Recent and Upcoming Obituaries

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 Christopher A. Prescott  

1945 - 2025  

Christopher Prescott, kind friend and neighbor, cousin, and beloved husband of Carolyn Ruth Prescott, died in Vancouver, Washington, on September 18, 2025, after a brief illness.  Born and raised in Eugene, Oregon, the son of Robert Prescott and Eleanor Gale, Chris was 80 years old, and was predeceased by his only sibling, elder brother Duncan. A graduate of the University of Oregon and an enthusiastic “Ducks” fan, Chris also earned a degree in law from Lewis and Clark Law School, becoming licensed to practice in 1977.  But having been raised in a 1920s farmhouse, his abiding interests lay in pre-1930s architecture and history. In between classes, Chris honed his skills by renovating old houses, leading to a lifelong career in real estate development, specializing in historic building restoration.  With an eye bred for architectural detail, he particularly enjoyed the renovation of beautiful old homes and brick apartment buildings in and around the Portland area, placing six of them on the National Register of Historic Places. The apples of Chris’s eye were the two beautiful homes he dreamt into reality using the best features of building design, light and space he had come to admire throughout his career.  His Corbett, Oregon home overlooking the spectacular Columbia River Gorge replicated many of the design elements of Timberline Lodge, a favorite destination of his from years spent skiing Mt. Hood and, later, simply to enjoy a good meal and a glass of fine scotch.  This stunning Arts and Crafts lodge-style home with views of Mt. Adams welcomed  friends and his Canadian cousins alike, and was featured in the 1999 fall edition of the  architectural magazine Oregon Home.  After Chris moved to Washington state, he fashioned  what would be his final home in Vancouver, smaller than his Corbett home but with many of  the same American Craftsman features about which friends, knowing both homes, would  remark how similar the two homes felt.   Chris met Carolyn Stadter, the love of his life, in 2007, and married her the following  year.  Together the Prescotts moved to her home in Nordland, Washington, on Marrowstone  Island in the Puget Sound. There the newlyweds made good friends within a local walking group with whom they were to spend many happy hours in conversation over the years, not only walking but in investing time together in shared interests supporting the local community, including the Marrowstone Island Community Association, the Friends of Fort Flagler, and the Jefferson County Historical Society in Port Townsend.  From their beachside location overlooking the wildlife of Puget Sound, Chris and Carolyn enjoyed fostering friendships, and welcoming Carolyn’s daughter, Kristin, her husband Armin, and grandchildren Jonas and Stella, for traditional holiday celebrations and family visits. Chris will be remembered personally for his love of rock-and-roll music, and for his unlimited affection over the years for his various cats.  Chris was a kind man with a generous heart and enormous energy and talent. He was predeceased earlier this year by his wife,  Carolyn, and is survived by extended family in Michigan, Washington, Canada, and England.   Chris is interred at the Rest-Haven Memorial Park in Eugene, Oregon. - -  

   March 14, 1944 - August 19, 2025

 Paul Dean Sawyer, 81, of Port Angeles, Washington passed away on August 19, 2025, at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle. He was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Warren and Margarette Sawyer on March 14, 1944.  He was known for his good business sense. While in high school, Paul worked part time at the local newspaper and was involved in the Future Business Leaders of America.  During his college years he ran a canteen in his dorm. Paul graduated from Oregon State University in June 1967 with an Engineering degree in Production Technology.  He married Melinda Louise Shultis on July 2, 1966, and was good at providing for his family. He used his degree in various workplaces, including ALCOA (Vancouver, WA), Martin Marietta (The Dalles, OR), Peninsula Plywood (Resident Engineer, Port Angeles, WA), The Goodyear-Nelson Hardwood Lumber Company (Sedro-Woolley, WA), Ediz Hook Services (General Manager, Port Angeles, WA), and Nippon Paper Industries (Port Angeles, WA).  When not working, Paul enjoyed fishing and hiking with his family. He was active in the  local Boy Scout troop when his sons were little. He was a gifted craftsman, having  completely renovated their residence of 47 years (doing most of the work himself),  including a cut glass project on the front doors. He taught computer classes at the Port  Angeles Senior Center. Of late, he could be found at the Shipley Center in Sequim  playing pinochle, majjong or bingo, or trading in another car at the dealership.  He is survived by his sister Sharon White (Gary), his wife Melinda, children Allen  Sawyer, Tony Sawyer (Heidi), and Jeannine Maxwell (Adam), and his six grandchildren.  Paul will be remembered for his money smarts, sense of humor, and patience. He will  be missed. He loved his family and in the end, repented of his sins and showed a desire  to follow Jesus. We rejoice that he is now truly home. He is interred at Resthaven Memorial Park in Eugene, OR 

  Nov. 10, 2003 - July 16, 2025

 Christopher Lee Choate was born on November 10th, 2003 in Eugene, OR to parents Gregory and Patricia Choate. Chris was the youngest of three children.

As a child Chris was very artistic and was able to create amazing pieces of artwork. Chris drew hundreds of pictures and always amazed people with his drawing ability. Chris also liked to paint and was great at this as well. One of Chris’ favorite things to do was to take cardboard or other materials out of the recycle bin and create things from them.

Chris was also very interested and involved in sports as a child. Chris played soccer and basketball and was good at both. Chris was big for his age and was always the tallest person on the team. This allowed Chris to get rebounds and to shoot over others on the basketball court. Chris once scored a goal in soccer by kicking the ball from the far end of the field. Chris’ family enjoyed watching him play.

When Chris was nine years old the family moved to Bend. Chris made new friends and seemed to adapt quickly, but always missed being near his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins in Eugene. Chris also missed the climate in Eugene as he preferred dark and rainy over sunny and dry.

As Chris got older he developed a passion for music. Chris loved to listen to music and had an extensive music collection. Chris liked to have physical copies of his music and preferred to listen to cd’s, vinyl, and cassettes over digital. Chris was also an amazing musician. Chris got his first guitar at the age of 14. Chris seemed to have a natural ability and quickly taught himself to play. Later on Chris took up playing drums. Chris was great at this as well. Chris enjoyed playing music with his friends and had recorded multiple songs with the intent to release an album. Chris dreamed of being a professional musician and was talented enough that he likely could have made this happen.

Chris had a big heart and liked to help others. Chris had many friends who he cared deeply about. Chris was a loyal friend and would stick up for others and defend them if he felt they were slighted or mistreated. Chris worked as a line cook at McMenamin’s and had many good friends there. Chris had a girlfriend, Ash, who was the love of his life. Ash meant the world to Chris and he was most happy when with her.

Chris left this world on July 16th, 2025. Chris’ life was far too short and has left us all wishing we would have had more time. Chris is survived by his parents Greg and Patty Choate, siblings Alexa (Joey) Schlesinger and Sara Choate, grandparents Arthur Choate and Joyce Taylor, his girlfriend Ash, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. Chris is deeply loved and will be missed by all.

A celebration of life will be held at Rest Haven Cemetery located at 3900 Willamette Street, Eugene on Wednesday July 23rd with viewing beginning at 1:00 pm and services at 2:00 pm.

Jan 29 ,1940 - Oct. 29, 2025

Judith Carolyn (Gray) McDaniel was born on January 24, 1940, to Alexander and Elizabeth Gray in Redmond Oregon. She had 2 brothers Charlie and Dick that preceded her in death. She is survived by her daughter Karen and her son in law Richard Tunnell, her grandchildren Cam and Nate (Emily) Tunnell, her niece Susan (Jim) and Cousin JoAnn and Sisters in Law Pat and Mary Lou and a whole bunch of wonderful nieces and nephews on the McDaniel side of the family also survive her. 

Judith’s childhood took her on many adventures as her father was a Naval Commander in the shipyards during WW2. As a child she lived in Oregon, New York, Virginia, California and even Japan for a time. She shared many stories about sledding and building snow forts in New York and crossing the Ocean on a Naval Ship to go to Japan. 

She went to Western Pennsylvania School of Nursing and became an R.N. She was a nurse her whole adult life working in hospitals, oncology, and home health care specializing in I.V. therapy. She retired at 70 but once a nurse always a nurse and that is how she identified herself her whole life. Nursing was her passion, and she was so very good at it. 

Nursing brought her to Don McDaniel - they literally met at the hospital where he was her patient to care for. With Don came his wonderful giant family which just wrapped itself right around Judy. They married on Thanksgiving in 1966. Don passed away in 1990, and she never found anyone to fill her heart the way he did. He was her person. They had many RVing adventures together camping in Frenchglen, Oregon. And no one could make her laugh more. 

She was mom to Karen and Grandma to Cam and Nate. She made every single Christmas magical for Karen growing up. And continued the tradition for her grandchildren. She spoiled us all. She never missed a birthday, a softball game or a band concert. She loved her family fiercely. She never failed to believe in any of us. And she was always there for us. Though sometimes she was known for having an opinion or two about our decisions. Those moments will make for some fun stories. 

After she retired, she traveled a little bit - she saw New Orleans and England two destinations on her bucket list. Mostly she stayed close and helped with Cam and Nate. She was there for them every day after school. She loved watching them grow up. She was so excited that Nate became a teacher and was an enthusiastic fan and promoter of Cam’s singing and acting. 

In recent years the two brightest spots in her life became Molly and Zoe, two sweet little dogs that loved mom dearly. Molly and Zoe kept mom company when life’s challenges kept her at home and gave her a reason to get better when things went sideways. She spoiled them rotten and they loved every minute of it. 

Our world won’t be the same without Mom in it. But I believe that she and dad are finally together again - maybe hanging out in an RV with all of the dogs. Making each other laugh again. There is nothing she wanted more.