David Lauren Ramsey, 52, of Portland Oregon, born April 13, 1951 in Eugene, Oregon passed away in his office on Tuesday, May 13, 2003.  David, a loving husband and father of three was a local Portland resident for the past 28 years.  David was CEO and president of United Pipe & Supply Company, Inc., a successful wholesale distribution company with 23 locations throughout Oregon, Washington and Idaho.

     He attended Sheldon High School in Eugene, Oregon and graduated form Southern Oregon State University in 1973 with a degree in Business Administration.  As a college student he worked nights and weekends for his father helping setup United Pipe & Supply’s warehouses. He eventually joined the company fulltime after graduating in 1973.

     Dave’s impact on the company was tremendous, growing sales in excess of $100,000,000 and expanding locations to include Washington and Idaho markets.  Dave was a forward thinker, adopting new technologies in warehousing and distribution, having been recognized with an Oregon Business Technology Award.  Dave was actively involved with industry associations that led him to be president of the Irrigation Association, positively impacting legislation and business standards and practices throughout the world.

     Dave’s goodwill and generosity carried over to his business relationships with his employees, recently hosting a United Pipe 50^th Year Celebration with a total of 600 employees and guests invited for a Mexican weekend cruise trip.  He ran his company with an open door policy and always made himself available to his employees and staff. His loss will be felt throughout the company and industry.

     Dave was a member of the Waverly Country Club, Multnomah Athletic Club, and involved with the Portland Downtown Rotary.  He most enjoyed spending time with his family.  He also liked to golf, watching the Portland Trail Blazers, traveling abroad, and was an ardent Oregon Duck fan.  

     Dave Ramsey is survived by his wife Patricia Ann Ramsey; daughters Leslie Patricia Ramsey, Molly Anne Cook, Jenny Jo Morrison; father Taylor Ramsey; sister Claudia Powell and brother Steve Ramsey.

       Raymond Carl Gellatly, 82, of Philomath died Wednesday, March 26, 2003 at home.  Born in Philomath, he was the son of Robert and Christine (Miller) Gellatly.  He served in the U.S. Army from 1941-45 in the South Pacific.  He married Esther McNelly-Anderson on May 14, 1947, at their home in Philomath.

       He worked as a well driller for 49 years and was also a farmer and logger.  He served on the Philomath School Board and was active in the Philomath Rural Fire District.  A hunter, Ray enjoyed gardening and the outdoors.  He was a charter member of the Oregon Ground Water Association and the Marys River Grange.

       Surviving are wife Esther; sons Jim McNelly of Boring, Doug and Dan Gellatly, both of Philomath; daughters Nancy Dale of Portland and Chris Rayborn of Concord, California; 11 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.  Brother Robert and sister Delia preceded him in death.

       Services were held Monday, March 31, 2003 at Suburban Christian Church, with Pastor Jim Everest officiating.  Donations in his name can be made to Benton Hospice Service, the Philomath Booster’s Club or Marys River Grange in care of McHenry Funeral Home, 206

N.W. Fifth Street, Corvallis, OR 97330.

                Eldon E. Storey, 83, who was born and raised in Merrill and owned a well drilling business in Klamath Falls for many years, died March 21, 2003, in Medford.  A memorial service was held Saturday, April 5, at Ascension Lutheran Church in Medford, Oregon.

        He was born November 27, 1919 in Merrill to Alonzo and Lulu (Hayes) Storey. He was also raised and educated in Merrill and was a graduate of Merrill High School.  As a member of the Navy from 1944 to 1946 during World War II, he served in the Philippines.  After leaving the Navy, he started his well drilling business and drilled many of the wells for the Tulelake military veterans who drew homesteads.  His first rig was a wooden one with metal tires that his father had used, but he soon purchased two Bucyrus Erie cable rigs and moved to Klamath Falls, where he operated his business for 39 years.  He eventually purchased three air rotary rigs and kept one of the large cable rigs.  Mr. Storey drilled many domestic, irrigation and geothermal wells in Klamath County, including wells for the Klamath County School District, one of them being his deepest well at 2,600 feet.  He also drilled wells at Howard Prairie, Paulina Lake, Medicine Lake and all the wells at the Oregon Institute of Technology in the early 1960s.

        On Sept. 14, 1946, he married Lorraine Blattman in Klamath Falls. They moved to Medford in 1990.  Among his interests were designing and building some of his own special equipment, traveling in his motor home, boating and working with wood.  He was active in the Oregon Drilling Association, initially as a charter member, served as president; and for about 25 to 30 years was on the board of directors.  He was also a lifetime member of the Elks Lodge, AmVets, American Legion and the National Rifle Association.

        Survivors include his wife Lorraine Storey of Medford; sons David M. Storey of Red Bluff, California and Douglas A. Storey of Klamath Falls, Oregon; nephew Wesley Riley of Eagle Point; and niece Vanita Browning of White Salmon, Washington.  He was preceded in death by three brothers and four sisters.

        Memorial contributions may be made to Dogs for the Deaf, 10175 Wheeler Road, Central Point, OR 97502. 

Funeral services were held November 18, 2002 for Michael D. Lindley of Eugene, who passed away November 14 of a heart attack. He was 60 years old.

Michael was born October 26, 1942, in Port Townsend, Washington, to Milton and Margaret Lindley. He married Barbara Hooker in Coburg on December 5, 1982. He had lived in Eugene for more than 40 years.

He graduated from Roseburg High School and spent a year at the University of Oregon. He worked as an outside salesman for United Pipe & Supply Company for 35 years. He was an avid University of Oregon Duck fan who enjoyed fishing, the coast and spending time with his grandchildren and family. He also enjoyed reading, football and basketball. He was a member of the 20/30 club, the Elks Lodge in Springfield, and a M & S member of the Oregon Ground Water Association.

Survivors include his wife; his mother and stepfather, Margaret and Les DeFoe of Eugene; two daughters, Marika Ramsey of Eugene and Lenise Kaup of Veneta; three sons, Nicholas Lindley of Springfield, Gary Millsap of McKenzie Bridge and Mike Millsap of Keizer; and eight grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, November 7, 2002 at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall for Robert "Bob/Harold" Strasser who passed away October 30 at the age of 79.

Bob was born on February 12, 1923 in Portland, Oregon. He attended Oregon State College and graduated from the University of Washington in Civil Engineering in 1945. Bob served in the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps from 1942-45; earning the rank of lieutenant. On June 26, 1945 he married his lovely bride, Marilyn and they enjoyed 57 years of marriage. Bob began his career in the water well industry in 1935. Highlights of his professional career include managing the building of the Valdez oil docks and assisting in building of coal docks in Prince Rupert, BC. Bob retired from drilling in 1985. His strong work ethic led him out of retirement to pursue careers at both Nike, Inc. and Adidas America until 2000.

During his long career, he received various honors and served on many boards. Bob was a member of the North Clackamas District #29 School Board from 1970-74; elected chairman in 1970. He served as the president of the Oregon Ground Water Association from 1964-66 and 1970-71; and was awarded life membership status. Bob then went on to serve as the president of the National Ground Water Association in 1980. As a result of his work with the National Ground Water Association, he received the Oliver Award for outstanding achievement in October 1993.

Bob is survived by his wife Marilyn; sisters Grace and Ethel; daughter Becky; son-in-law Jim; daughter-in-law Pat; and grandchildren Avery, Courtney and Jeremy. Bob was preceded in death by his son, Robert J. Strasser on October 30, 1993.

In Memory of Harry A. Robinson

February 18, 1908 - December 25, 2001

OGWA life member, Harry A. Robinson of Keizer died Tuesday, December 25, at the age of 93.  He was born on February 18, 1908, in Weed, California.  He served in the U.S. Navy.

He married Elnora Smith on Sept. 25, 1932 in Aloha, Oregon, and they moved to Salem in 1938. Harry was a blacksmith until 1945, when he began Robinson Well Drilling in Salem.  Elnora passed away in 1988.

Harry enjoyed traveling and has been a resident of Willamette Lutheran Homes for the past five years.

Survivors include his daughters, Joann Ginther of Salem and Jean Braff of Keizer; son, George Robinson of Salem; brother, Aaron Robinson of St. Maries, Idaho; 12 grandchildren; 4 step-grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.

In Memory of  Merle E. Warren

May 1, 1912 - January 16, 2002

OGWA Life Member, Merle E. Warren, 89, of Tangent died Wednesday at home.  He was born in Goldendale, Wash., where he grew up on a nearby farm.  He was the son of Edd and Angie (Hollett) Warren.  He married M. Louise Linden on August 26, 1935, in Camas, Wash.

Merle worked on the construction of tunnels on the Washington side of the Columbia Gorge Highway.  He moved to Oregon in 1939 and worked in the woods, loading logs.

After 1947, he ran four gas stations, in Albany, Eugene and Oakridge.  In Tangent in 1952, he started Merle Warren Well Drilling, Inc., drilling water wells, and continued in the business until his 1982 retirement.

He and Louise moved to Tangent in 1959.  They traveled for several years in their motor home after he retired.  Merle liked hunting, traveling; and for many years, working in his large garden.  He liked sharing his produce with others.

Merle was a member of the Albany Elks lodge, Odd Fellows lodge and a life member of the Oregon Ground Water Association.  Surviving are wife Louise; son Martin of Tangent; daughter Nancy Hill of Albany; grandchildren, Kimra Hawk, Vickie McClain and Steve and Harry Hill; and great grandchildren, Jared, Fallon, Mitchell, Allison, Erin and James. 

He was preceded in death by his son Eddie, brother Cecil and sisters Viole Hughes and Velma Flynn.  His funeral was Friday, January 16 at Fisher Funeral Home in Albany.  Pastor Mark Peterson officiated. 

Contributions in his name may be made to the American Heart Association or the Oregon Ground Water Association Memorial Fund in care of Fisher Funeral Home, P. O. Box 156, Albany, OR  97321.

A memorial service was held January 4, 2001 for Robert Earl "Bob" McConnell in Estacada. He died shortly after midnight at 12:15 a.m. on December 26, 2000. He was 86 years of age.

Robert Earl was born May 29, 1914 in Milwaukie, Oregon. He was the son of David Earl and Lydia Elizabeth Steinman McConnell; and the grandson of John and Millie Margaret Adams McConnell and John Phillip Steinmann/Steinman and Mary Magdaline Kirchem. He was the nephew of Ed and Phil Steinman (Edward and Phillip) of Estacada, who founded Steinman Bros. Drilling Company in 1936, which he later owned and operated. He was also the brother of Margaret Lynch, Kay Pedersen and Ruth Benson who became the executive secretary and bookkeeper of the then Oregon Drilling Association (ODA).

Robert attended Currinsville Grade School and Estacada High School. He worked briefly for the Forest Service near Estacada and then as a water well driller for A.M. Jannsen Drilling and Steinman Bros. Drilling Co. before the war. He was a welder at the Portland shipyards for Commercial Iron Works during World War II. He married Ella C. Hayden of Estacada on April 18, 1940 in Vancouver, Washington. After the war, he returned to work for Steinman Bros. Drilling Co., becoming a partner with Phil and Ed. Later, Bob, Floyd Benson (Ruth's husband) and Jack Duus (a distant cousin); and later yet, Ron, were partners in the drilling business until he retired in 1979. He was a Charter Member, President and Life Member of the Oregon Ground Water Association (OGWA), originally known as the Oregon Drilling Association (ODA). Robert held Oregon Well Construction License #1.

He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his brothers-in-law: Les Lynch, Jiggs Pedersen and Floyd Benson, and his business partners: Ed and Phil Steinman, Floyd Benson, Jack Duus and Ron. He looked forward to getting together with family and friends for dinner, to play cards, visit and kibitz.

Robert also liked trailer traveling with his wife, Ella, exploring the country and visiting relatives in South Dakota, Iowa, California and other places. On weekends they took pleasure in trailer camping at their Estacada Tree Farm where they often entertained hosting picnics, campouts and potlucks with friends and relatives, many times including their grandchildren, Cindy and James. Bob always had one of his much-loved dogs at his side: Rusty, Ginger and Princess.

Robert was a quiet, private, humble and devoted husband of great dignity and with a true love of life. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Ella; his sister, Margaret McConnell Lynch, wife of Lesley Lynch, and their daughter Carol Hayes; his brother-in-law, Jiggs Pedersen, who was the husband of Kay McConnell Pedersen and father of Alice Pedersen Ross Frank; Floyd and Ruth McConnell Benson's children, Shirlene Benson Campbell and Sheryl Benson Poff; and his children: Ron McConnell, now owner/operator of the third generation business, Steinman Bros. Drilling Co., and Maxine Ella McConnell Rohl and her husband Dean of Clatskanie, Oregon; his grandchildren: LaCinda "Cindy" LeFore-Mitchell and David Mitchell of Milton-Freewater, Oregon, and James McConnell of Florence, Italy; his great grandchildren, Cindy's daughter: Holly Alyn LeFore; and David's sons: Devon, Jordon and Landon Mitchell; his special relative, Teresa Steinman McGivern, Ed and Edith Scheel Steinman's daughter; and Princess, his dog.

Arrangements were made by Estacada Funeral Chapel. Disposition was by cremation. His ashes will be buried in the family plot of the Estacada Oddfellows Cemetery.

Contributions in his memory may be made to Willamette Falls Hospice or the Oregon Ground Water Association (OGWA) Education Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 21285, Keizer, OR 97307-1285.

Linda Mack of Bandon Well & Septic Company drowned in a boating accident Friday, December 29, 2000 near Port Orford, Oregon. Jim and Linda were out for a day of fishing with their 7-year old son, Jimmy, when their commercial fishing boat the Blast-O-Mere began taking on water just as they were heading in. Jim and Linda got Jimmy out and placed him on the hull of the boat. Jim was helping Linda out when the boat turned over. Two local fishing boats rescued Jim and Jimmy. All three were taken to Southern Coos Hospital in Bandon where Linda was pronounced dead. Jim and Jimmy received minor injuries. Their 6-year-old daughter, Cheryl Ann, had stayed with Linda’s mother for the day.

Linda was born on March 14, 1957 in Boston, Mass. to Patricia and John Griffin. Jim and Linda were married in 1981 and moved to Bandon, Oregon in 1988. Pat Griffin moved to Bandon three years ago to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren. Linda’s two sisters, Ann and Patricia, live in Illinois.

Linda loved the outdoors, especially fishing and camping. She was actively involved with her two children, as a classroom aide and in their sports and other activities. She was one of only two licensed female well drillers in Oregon and an active member of the Oregon Ground Water Association. In 1993, and again in 1995, she facilitated two OGWA strategic planning meetings to help "set the course" of future goals and achievements of the association. In 1994 she received a Time Dedication Award in recognition of her continued efforts and support of OGWA.

Memorial services were held January 3, 2001 in Bandon at Holy Trinity Catholic Church where the family is an active member. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Oregon Ground Water Association Memorial Scholarship Foundation Fund, P.O. Box 21285, Keizer, Oregon 97307-1285.

Milo Oscar Schneider died October 8, 2001, at home in St. Paul, Oregon. He was 87.  He was born March 7, 1914, in Alton, Iowa. At the age of 3, he moved to Mt. Angel. In 1919, he moved to St. Paul. He was self-employed as a well driller.

On August 2, 1939, he married Rita Koessler in Woodburn. The couple farmed near Brooks, then moved to French Prairie southeast of St. Paul. In 1945, they purchased 200 acres next door to his parents two miles north of St. Paul.

He was the founder of Schneider Equipment and Drilling Company. In 1945, he started selling pumps and cleaning wells while managing 400 acres on two farms. By the early 1960s, he started drilling wells. He drilled wells for domestic use as well as large irrigation wells for area farmers and water districts.

In 1975, three of his sons, Tom, Stan and Steve, purchased the company which today is one of the largest drilling and pump companies in Oregon and Washington, according to family members.

He was a member of the St. Paul Catholic Church and a life member of the Oregon and National Ground Water Associations. He was a director of the St. Paul Telephone Company for 29 years, including 10 years as president.

In addition to building a business, he farmed clover, hops, vetch, wheat, oats, barley, corn, alfalfa, string beans, strawberries, evergreen blackberries, flax and cauliflower. He also raised chickens, pigs, sheep, cows and horses. He purchased his first corn picker in the area and picked corn every fall for local farmers.

According to his family he had a brilliant mechanical aptitude, was a good carpenter and was a hard and honest worker. He loved puzzles, auctions, woodworking, making wine, playing with his grandchildren and attending family gatherings of all kinds. After he retired, he cultivated more than 70 varieties of fuchsias. His other hobbies included fishing and hunting in Oregon’s lakes and rivers.

Survivors include: wife Rita of St. Paul; sons, Paul of El Cerrito, California, David of Edmonds, Washington, Tom of Newberg, Stan of Tualatin and Steve of Newberg; daughters, Marian Williams of Richmond, California, Catherine Rose of San Diego, California, Ginny Doran and Lena Koessler of Portland and Anne Schneider of Canyon City; sister Irene Miller of St. Paul; 15 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren.

A Recitation of the Rosary was held Thursday at St. Paul Catholic Church. The Funeral Mass was held Friday, October 12, at St. Paul Catholic Church with private burial following the Mass.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul Parochial School Endowment Fund, P.O. Box 188, St. Paul, Oregon 97137, or to the Oregon Ground Water Association (OGWA) Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 21285, Keizer, Oregon 97307. Arrangements were in care of Simon-Woodburn Funeral Chapel of Woodburn.

For more information, contact the OGWA office at 503.390.7080 or by e-mail at mail@ogwa.org