Omer graduated from St. Peter and Paul High School in 1945. After graduating high school, he hitchhiked from Kansas through North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, Tijuana, Arizona, and Colorado and all the way back home to Seneca, Kansas. These adventures inspired his lifelong love of traveling.
On June 18, 1946 he married Elsie Kokenge, at Fort Ogelthorpe, Georgia. Six months later, he was stationed in Germany where he served as a Mess Sergeant for the US Army. After an honorable discharge in 1947, Omer and Elsie moved to Yakima where they resided ever since.
Omer worked for the U.S. Postal Service for a number of years. In 1964, he founded a local insurance agency, Gress-Parnell Insurance, now known as Gress Kinney Parrish, where he enjoyed a long and successful career.
Omer was active in his community. He served as the Yakima Conference President of the Society of St. Vincent De Paul, and spent countless hours volunteering at its food bank. He served as President of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of Yakima, and was active in the International Footprint Association of Yakima, Gyro International, and Knights of Columbus. He was also a lifetime member of the Elks Lodge.
Omer was longtime member of St. Joseph’s Church. Omer’s faith was robust, deeply personal, and central to his life – it guided him and gave structure to his life. It led him to love and care well for his family. His support and pride in all his children, children-in-law, and grandchildren through all their successes and failures; his ability to form deep, lifelong friendships; and his generosity and humility in reaching out to others, to strangers from all walks of life, are the fruits of Omer’s faith.
Omer lived honestly and humbly. His passion and his sense of humor were always on full display. And so was his love for Elsie, his family, his Church, and his country.
Omer is survived by his four children, Dale (JoAnne) Gress, Kristy Cure, Dennis (Brenda) Gress, and Randy (Michele) Gress. He has seven grandchildren, Erika Herman, Tiffani Monell, Andy Gress, Jennifer Jansen, Kevin Cure, Russell Gress, and Garrett Gress, and 14 great grandchildren and a brother Melvin Gress. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elsie, a grandson, Gavin Gress, a brother George and a sister Rosemary.
A Vigil service will be held at Keith & Keith Funeral Home on Friday, January 31, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Saturday, February 1. 2020 at 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. Vincent’s Society at St. Joseph’s, St. Joseph Catholic Church, 212 N. 4th St. Yakima, WA 98901 or Yakima Valley Young Life, 725 W. Yakima Ave., Yakima, WA 98902.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.keithandkeith.com.
