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.
Johnnie Peyrollaz, 97, born June 7, 1927, a loving family-man, electrician, welder, army veteran, and lifelong farmer, passed early Saturday morning, Nov. 2, 2024, with his wife by his side. He was the youngest of four children: Margurite, Rose, Bertil, and John, born to Henry and Aline Peyrollaz. The Peyrollaz farm, overlooking the Columbia River, is where he lived his whole life, though he traveled around the world.
Johnnie was a thoughtful, intelligent man who could do just about anything. If something needed to be done, he would find a way. Some of his many talents included drafting blueprints, building barns, welding, operating machinery, electrical, plumbing, building cabinetry, raising cattle, making his own tools, and so much more.
He went to school in Carson, Washington, through the eighth grade. He attended Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland, Oregon, staying with his older sister Rose during the week and coming home on the weekends. He left school to enlist in the army during World War II. He later returned home and attained his diploma from Benson Tech and took courses in machine shop, electrical, and welding at Multnomah College.
An ambitious youth, Johnnie began making deliveries for Bloomquist Trucking between Carson and Portland at the age of 14, even though he did not yet have a driver’s license. He later worked in the auto repair shop in Stevenson for Mr. Heller, then for the U.S. Forest Service, running an excavator and driving trucks. Next he worked at the Carson and Spring Creek National fish hatcheries, building holding ponds for salmon. Finally, he started at Stevenson Plywood, first as a pipe fitter and powerhouse operator and then became the head electrician for the mill. When Stevenson Plywood sold to the employees to become Stevenson Co-Ply, Johnnie was one of the original shareholders.
Johnnie married Clara Binkley of Tigard, Oregon. They were married for 33 years before she passed in an accident while driving home one day. In 1990, Johnnie married Cloida Pickett of Carson. After retiring, Johnnie continued raising cattle and feed crops on the farm well into his 90s. He was an avid square dancer, belonging to five square clubs and dancing as much as four nights a week. He and his wife hosted a square dance festival/camp-out on the farm for 25 years with people coming from many states and Canada. He was an active member of Shepard of the Hills Lutheran Church of Stevenson. Johnnie traveled overseas to 21 countries, his favorites being a trekking trip in Nepal and a trip to Peru, which included boating 700 miles on the Amazon River.
Johnnie is survived by Cloida, his wife of 34 years; four stepchildren, Wade (Laura), Craig, Brenda (John), and Becky (Robert); and five grandchildren, Lauren (Daniel), Brandon, Spencer, Hanna, Layla; as well as numerous nieces and nephews, and some very dear friends.
As he requested, there will be no services.
To plant a tree in memory of Johnnie Peyrollaz as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store.
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PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
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