April 22, 1917 – April 12, 2014
Ellis W. Rainwater, 96, of Albany, formerly of Sweet Home, went to be with the Lord on Saturday. He was born in Verboort to Martin and Vada C. (Huber) Rainwater.
He lived in Oregon his entire life. His family is native Oregonians from 1850. He grew up in the Vernonia area, moved to Sweet Home in the late ’40s and then to Albany in the ’90s.
Ellis married Marilyn Bellamy on April 5, 1942. One of his first jobs was splitting wood for a steam donkey. He worked in the woods until the late ’50s. He finished his working career at local saw mills.
He enjoyed wood working, fishing and hunting. He especially enjoyed his time fishing at Green Peter. Ellis was an excellent carpenter and did woodworking most of his life. Many of the Christmas gifts for family would be his wood turnings. He was a great father.
Ellis is survived by his son Norman and daughter-in-law Kathy Rainwater; daughter Joyce and son-in-law Dick Bates; grandsons Marty Bates, Brian Rainwater, Gary Rainwater; granddaughter Tammi Rainwater; 10 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; sisters Bonnie Jackson and Thelma Bergerson; and brother Virgil Rainwater;.
He was preceded in death by his wife Marilyn; parents; granddaughter Nora (Bates) Prior; and brother Glen Rainwater.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 26, at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel.
Paid Obituary