Maurice Joseph Comeau

A year later he became an older brother to Roger and four years after that again to Dennis.

In 1945, at the age of eight, his appendix burst during, yet another storm and his father rushed him to the hospital 26 miles away using a sled pulled by horses through the snow. A Scottish doctor there saved Maurice’s life, an event that would shape his future leaving him determined to become a doctor himself.

The family moved to West Fir in 1951 and later Oakridge, Oregon where Morrie attended Oakridge High School. He graduated valedictorian of his class.

Maurice later attended and graduated from the University of Oregon. While at University of Oregon he followed in his father’s footsteps and worked as a meat cutter on the weekends to help pay for school. He tried out for and made the wrestling team until it began to detract from his studies to the dismay of his coach.

His time at University of Oregon would facilitate some of his most important personal connections such as making friends for life at the Sigma Chi Fraternity and marrying his lifelong partner and girl of his dreams, Billie McMichael.

Maurice fulfilled his boyhood vow to become a doctor by graduating from the University of Oregon Medical School and later becoming an ear, nose and throat surgeon for Kaiser Medical Group starting in 1972 and retiring in 1998.

Along the way he completed his internship at Dartmouth before driving across Canada to Alaska with Billie, along with their 6-month-old daughter Jackie, to Anchorage for Maurice to serve 2 years in the Medical Core of the Air Force.

Afterwards, the family moved to Portland where son Paul was born in September of 1967.

During his professional years, Maurice remained deeply involved in his practice. In addition to alleviating the suffering of his patients, on many occasions saving their lives, he gave back to medicine by teaching at the OHSU medical school and serving as President of the Board of Medical Examiners.

In his free time, he maintained an active lifestyle that suited his love for the outdoors. He enjoyed playing tennis at West Hills, golfing at Pumpkin Ridge, fishing and bird hunting with many friends including his lifelong pal Bob Dunning.

On top of that, he looked forward each year to competing in the decathlon at the MAC Club and for many years he and Billie sang with the choir at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Beaverton.

Together with Billie they traveled to many countries including a trip of a lifetime to Italy and France with their friends Jim and Bobbie Kennedy and Mike and Jan Maginnis.

After a long and successful career, Maurice retired and he and Billie became snowbirds spending many winters with friends from West Hills Racquet Club in Surprise, Arizona.

Morrie was a true Renaissance man who enjoyed sports, music, gardening, cooking and reading. He loved to learn and never stopped.

We were not ready to say goodbye, but Mo died of heart failure at Kaiser Westside on May 13th 2025. He was predeceased by his parents, his son Paul and granddaughter Genevieve.

He is survived by his wife Billie, daughter Jackie (Pat) Dooris, grandsons Patrick and Ryan Dooris, Michael Comeau and his brothers Roger and Dennis (Carol) Comeau.

A memorial mass will be held at St. Pius X on Wednesday, June 25th at 11:00 am.

In honor of Maurice, the family suggests donations to Doctor’s Without Borders, Catholic Charities and The Union Gospel Mission of Portland, OR.