Lavern Spitz, 91, a resident of the Cornelius community passed away on June 25, 2018 at his home.

Lavern was born on September 28, 1926 in Foss, OK. He was one of six children born to Edward and Josephine (Edler) Spitz. He was raised in Burns Flat, OK and started working in the Eighth grade on the farm.

He enlisted into the US Army and served his country in the Pacific Theater during WWII. He was honorably discharged in 1946.

Lavern moved to Stayton, Oregon in 1948 and he met "the Girl Next Door", Peggy Tiger. They soon began dating and they married on June 7, 1952 in Stayton. They made their home in and around Stayton for the first few years until 1956 when they moved to N Santiam. In 1960 they moved again to Turner and then ten years later to Salem. In 1973 they settled on the farm in Cornelius.

When he was a young man Lavern worked on family farms in Oklahoma and in-n-around Stayton. He then started working in the woods and local mills. He became a Corrections Officer in 1955 and had worked for the Oregon State Penitentiary 18 years before taking up a job at Washington County in 1973. He retired in 1985.

Lavern never like to idle He enjoyed working especially on his farm in Cornelius. He had a peach orchard and this hobby became a "family" hobby with over two hundred trees. He also enjoyed home improvement projects, working on his own equipment and animals. He volunteered at his church and ran security at the dinner. Peggy and Lavern enjoyed square dancing, traveling and visiting relatives. He was close to his grandchildren

and looked forward to holidays and birthdays.

He is preceded in death by his parents, three siblings; Geraldine Adams, Dorine Jackson and E.H. Spitz.

He is survived by his loving wife, Peggy, seven children and their spouses; Pat and Jim Bouchie of Turner, Joe and Shirley Spitz of Beaverton, Kathy and Stanley Duyck of Cornelius, Carolyn and Steve Gossett of Cornelius, David and Rainey Spitz of Cornelius, OR, Jim and Bo Spitz of Portland, Juanita Danielson of Tigard, two siblings; Adella Adams and Don Spitz, seventeen grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren.

 

In Lieu of flowers please donate to the following.

 

Care Partners Hospice.

1600 NW Compton Dr. #210

Beaverton, OR 97006

 

Visitation Catholic Church

4285 NW Visitation Rd.

Forest Grove, OR 97116

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