Gerald James Thorn

Gerald James Thorn, a resident of East County, died on April 26, 2011 in Portland. He was 82 years of

age.

Gerald was born on March 31, 1929 in Aberdeen, South Dakota and was the son of George and Marcella

(Smith) Thorn. He graduated from Klamath Falls High School in 1947 and continued his education at

OSU, Vanport College, earning his B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Oregon in

1952. He married Rita Ann Watson on September 8, 1951 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Portland,

Oregon. He worked as a buyer for Meier & Frank Co. for many years.

Gerald moved to East County in 1960 where he resided in his wife's family home. He was an active

member of St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church where he coached CYO basketball.

Gerald loved caring for his wife and five children and growing produce to feed them in his huge organic

garden. He was particularly fond of growing green beans, tomatoes, lilies and dahlias. He found great joy

in spending time at the Oregon coast, fishing, playing gin rummy, taking photographs and hanging out

with his 13 grandchildren.

He is survived by his daughters: Anna Thorn of Portland, OR, Cassandra Lee of Yellow Springs, OH,

Alix Alejandro of Scottsdale, AZ and Sons : Scott Thorn, and Craig Thorn both of Phoenix, AZ along

with his grandchildren Andrea, Seth, Rachael, Nadia, Eric, Mitra, Daniel, Jared, Madison, Jackson,

Gabriel, Harrison, and Dominic. His wife, Rita and two brothers preceded him in death.

A funeral mass will be on Sunday, May 1, 2011 at 4:00 pm at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church.

Visitation will be on Saturday, April 30, 2011 from 10:00 am -5:00 pm at Bateman Carroll Funeral Home

in Gresham. Private Inurnment will be at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Contributions may be made in memory

of Gerald to MercyCorps. Bateman Carroll Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.