Everett Philip Seagoe

Everett Philip Seagoe, age 88 died at home on June 19, 2019 from complications of post-polio syndrome. He was born in Los Angeles on November 1, 1930 to Thomas and Alberta Seagoe, he was third of six children. During the depression the family moved to Happy Camp where his father built a log cabin. They moved to the Rogue Valley in 1939 where he remained the rest of his life. Times were hard and he quit school to go to work. He helped pack supplies on mules to the miners up Taylor Creek before there was a road, also he worked in the hop yards and sawmills. In 1951 he joined the Marines and was stationed in Korea. After completing his tour, he returned to Grants Pass and married Marjorie Swanson on August 7, 1954 at her grandparents’ home on Abegg road in Merlin. Her parents Ted and Nettie Swanson gave them some property where they remained for 60 years before moving into Grants Pass to be near their daughter. They would have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in August. Everett worked for Bates Lumber company and retired from Fourply in 1994.

Everett and Marjorie were active in Little League for 10 years, coaching a girls team and umpiring the boys games. They coached the All-Star girls teams for several of those years. Everett also umpired for the adults city league softball games and tournaments. He was a 25-year member of the Merlin Grange and Josephine County Young Farmers. The Seagoes traveled extensively after retirement. Usually with her parents and her sister and brother-in-law, Pat and Gary Shaffer of Beaverton. They visited 39 states and 16 countries often taking classes at Elder Hostels.

He loved fishing, hunting, camping, wood working, cutting down trees, sawing lumber with his Alaskan sawmill, building bird houses and rubber band guns.

For 45 years he was a 4-H volunteer. He had his own club Tuff-n-Tender later North Valley Livestock and raised sheep so 4-H kids could have access to affordable lambs for the fair. In 2004 he and his wife were honored to be in OSU's first centennial award recognizing their work with 4-H kids. He also received OSU's Diamond Award for his contribution to agriculture. For 15 years he presented an award for community service to the outstanding 4-H member in the senior sheep division. In lieu of flowers, those wishing may make a donation to the Everett Seagoe Community Service Award in care of 4-H Volunteers Association, 215 Ringuette Street, Grants Pass, Oregon.

Private services will be held at the Eagle Point National Ceremony with full Military Honors. Public services will be held on July 5 at 3:00 p.m. at Hull and Hull followed by a potluck at the Merlin park.

Survivors include his wife Marjorie, sons Bruce Seagoe of Gold Beach, Brian Seagoe of Merlin, daughters Lisa Guthrie of Merlin and Lana and her husband James Lowe of Grants Pass, eleven grandchildren, Andrea Stoe, Andrew and Jonathan Seagoe, Asha Park, Amber Al-Sarf, Curtis Benton, Lianna Lowe, Chad Lowe, Brian James, Justin and Jaci Seagoe and five great-great grandsons. He was preceded in death by his brothers Tommy, Paul, Dale and sisters Barbara Fields and Phyllis Backus and a son Andrew Allen.