LEMMON, Richard Mark

Richard Mark Lemmon was born Aug. 26, 1926 in Baker, Ore., to Warren Mac Lemmon and Vera Virginia Schlaefer. Dick attended schools in Baker and graduated from Baker High School in 1944. Basketball was his favorite sport. He played on a team in 1943 that won second place in the State Basketball Tournament. He enjoyed spending summers at his Grandfather Lemmon’s cabin on Granite Boulder Creek. Dick joined the Naval Aviation Cadet program in March 1944—near the end of World War II. He was discharged October 1945 at the end of the war. In the fall of 1945 he went to work for the U.S. Forest Service and worked for them seasonally while attending Oregon State College where he obtained a degree in Forestry, graduating in 1950. He worked at various places for the Forest Service – Blue Mtn. Ranger Station, Seneca, Unity, Portland and Pendleton spanning a career of 33 years. He served as District Ranger in two different districts – Unity and Pendleton and the Regional Office in Portland. He thoroughly enjoyed working for the Forest Service in the outdoors. Dick married Mona Jean Mitchell, September 1949 in the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Mona Jean passed away and he married Dona Marie Jeffords September 1976 in the Logan Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints serving in many capacities – Scout Master, Sunday School Teacher, High Counselor, Bishop, Temple Worker and Stake Patriarch. Dick and Dona served a mission in Nigeria. Dick loved serving the Lord and his fellowman. In his retirement years he enjoyed traveling to visit family, picking huckleberries and spending time at Diana’s cabin, cutting wood and being in the mountains. Dick was preceded in death by his wife, Mona Jean, his parents, brothers Boyd and Jack and a son-in-law Steve Frazier. He is survived by his wife, Dona; sons, Andrew (Cathy), Scott (Kathy), Kevin, John (Melinda); daughters, Rhonda Gardner (Gil), Elaine Fresh (Stephen), Diana, Jolene Simpson (John); brother, John (Jeanette); 44 grandchildren, 44 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. The family greeted friends at a viewing on Friday, Sept. 28, 2012 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, corner of 12th and Gilliam in Pendleton. Funeral services were held Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012 at 10 a.m. at the same location as the viewing. Arrangements were entrusted to Pendleton Pioneer Chapel, Folsom-Bishop. Online condolences may be sent to www.pioneerchapel.com. The Record-Courier 4 October 2012