Feb. 20, 1923 €“ Jan. 17, 2009
Edmund Lee Durr, 85, of Sweet Home died Jan. 17, 2009 at St. Elizabeth Health Services in Baker City while visting his brother in Halfway.
Mr. Durr was born Feb. 20, 1923 in Masontown, Pa., to Edmund Henry Durr and Ruth Elizabeth (Lee) Durr.
He was raised in Pennsylvania and as a teen joined the Marine Corps and served in World War II in the C Battery, 1st battalion, 10th Marines, Second Marine division. He fought battles on the islands of Tinian, Saipan and Tarawa. He was very proud of his military career and spoke of it often.
Upon the completion of his service time, Mr. Durr returned to Pennsylvania to work in the coal mines, but only for a short few years. Some relatives had moved west to Oregon and while visiting them he enjoyed the area so much, he moved here. He worked many years as a millwright for Boise Cascade until his early retirement in the mid 1980s.
Mr. Durr had many happy years with his first wife, Gene, and second wife, Phyllis.
Retirement meant many happy years for the Durrs, who traveled in their fifth-wheel RV, in which they moved all over Oregon and the southwest. Mr. Durr had particularly fond memories of the 17 years they were camp hosts for a Lake Fork Campground just outside of the Hells Canyon National Recreation area in northeastern Oregon. Besides RV-ing, Edmund enjoyed hunting mule deer, fishing, and cutting wood.
Mr. Durr is survived by his daughter, Lynda Harding of Albany; step-sons Chris Brewster of Molalla, Walter Brewster of Willamina and Ronald Jarchow of Independence; grandchildren Tammy, Shawnta, Keri, Joseph, Lyndsey, Hayley, Christopher, Joe and Jenny.
He is survived by siblings David Durr of Halfway, Naomi Babcock of Sweet Home, Clayton Durr of Bend and Ruth Cook of Missouri.
A military graveside service was held Jan. 23 at Twin Oaks Cemetery, Albany, Oregon.
Memorial contributions can be made to The Disabled Veterans in care of Gray’s West & Company Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.