12
obituaries/classified ads
september7
2017
In Memory of...
Ralph Edwin Keasey
Ralph E. Keasey, 89,
a lifelong resident of the Ver-
nonia community, died August
19, 2017, at the Bonaventure of
Tigard Assisted Living Center,
following an extended illness.
A private family gathering will
be held.
Ralph Edwin Keasey
was born February 29, 1928, in
Vernonia, Oregon, to Theodore
and Hilda (Tucker) Keasey. His
great grandfather, Eden Ke-
asey, settled five miles up Rock
Creek from Vernonia in 1888.
The Keasey homestead is a des-
ignated Century Farm with the
present two story home added
on to the original cabin in 1896.
Ralph received his education
for the first three years at the
one-room Rock Creek School
near the family home. He com-
pleted his studies in Vernonia
and graduated from Vernonia
High School in 1946.
Already known in high
school for his intelligence and
quiet manner, Ralph was elect-
ed student body president his
senior year. He led the Student
Council project to purchase the
school’s first public address
system. He also participated
in the Glee Club and school
athletics. The 1946 Memolog
yearbook noted that he was
a two year letterman in foot-
ball, managed the noon-hour
championship basketball team,
was a member of the school’s
winning three mile relay team
in track competitions, and a
“great miler.”
He attended Oregon
State University where he re-
ceived a Bachelor of Science
degree in geology which re-
mained a lifelong interest. In
1951 he was drafted into the
United States Army during the
Korean conflict and served in
44 th Engineering Construction
Battalion for two years in Ko-
rea and Japan. He was honor-
ably discharged at the rank of
Sergeant in 1952 and received
the Korean Service Medal, two
Bronze Service Stars and the
United Nations Service Medal.
Returning to Verno-
nia, he worked at the chainsaw
shop started by his father until
1960 when he became the sole
proprietor. He earned a second
Bachelor of Science Degree
in 1958 from Oregon State in
Agriculture and Husbandry.
Ralph taught small engine re-
pair and forestry for a few years
at Vernonia High School. After
selling the saw shop in 1975,
he became a paid employee of
the Keasey Family Corporation
and managed its several hun-
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2308 Pacific Ave.,
Forest Grove
503-357-2161
741 Madison Ave.,
Vernonia
503-429-6611
Jeff & Kathryn Hoyt
Family Owned & Operated
Formerly Prickett’s Mortuary
Forest Grove Memorial Chapel
503-357-3126
To sign the online guest book or to send a
condolence to the family go to
www.fuitenrosehoyt.com
Angel
Memorials
Headstones
Granite Markers & Monuments
971-344-3110
Locally owned in Vernonia
Serving NW Oregon
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Order drawing at no charge online
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dred acres of forest land.
He married Carolyn
June Zinn on December 19,
1964, in the Vernonia First
Christian Church.
Carolyn
preceded him in death on Octo-
ber 12, 2013, after celebrating
forty-eight years of marriage.
Both were involved in many
community activities and were
honored as Citizens of the Year
at the 1997 Vernonia Friend-
ship Jamboree.
Ralph was a member
of the Vernonia Lions Club
and served on the Vernonia
Memorial Cemetery Beautifi-
cation Committee, the Verno-
nia Health Center Board, and
the Vernonia Pioneer Museum
Board for many years. His
knowledge of local history
made him a valued docent at
the museum. He and Carolyn
were instrumental in the con-
struction of the new Vernonia
Health Center that was named
the Carolyn Keasey Memorial
Building in her honor.
Even after his retire-
ment, Ralph continued to enjoy
working on the Keasey Fam-
ily Farm. A great pride was
the thousands of seedlings he
planted, creating a forest leg-
acy for generations to come.
The Keasey Family Corpora-
tion was awarded the Colum-
bia County Small Woodlands
Association Tree Farmer of the
Year in 1992.
Ralph was preceded in
death by his parents, two broth-
ers, two sisters, a granddaugh-
ter, a son-in-law, and most re-
cently, his daughter, Mary Ke-
asey-Marguth, in 2016. Survi-
vors include his four children:
Marcie (Rick) Keasey-Gwin of
Vernonia, Tim (Sandy) Con-
roy of Vancouver, Washing-
ton, Debbie Conroy-Deiner of
Donald, Oregon, and Dewey
(Ortensia) Conroy of Newberg,
Oregon; two sisters, Barbara
Memovich of Tigard, Oregon,
and Bertha (Glen) Eades of
Redmond, Washington. Also
surviving are his eight grand-
children, their spouses, nine
great-grandchildren, and many
nieces and nephews.
The family suggests
that remembrances be made to
the Vernonia Pioneer Museum,
PO Box 26, Vernonia, Oregon
97064, in his memory.
To sign the online guest
book or to send a condolence to
the family, please go to www.
fuitenrosehoyt.com.
Fuiten,
Rose & Hoyt Funeral Home in
Vernonia is entrusted with the
arrangements.
Lucille Mary Titus
In Loving Memory
of Lucille Mary Titus
Born: January 15, 1940
Died: August 13, 2017
Married: February 6, 1956 to
William (Bill) George Titus, Jr.
(Later Divorced)
Employment: Worked at Tex-
tronics for 42 years.
Lucille was an avid reader who
loved flowers.
Children:
Linda Naeve (Husband, Shawn),
Vernonia, Oregon
Cathy Warner, Wrangell, Alaska
Richard Titus, Vernonia, Oregon
Daniel Titus, (Wife, Jana), Ver-
nonia, Oregon
13 Grandchildren (2 preceded
death)
6 Great Grandchildren
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Vernonia’s Voice
is published on the
1st and 3rd Thursday.
Look for our next
issue out
September 21.