Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Allen Robert Morrissette, 79, a longtime resident of Hood River, Oregon, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on March 30, 2026, after a weeklong stay at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Beaverton, Oregon. Allen was born in Longview, Washington, on March 18, 1947, the oldest of Willis and Lillian (Welle) Morrissette’s five children.
Allen graduated from Kelso High School in 1965 and St. Martin’s University in 1970 with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering. A week after graduation, he married the love of his life, Nancy Kay Graham, on May 23, 1970, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Kelso. Their three children were also born in Longview: Daughter Trisha (July 1972) and sons Tre (December 1973) and Tim (September 1975).
Allen began his career in 1970 with the Washington Department of Highways in Yakima, Walla Walla, and Longview, working in highway construction management. He later worked for Gibbs & Olson Engineers in Longview as a consultant. The family moved to Hood River in 1981 after Allen joined the U.S. Forest Service as a civil engineer for the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. His responsibilities included road maintenance and traffic operations on Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams. He ended his career at the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area, retiring in 2007.
Allen loved sports, particularly basketball, which he played in high school and college. He began his long volunteer coaching career in 1980 with son Tre’s basketball team, eventually coaching all three kids’ basketball teams through Community Ed (sometimes two teams at once). He also coached his sons’ Little League and Babe Ruth teams. Next came coaching his granddaughters’ basketball teams — for Community Ed, then Horizon and Wy’east middle schools — and when he ran out of grandkids, he began coaching both boys and girls middle school teams, mostly at Horizon. There was nothing Allen loved more than finding a new drill to run or play to enact. He quietly retired from coaching in 2023.
Allen was a lifelong and very devout Catholic. He served as an altar server and usher, prayed the rosary daily, and loved attending the Mass. After moving to Hood River, he quickly became involved at St. Mary’s, a commitment that never wavered. Allen did not have an easy life; he struggled with a variety of health issues, but his faith gave him comfort.
He was the best husband, brother, father, grandfather, and father-in-law any of us could have asked for, and while we are happy he is now free from pain, we will miss him every day.
Allen was preceded in death by his parents, Willis and Lillian Morrissette, brother Jerry, and infant brother Dennis; his in-laws, Harold and Alvera Graham; brother-in-law Bob Graham; and sisters-in-law Letty Morrissette, Janice Stowell, and Carol Graham.
He is survived by his wife of (almost) 56 years, Nancy Morrissette; daughter Trisha Walker and son-in-law Eric (Hood River); son Tre Morrissette and daughter-in-law Ritchie (Salem, Oregon); son Tim Morrissette (Salem); grandchildren Abby and Jo Walker, and Rubie, Evie and Lucien Morrissette; sister Ann Krause and brother-in-law John (Longview); brother Mark Morrissette (Pasco, Washington); and numerous brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.
A viewing will be held on Sunday, April 19 from 4-6 p.m., with a rosary at 6:30 p.m. at Anderson’s Tribute Center, Hood River. A funeral Mass will be held Monday, April 20 at 11 a.m., with a reception to follow, also at Anderson’s. Graveside services will begin at 2 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to St. Mary’s building fund, c/o Anderson’s, 1401 Belmont, Hood River, OR 97031. Condolences may be shared by visiting www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com.
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