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.
Wayne Edward Ryan passed away peacefully in The Dalles, Ore., on Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, at the age of 96. He was born Sept. 20, 1920, in The Dalles, to Rufus and Pearl (Kistner) Ryan.
Wayne attended several schools in his early childhood. After his mother remarried in 1933 to Arthur Mason of Boyd, Wayne attended Dufur High School, where he was active in Future Farmers of America.
Wayne enjoyed working with Arthur, harnessing the horses before school. To help Arthur with farm work, he temporarily dropped out of school his junior year. When he returned to school, the teachers were very dedicated to helping him catch up so he could graduate with his class in 1938. It was when he was working with Arthur that they traded in the team of horses for their first tractor, a D2, which the family still owns.
After high school, Arthur moved and Wayne batched and farmed for three years on the Mason place. After World War II broke out, Arthur came back to farm and Wayne enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He served with the first division in the South Pacific from 1942-1945. After his discharge in July 1945, he came back to farm.
During a furlough, a cute young gal, who was working at Kramer's Market in Dufur caught his eye. He and Camille Nye, whose parents farmed just south of Dufur, were married in October 1945.
As well as farming the Mason place, Wayne was offered a lease on the Kelly place near Wrentham. His first crop on the Kelly place was the last one where he would sack the grain. Wayne and Camille moved to the Kelly place upon their marriage and lived there for over 50 years.
Wayne served on the Petersburg School Board. He was also active in the Ten Mile Saddle Club, and was past president of both the Wasco County Wheat Growers and the Wasco County Livestock Association. He was honored in 1971 as Cattleman of the Year and in 1973 as Outstanding Farmer of the Year. He served on the Wasco County Fair Board and as president of the Oregon Fairs Association.
He was selected as the 2015 Wasco County Pioneer of the Year.
After Wayne and Camille moved to Dufur in 1996, they became active in the Dufur Historical Society, volunteering countless hours in the museum. For many years, Wayne demonstrated sack sewing during the Dufur Threshing Bee.
Wayne and Camille enjoyed camping, fishing, and supporting local high school sports. Wayne elk hunted with friends in the Blue Mountains for many years.
Wayne was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Camille, in 2012. He is survived by his daughters, Patricia Clausen and husband John; Arlene Way and husband Terry; and Mary Lou Bostick and husband Tom; grandchildren Ryan Clausen; Randy Way and wife Cindy; Jason Bostick and wife Carolyn; Amy Vandetta and husband Brian; Leanne Lindsay and husband Joe; and Kathy Bostick, and several great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Saturday, Jan. 21, at 11 a.m. at Spencer, Libby and Powel Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Dufur Ranger Athletic Fund 802 NE 5th, Dufur, Ore. 97021 or Dufur Historial Society PO Box 462, Dufur, Ore. 97021.
