Obituary for Jimmie "Jim" Oates
Lifelong resident of Hood River County, Jimmie Howard Oates, passed away peacefully on November 29th, four days past his 94th birthday. He was the second child of George and Erma Peers Oates of Dee Oregon. His siblings were Mary Jane Oates Dethman, Joyce Oates Sluder and Don Oates. Their first home was in a company house at the Dee Mill. By his teen years they had moved into Hood River and Jimmie graduated early from Hood River High in order to enter the Navy in 1944. He served in the Pacific, in the invasions of Okinawa and the Phillipines.
After the war Jimmie married his high school sweetheart, Marjorie Frisbie. They raised three children, Greg, Mike, and Margaret in their new home on Belmont. Jimmie and his best friend, Floyd Dethman, had established the D and O Logging company, which they ran for many years. In 1970 Jimmie bought an orchard in Odell and moved his family into a large farmhouse on Chamberlain Dr where his grandson now lives. Energetically he applied himself to a new kind of work. In addition to pears, there were a number of peach trees. The family picked them and sold them at the farm. A few cherry trees and apples filled out the ranch. Cider making became an annual family event.
His children married and the grandchildren began to arrive in the late 70’s. He and Marj built a lovely home on Hwy 35 overlooking Odell and Mt Adams. They were active square dancers and made many friends throughout the Gorge. Some became camping buddies. They enjoyed camping frequently in the Mt Adams area. They took grandkids along and babysat. The Oregon coast was a favorite destination. Later they spent winters in Mesa, AZ.
Jimmie was a founding member of the Westside Fire Dept. He was an assistant Boy
Scout leader and was a member of Asbury Methodist and its partnership in Spirit of Grace Church.
Marjorie preceded him in death in 2014. He is survived by his children Greg and his wife Shelley Oates, Mike and his wife Kathy Oates, Margaret and her husband Robert Godard; eight grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00pm Saturday February 1st, 2020 at Spirit of Grace Church (1140 Tucker Road Hood River, OR 97031). A lite lunch reception will follow. Arrangements under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center (Funerals • Receptions • Cremations) 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031.
Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.
After the war Jimmie married his high school sweetheart, Marjorie Frisbie. They raised three children, Greg, Mike, and Margaret in their new home on Belmont. Jimmie and his best friend, Floyd Dethman, had established the D and O Logging company, which they ran for many years. In 1970 Jimmie bought an orchard in Odell and moved his family into a large farmhouse on Chamberlain Dr where his grandson now lives. Energetically he applied himself to a new kind of work. In addition to pears, there were a number of peach trees. The family picked them and sold them at the farm. A few cherry trees and apples filled out the ranch. Cider making became an annual family event.
His children married and the grandchildren began to arrive in the late 70’s. He and Marj built a lovely home on Hwy 35 overlooking Odell and Mt Adams. They were active square dancers and made many friends throughout the Gorge. Some became camping buddies. They enjoyed camping frequently in the Mt Adams area. They took grandkids along and babysat. The Oregon coast was a favorite destination. Later they spent winters in Mesa, AZ.
Jimmie was a founding member of the Westside Fire Dept. He was an assistant Boy
Scout leader and was a member of Asbury Methodist and its partnership in Spirit of Grace Church.
Marjorie preceded him in death in 2014. He is survived by his children Greg and his wife Shelley Oates, Mike and his wife Kathy Oates, Margaret and her husband Robert Godard; eight grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00pm Saturday February 1st, 2020 at Spirit of Grace Church (1140 Tucker Road Hood River, OR 97031). A lite lunch reception will follow. Arrangements under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center (Funerals • Receptions • Cremations) 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031.
Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.