Lonay “Lon” Nelson | Dec. 29, 1930–Oct. 11, 2017

Lonay “Lon” M. Nelson, age 86, of Redmond, Oregon, passed away on October 11, 2017, after an unexpected illness. Son of Arthur and Bernice (Weiler) Nelson, he was born and raised in Forreston, Illinois.

After graduating from the University of Wisconsin Madison with a BS in mechanical engineering, he served as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Engineering Corps, stationed in Germany. After discharge, he spent his working life as a mechanical engineer and manager of production facilities in Scotland, Belgium and the United States, ultimately retiring to his playground in Central Oregon.

He was a seeker of adventure, spending his free time in the mountains and on the rivers of the Northwest. Lon was a lifelong Mazama member, having joined the Mazamas in 1971. He was an active climb leader from 1977 to 1992. He earned the Guardian Peaks Award in 1976, the Oregon Peaks award in 1977, and the 16 Major NW Peaks award in 1977. He was awarded the 5-point leadership award in 1979, and the 15-point leadership award in 1989. He served on the Mazama Executive Council from 1983 to 1985, was Mazama Treasurer in 1984 and 1985. He also served one year on both the Whitewater (1987) and Financial Affairs (1987) Committees. He was the coordinator of the Intermediate Climbing School in 1977. 

In addition to climbing all 16 major NW peaks, he rafted most of the NW rivers, taking many along with him and regaling others with tales of his travels. He completed his bucket list by circumnavigating the globe, with a side trip to Antarctica. Other passions included music, wilderness conservation, snow skiing, canyons of the Southwest and his beloved 1966 Sunbeam Tiger.

He is survived by his children, Brent, Blair, Lauren, Sander, Miel; his wife, Susan; and her children, Shannon, Kelly, Heather, Erin; his first wife, Priscilla Nelson; brother, Canden Nelson; sisters, Darlene Demetrick and Caroline Kilgore. Brother, “Bud” Nelson, predeceases him. 

Marty Crouch | July 1, 1947–Sept. 11, 2017

Marty Crouch was an electrical engineer, a manager, a life coach, an entrepreneur, a husband, a father, a friend, and a life-long learner. He died in his home on September 11, 2017 at age 70.

Marty grew up on a farm near Roseburg, Oregon, completed a degree in electrical engineering at OSU and was employed for many years at the Bonneville Power Administration.

His love of the outdoors was an overarching theme in his life. In 1969 he took the Mazamas Basic Course, and in 1970 he completed Mazama climbs of Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, and Mt. Washington. He revived his interest in mountaineering in the early 1990s as part of a multi-year process of self exploration and renewal. This led to another series of Mazama climbs in the summer of 1994 when he climbed Mt. Daniel, Three Fingered Jack, and Mt. Washington; the latter two led by Richard Caldwell. He also completed several other independent and solo climbs in Oregon and the Northwest. He remained a Mazama member throughout his life.

Marty had a deep commitment to the environment and expressed that through how he lived his own life; always seeking to leave his corner of the world better than he found it. This commitment and his attraction to nature were part of his lifelong spiritual seeking and his desire to understand the mysteries of life. This led him to explore several different spiritual and religious traditions and to pursue programs of personal transformation. Shortly after marriage to his second wife, Eddy, in 1996 they together became interested in Quakerism, and found a lasting home at Multnomah Friends Meeting, where they became members. There Marty served an important role in managing the renovation and addition project of 2007. During this period his connection with Mazamas served an important role, as the Multnomah Friends temporarily met on Sundays in the Mazama Mountaineering Center.

Marty is survived by his wife Eddy Marie Crouch, his daughter Corina Kaul, son Chad Crouch, sister Kathleen Pedersen, brother Glen Crouch, sister Annette Harper, first wife Linda Pickett, and five grandchildren.

The memorial service for Marty will take place on Sunday, November 5, 2017 at 4 p.m. at The Multnomah Friends Meeting House at 4312 SE Stark Street in Portland. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Solar Oregon would be appreciated.

James McCobb | Jan. 25, 1928–April 26, 2017

James E. McCobb, 89, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, April 26, 2017. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Marilyn (Mack) McCobb; 6 children; 11 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, colleagues, and many dear friends. He is pre-deceased by his son Thomas McCobb and sister Elizabeth Lazzaro.

A former methodist minister James went on to 50-year career as an attorney. He was a Mazama, an avid hiker and outdoorsman, and also wrote and self-published several books of poetry. He was an active member of Rotary International.

His wife recently sent the Mazamas a letter notifying us of Jim's death and enclosed a poem he wrote about climbing the South Sister, printed here.

Shake the Dust

You will remember the songs of waterfalls
as the trail switchbacks into the forest.
The twists and turns will seem familiar,
as you listen to the river.

The roots and stones beneath your feet
will remind you I cherished waterfalls,
the splendid tress, the paintrush
in the clearing across the bridge —
the rough log that troubled balance.

When at day's end you remove your boots,
from aching feet, you will remember
how one autumn day I made the rough ascent,
sat beside the pool at altitude,
then reached the rugged summit.

You will remember I was there before you,
how I loved the roar of waterfalls,
the distant view along the ridges
scanning westard to the Pacific.
—Jim McCobb

Deryl Gene Richter | June 27, 1924–July 22, 2017

Deryl Gene Richter, 93, of Portland, died peacefully July 22, 2017.

He was born to Henry and Lois Richter in June of 1924 in Portland. He graduated from Grant High School in 1943. Deryl served in World War II in the Pacific Theatre earning two bronze stars for his action in Bougainville, Solomon Islands and the liberation of Manilla. Following the war, he earned a Bachelors of Science from Oregon State College in Industrial Engineering. His career in engineering spanned 30 years at Hyster Company where he retired in 1983.

In 1960, he married Beatriz Jean Rey of Bloomington, Ind., whom he met water skiing on Spirit Lake, Wash., with a group of friends that remain close to this day. Deryl held a passion for photography his entire life and leaves behind a legacy of photographs and movies documenting a life well lived; family, snow skiing, water skiing, hiking, backpacking, and traveling the world.

Deryl is survived by his wife, Beatriz; and daughter, Tamara. A celebration of his life was held on Aug. 10, 2017, at the Hillsboro Elks Lodge.

Glenn Alan Eaton Jr. | Sept. 24, 1948–Aug. 27, 2017

Glenn Alan Eaton Jr., 68, of Portland passed away Aug. 27, 2017 from coronary heart disease. Glenn was a lifetime member of the Mazamas, joining when he was 16.

He attended St. Helen's Hall grade school (OES) graduating from Parkrose High School (1966). He received his BS/MS civil engineering degrees from Oregon State where he joined Acacia Fraternity. Starting in college he worked as an engineer for the Oregon State Highway Department. He served in the Army after ROTC.

Glenn's activities included Eagle Scout, Order of the Arrow leader, church acolyte, square dancer, skier, past president of Winnemucca Society, Children of the American Revolution, Mazama Climbing, Sons of the American Revolution, Blind Commission, and trolleys.
He is survived by wife, Rosemary J. Eaton; sister, Lillian Stewart of Jacksonville, Ore.; nephew, Benjamin Ward (Leticia Durham) of Colorado; niece, Sara Ward of Washington; great-nephews, Tacitus, Caius, Trajan, Deacon. He was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Canon (Col) Glenn Eaton, Sr. and Jeannette Christensen Eaton.

Services were on Sept. 2, 2017. In lieu of flowers, donations were made to the Mazamas or St. Michaels and All Angels Church.

Dwain Arlen Estes | Feb. 4, 1936–July 10, 2017

Dwain was born Feb. 4, 1936 in Joseph, Or., to parents Aubrey Dwain Estes and Maida Caldwell Estes. Aubrey owned the town barbershop and Maida was a teacher. As a boy, Dwain loved the outdoors and developed a life-long passion for hunting and fishing. He was active in the Boy Scouts and later in the Mazamas, where he climbed several Northwest peaks.

Dwain graduated from Eastern Oregon State College in 1957 and began teaching in Portland's Parkrose School District that autumn. He taught in Parkrose for 33 years, retiring in 1990. Much of his career was spent as a sixth-grade teacher where he shared his enjoyment of the outdoors with many of his students at Outdoor School. He finished his career as a math teacher at Parkrose Middle School.

After retirement, Dwain devoted much of his free time to fishing the rivers in Oregon and Washington, filling his (and friends and family) freezers with salmon and steelhead. Even after suffering a stroke in 2011, his passion for the outdoors was not diminished and he continued to fish with the help of his good friends.

Dwain is survived by his younger sister, Marleen Caloia (Chuck) of Frederick, Md.; his son, Daniel Estes (Thia) of Hubbard, Or.; and grandchildren, Ashlee Pecyna, Gabriella Plante and Cole Plante. Dwain is also survived by his long-time love and companion, Barbara Roberts of Portland; and by many good friends from a long life, well lived.

Private services were held in Joseph, Or. and also at Dwain's favorite fishing hole, the location of which dare not be published.