Obituary of Richard Jarrett

On Monday, October 7, 2019, Richard (Dick) Guy Jarrett passed away in his home at the age of 91, survived by his wife of 65 years, Ruby Alfreda Jarrett. He is also survived by his daughter Diane Jarrett (and her son Ocean) and his daughter Nancy Jacobson (and her children Emma, Oliver and Alex). Dick was preceded in death by his younger sister, Sheila Carson. Dick was born in Portland, Oregon on Friday, January 13, 1928, to Winifred Louise Jarrett and Herold W. Jarrett. Dick and Alfreda both grew up in Lake Grove and first met in 1938 at Lake Grove Grade School. After graduating 8th grade together (in the same class), they parted ways for a while to attend different high schools (Dick – Lincoln High and Alfreda – West Linn). Dick later joined the Navy, often listened to jazz music in the clubs of New York with his friend Pat George, and raced his Triumph motorcycle through Forest Park. Alfreda and Dick reconnected through friends in the early 1950’s and married on August 14, 1954. They moved back to Lake Oswego in 1954, bought a small house (formerly a barn) and remodeled it, and remodeled it again, to bring it to its present glory. Dick worked in construction building homes and other local establishments, including the current Lake Grove restaurant Babica Hen, while simultaneously working as a volunteer fireman for the Lake Oswego Fire Department (“LOFD”). He enjoyed firefighting and the LOFD community so much that in 1962 he applied for and was hired on as a full-time engineer/driver, later becoming a lieutenant. LOFD was home to numerous life-long friends, including Ernie Benjamin, Bob Anderson, and many others. There were years of shift retreats held at Scout Lake filled with fun, laughter, and sunburns. Frequently, Dick left notes and “words of wisdom” at the fire station under the pen name of “The Bulletin Board Bandit.” Some messages were well-received, some less so. In the early 1980’s, ready for retirement, Dick departed the Lake Oswego Fire Department. His love of nature and the outdoors often found Dick biking nearby neighborhoods, climbing or hiking around Mt. Hood, Mount St. Helens, and other mountains, or kayaking the Willamette or Tualatin rivers, and other tributaries. He was never alone on these outings as one or more of the following adventure seekers would join him: daughters Diane and Nancy, Chuck Carson (brother-in-law), Sharon, Laurie, and Susan (nieces), Mike Oster (his neighbor and good friend), and Jim Gillies and other LOFD friends. One winter, Dick and Chuck tricked Diane and Nancy into a “fun” snow camping trip.Dick and Chuck even completed a trek in Nepal together. Dick and Alfreda took many marvelous vacations with the Lake Oswego World Travelers and with their children to such places as Norway, Germany and England (toting 40 pound suitcases), Mexico (caravanning in a lengthy fifth-wheel trailer), and France (touring the canals in a barge boat). A superb artist, Dick created beautiful drawings and paintings, personalized birthday and anniversary cards for family and friends, annual holiday cards, numerous detailed maps of waterways he traveled by kayak, and many political cartoons (some even suitable for public consumption). Dick, a loving husband and father/grandfather/uncle, and a true friend to many, will be greatly missed. Thank you all for being part of his full and happy life.