one however he could at a moment’s notice, AJ will be very missed by those his path crossed, and especially his family and friends. AJ was born Albert John Demaris, Jr. in Redmond, on September 1, 1944, to Ab and Margaret Demaris, and a dear brother to Donna Shelby, Bobby Demaris, and JB Demaris. Graduating from Sisters High School he was inducted recently into the Hall of Fame as an accomplished three- sport athlete and played in the 1961 Shriners All-Star Game as starting quarter- back. He married his high school sweetheart, Ginger D. Faris, September 19, 1964, and celebrated 53 years of adventure together this past year. It has always been AJ & Ginger/Ginger & AJ, rarely one without the other. Together they created a little FRUSTRATED ur with yo S L R U C sin childh ce ood? WE CAN HELP! Jeff, Theresa, Ann, Jamie, Shiela, Terri 152 E. Main Ave. 541-549-8771 well-known for his love of children and education as well as his lifelong com- mitment to helping those in need. In furtherance of this commitment, Bill’s family asks that heart-felt gestures of condolence and remem- brance be directed in the form of student scholar- ship support to the Butte Creek Foundation, 14916 Eagle Ridge Dr., Forest Ranch, CA, 95942, phone 530-345-1097. He is survived by his wife, son, four daughters, and many adoring grand- children, along with his sis- ter, brother, and many nieces and nephews. Bill’s family will remem- ber him during a private gathering. F LL TODAY E IN OR CA family with loved children Tracy Thille, Jeff Demaris and Elizabeth Demaris. After graduating from the University of Oregon with a bachelor’s degree in biol- ogy their life included liv- ing at fish hatcheries around Oregon during AJ’s career with the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife. This 33-year path ended with his retirement from Portland headquarters in 2000. AJ and Ginger moved to their property in Central Oregon and accomplished AJ’s dream of being a rancher and farmer, with cattle, chickens and a lot of farm implements. Here they became active in the Highland Baptist Church, with AJ teaching adult Sunday school for sev- eral years and heading up the senior activities as tour director. Being a self-led person, AJ taught himself how to do many things in life. A few of those projects include building an aluminum-weld drift boat, hosting a few hives of honeybees, raising cattle, tying flies, bow hunt- ing, playing the guitar and, recently, playing the banjo. His interests included hunt- ing, tracking and searching for where to hunt, load- ing bullets, perusing estate sales and auctions, collect- ing really collectible para- phernalia, being with family, being with friends, being on his tractor, working his farm and having animals come running to him when the feedcan shakes: deer, cattle, and chickens; and recently learning to fly his fancy new drone around the property. He loved to support and cheerlead for his children in their sports events, their projects and endeavors, and was especially proud to get to do the same for his grandchildren Torrey Thille, Mason Demaris, and Lauren Demaris. At the request of the fam- ily in lieu of flowers, please just pass it forward: Next time you see someone in need, follow AJ’s example and lend a hand. A Celebration of Life was held on July 28, at the Highland Baptist Church. OR YOUR E C N A R U S FREE I N ISON! COMPAR COM 541-588-6245 257 S. Pine St., #101 | farmersagent.com/jrybka AUTO • HOME • LIFE • BUSINESS Our vision to bring a high-quality community-wide music event to Sisters would not have happened without the help from: Angeline Rhett: Curating an amazing lineup The following local sponsors who took a chance on us in year one: Metabolic Maintenance Sisters Meat & Smokehouse Sisters Saloon The Nugget Newspaper Hoyt’s Hardware & Building Supply, Inc. Thank you so much to Sisters Habitat for Humanity and the Heart of Oregon Youth Build, The Porch, The Trailstop, Sisters Coff ee Company & Martolli’s of Sisters We could not have done this without the support of our friends, neighbors, family and the small village we call home.
