oorpears.html

The Enterprise, White Salmon, WA., May 19, 1939, page 2

WESTERN KLICKITAT MOURNS DEATH OF ORIN PEARSON
PROMINENT TROUT LAKE MAN PASSED AWAY MAY 14TH

Orin Pearson, well known Trout Lake man, and a lifetime resident of the Trout Lake Valley all his life died Sunday morning, May 14 at the Marine Hospital in Seattle. Death was caused by complications following an operation on his arm which was injured last December. He was 44 years, 2 months, and 20 days old.
Mr. Pearson was the son of a pioneer family, and was born February 24, 1895. His father, C. A. Pearson came to Trout Lake valley in 1884 and took up the second homestead in the valley; his mother too was a pioneer daughter of the Stoller family who married Mr. C.A. Pearson in 1887.
Orin was the fourth of five children, all of whom went to school in the first little log school house here, and later in the other school building. His two brothers and sisters are Carl and George Pearson, Mrs. Ralph Woodruff, and Mrs. Delwyn Allaway. After finishing nine grades in the Trout Lake School he took he preparatory and college training in Pullman. After three years of college work he enlisted in the US Army on October 3, 1917. He was sent to Ft. Lewis where he stayed until his discharge, during that time he was a training officer and received his commission of 2nd Lieutenant in May 1918.
In the fall of 1919 Orin returned to Pullman and was graduated with honors from Washington State College in the spring of 1920.
On December 20, 1920, Mr. Pearson and Bessie Coate were married; this marriage might have been called a wedding of pioneer children for the bride was the daughter of pioneers also. Her parents were Mr. & Mrs. Will Coate of the lower valley, and were among the first few settlers of the valley years ago.
After their marriage Mr. & Mrs. Pearson farmed the Hall place in partnership with Carl Pearson, but illness kept Orin Pearson from active work for nearly two years and in 1924 he commenced work with the Forest Service and was connected with that work until his death.
For the past 3 years he has been in the CCC working in various capacities; an educational advisor, superintendent, and foreman of the CCC camps in the Columbia Forest.
It was while at work with his group of CCC boys near the camp at Hemlock last December that Mr. Pearson received serious injuries; knowing that the particular work at hand was dangerous, he sent the boys to a safe distance, and in the accident, only he was injured. He was in the Hood River Hospital for four months, and had been at his home here in Trout Lake for some time before going to the Marine Hospital in Seattle May 2.
Orin Pearson was a member of the Masons, Trout Lake Grange, Evan Child's Post American Legion, Rod and Gun Club, and the Mt. Adams Ski Club. He was chairman of the Troop Committee of both Boy and Girl Scouts. He was a member of the Trout Lake Presbyterian Church since 1919, and had been on the Board of Trustees of that church for about 10 years.
He had been on the Board of Directors of the Trout Lake School Dist. 44 for almost 6 years. It was due in a large measure to his efforts, advice, and material help the Trout Lake School has a fine large, splendidly equipped, gymnasium.
Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon in the gym building. Rev. George Good had the service. The Trout Lake and White Salmon Masonic Lodges had charge of the service at the cemetery; the last rite was military honors with a firing squad of Legion men, and the sad but sweet notes of "Taps" floating across the still air.
Left to mourn his loss in the immediate family are his wife and two daughters, Georgene and Nancy Ortene; others are his father Mr. C. A. Pearson, brothers and sister, and other relatives.
It is not the intention of this writer to eulogize the life of Orin Pearson, his life speaks for itself and needs no communication. He was well known here and in neighboring towns, and was a friend to everyone in his work and in his association.