Maurice (Maury) E. Saunders

Maurice (Maury) E. Saunders was born on June 1, 1919 in Ilwaco, Washington to Ida and Edward Saunders. Maury had 2 sisters (Betty and Mona) and two brothers (Ferris and Robert), all passed away previous to Maury.

Maury attended the University of Washington where he played football for the Huskies. College was interrupted by WWII when he joined the Army in his sophomore year. He was offered Officer Candidate School, which he accepted. After OCS Maury, who had always wanted to fly, joined the Army Air Corps. After flying school he became a pilot in B-26’s; the Martin Marauder. Maury flew many missions in North Africa, Italy and Europe, being shot down twice.

When his tour was up he returned to the US and married Lois j Saunders of Biloxi, Louisiana on February 14, 1944 in Los Angeles CA. Out of the service the couple moved back to Ilwaco and started a small local trucking company using trucks purchased from surplus vehicles available from the government as the war wound down. After two years Maury was recalled to military duty in the US Air Force as at his former grade as Captain, and as a Pilot. He raised a family of four while in the USAF and moved them to many different bases including; japan, Texas, Kansas, Massachusetts, Florida and Idaho.

Maury ended up spending 23 years in the USAF and retired to Grants Pass in 1964. He went to work for the Agnew family who had a plywood plant in Grants Pass and veneer plants in Brookings, OR. Maury became a partner in the plants, then known as Fourply, Inc. He sold his interest in the plants in 1975 and retired once more. After a year of retirement he became bored and bought a logging truck which he drove for a couple of years. It was a physically demanding job which became too much for him. He sold the truck and retired one more time. This time for good.

Maury is survived by his wife of 69 years. Maury and Lois had four children, nine grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. His daughter Patricia Dakan passed away in 2011. Oldest son Rick and youngest son David live in Grants Pass. Middle son Chris lives in Phoenix, AZ.

A graveside service will be at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at Hillcrest Memorial Park.