Walter M. Farmer

Walter Marion Farmer was born at Longview, Washington on May 1st, 1933 to Helen Mae Wellington and Marion Eddie Miller. They lived in various places in Washington, Oregon, and California until Walt was in second grade. At Christmas of 1939, they moved to Cave Junction.

Walt attended elementary and middle school in Kerby and part of high school at Kerby Union. He was graduated from the newly built Illinois Valley High School in 1952.

Walt and Betty Joyce Robinson were married on June 28, 1954 and began their family in 1957. They have 6 sons: Marc, Shelby, Matthew, Benjamin, Jared, and Arrin.

During the Korean War, Walt enlisted in the Navy. He served from January 8th -1953 to December 20th -1956. As an Interior Communications Second Class Petty Officer he was an electrician, took courses in vending machine operation, was a motion picture operator, and a sharp shooter. Walt was never discharged from the Navy.

After Navy service, he became a temporary ground man for PG&E and was offered training to repair IBM machines across the state. Walt declined in favor of being with his wife and starting a family. He was offered other jobs that would have separated him from family life, but declined each time in favor of family.
Walt wore many hats. He worked in a variety of jobs and owned businesses.
He began earning money at the age of 8 by cutting firewood for Mildred’s Caf. He gave his earnings to his Mother to help his family.

He labored in the hop fields as he got older and worked for farmers – pitching hay and operating a threshing machine. He herded cattle by horseback.

When he was eight years old, he lost a finger while cutting kindling with his brother. At age ten, he spent 5 months and 5 days in a body cast recuperating from a felled tree accident while cutting firewood. The doctor told his mother he would be crippled for life, but because of his mother’s nursing and perseverance, he recovered and ran track and played football in high school.

During high school, he was a telephone lineman from 1950 to 52. He also worked in logging and sawmills.
From 1950 to 1965, he worked off and on for the Redwood Telephone Company.
In 1965, he started a fence post business & built his own forklift and peeling machine. He built a large bunkhouse for a boys ranch and made lawn swings, picnic tables and did house painting.

He also built a small sawmill for local church members use to raise funds for the church budget.

Walt and Joyce moved to Valdez, Alaska in 1957, where he worked in construction. There he built a new high school, rewired a hotel, & drove heavy equipment on the docks.

He then went to Minnesota where he attended school to learn outboard motor repairs. On a 2nd trip to Alaska in 1960, he rebuilt a fishing boat for his stepfather, worked as a fisherman, began an outboard motor repair business & was a hunting guide in Alaska’s Wrangell Mountains.

They left Alaska & moved to Medford where Walt became the top Singer Sewing Machine Salesman.

He went to school, learned to weld, and mastered aluminum welding.

They moved to “The Valley” - where Walt owned a repair shop and fixed all types of appliances.

He was hired by Crowne Zellerbach Company to do hog fuel studies (bio-fuel from logged land) which took him at one time to Mount St. Helens. He was
supposed to be on the mountain on the day it erupted, but he got homesick and had returned to his family a day early.

He partnered in the real estate business and operated County Club Real Estate in the early ‘70’s. As a realtor, he sold residential and business properties and was a timberland specialist. After 25 years in real estate, he retired in 1995 when he contracted Lymes Disease and was unable to work until he was well.
In the early ‘80’s he and his sons owned and operated “Ben Allan Mining” on Josephine Creek.

From 1973 to 74, Walt designed and built their home in CJ. He and his 3 oldest sons built their family home together.

He bought and built-up a small Bottled Water Company in 1984, sold it to his son Shelby a year later, and continued to work with him for many years.

Walt and Joyce, along with their oldest son Marc, and Julie, went back to Alaska in 2001. It was their 1st visit since 1960. There, Walt met with Max, his good friend, and former Mayor of Valdez., and was hired by his son to work in a fish hatchery and caviar plant. He also repaired and operated a mowing machine on Robe Lake.

The next summer, Walt and Joyce returned to Alaska – driving the distance with a little trailer. After 2 trips on the Al-Can the Alaska Highway was a treat. It was, and is, a favorite memory of a wonderful adventure together.

Civic Service:

Walt served on the Rogue Community College Board of Directors for 20 years. He was on the County School Board and on the board for O&C funds distribution. He was a member of the Waldo Mining Organization and The Medical Board in Cave Junction.

In 1957, he was a volunteer fireman, drove the fire truck and Joyce emphasizes, he had a badge.

He was voted Citizen of the Year in recognition of his work for creating the Page Mountain Snow Park.

Hobbies:

His kids & grandchildren will say they were his hobbies – and they’d be right!!
He loved to garden, make repairs of all kinds, hunt, fish, camp, read, and do woodworking and taxidermy.

Walt and Joyce joined the church in October of 1962. Jack Adams was one of the good folks who taught them the gospel. Walt has been a faithful member, serving in various capacities of leadership and organizations. His last callings were to the Family History Center and as a Temple Worker since February 2007. Walt attended the temple weekly while going through health issues during the last 3 years. He served in the temple during the week of his last stroke.

Walt’s favorite places were:

Bolan Lake: Their family enjoyed 50 year of camping together at Bolan Lake!

Also: Valdez, Alaska, Lone Ranch Beach at Brookings and their home in “The Valley”

Walt is survived by:
his wife, Betty Joyce Farmer of Cave Junction, Oregon;
five sons: Marc of Vernonia, Oregon, Shelby, Matthew and Jared all of Grants Pass, Oregon and Arrin of Cave Junction, Oregon
two sisters: Barbara Brown of Grants Pass, Oregon & Patricia Weldon of Phoenix, Oregon
14 Grandchildren and 5 Great Grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his son, Benjamin; Great Grandson, Blake;
Brothers, Gene his Mother, Helen & his Father, Marion.

Walt touched the lives of others, loved unconditionally, had the gift of listening, and his life is an example of overcoming adversity.

It is remarkable that this family-centered man achieved so many skills and did so much in a lifetime for his Savior, his family, his friends and his community

A celebration of life will be at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, June 8, 2013 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Cave Junction Building with Bishop Frank Sibrant officiating. Private interment will be at Laurel Cemetery. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.