Raymond "Ray" Leroy Perdew Sr. Obituary (1928

Raymond "Ray" Leroy Perdew Sr., 89, passed away Monday evening September 4, 2017 at his home in Jewell, Oregon. Ray was born on June 30, 1928 in Tomahawk, Wisconsin. He was the oldest of eight children born to Bert and Pearl (Tindell) Perdew. He was raised and received his education in Little Fork, Minnesota. He met his future wife Audrey Horton while she was working at her family store in International Falls, Minnesota. They began dating and following a short courtship were married on October 11, 1950. They made their home in International Falls/Little Fork area before moving to Rockaway, Oregon in 1952. In 1954 they moved to "the valley" living in the Dilley/Forest Grove area, moved back to the coast settling in Tillamook before making their final move to Jewell in the early 90's. Ray had worked in the woods part of his life as an operator/owner of Perdew Lumber Co. He also worked on a mink farm, was a had carrier, worked in a plywood plant, and was also on the construction crew that built the Neah-Kah-Nie High School and the U.S. Bank in Tillamook. He worked as a lead rigger in the Portland Ship Yards, then at Stimson Lumber Company as a foreman. Ray and Audrey opened "The Country Bargain Mart", his lifelong dream, after moving back to Tillamook where he retired years later. One of Ray's many passions was his antique fishing collection. He loved searching for fishing poles, reels, lures, creels and other fishing items at antique stores and garage sales. If we couldn't find him while shopping we just listened for that special tune he always whistled and there he would be, holding his find with a big smile on his face. Ray also enjoyed fishing, crabbing, hunting, playing pinochle, Monday night wrestling, camping, and scrapping. He loved woodworking and would spend a lot of time whittling wood into chains and ducks. In his younger years he enjoyed dancing with his wife, playing his electric guitar, harmonica, and juice harp. He was also a 4-H Leader and taught woodworking. Ray was a strong-willed (he worked on his roof two weeks before his passing), determined, hardworking, talented man who could build anything out of nothing. He had a love for his family and a zest for life to the very end. He is preceded in death by his loving wife Audrey, parents Bert and Pearl Perdew, and two siblings; Florence VanLoo and Bill Perdew. After Audrey passed away in 2004, Ray was reacquainted with longtime family friend, Katherine (Miller) Zigler. Ray and Katherine (Margaret) were married on May 6, 2007 residing in Jewell until Ray's passing. He is survived by his second wife, Katherine, his three children and their spouses; Raymond Jr. and Terry Perdew of Forest Grove, OR, Judy and Bob Keller of Forest Grove, OR, Dave and Doris Perdew of Gaston, OR, four stepchildren and their spouses; Teresa and Bill Ayotte of Waitsburg, WA, Tammy Bruce of Tillamook, OR, Brenda and Andy Schiele of Rainier, OR, Jim and Tina Zigler of Amarillo, TX, five siblings: Dorothy Kjemperud, Ruby Brekke, Sharon Rossback, Verna Seigal, Vernon Perdew, twenty grandchildren, forty-five great grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren.