Orville Dean Orr

parents, Joseph and Marie Orr, his brother Billy Orr, and his son Jeffery “Jeff” Orr proceeded him in

death.

Orville is survived by his wife of 68 years Geraldine “Gerri”; a son Brian and his wife Tara,

Boise, ID; a daughter Elizabeth “Liz” and her husband Gene Nagata, Monrovia, CA., and Jeff’s wife

Carol Orr, Diamond Bar, CA; six grandsons and a granddaughter and two great granddaughters.

Orville’s family moved to Kansas City, Mo very early in his life. He grew up in the city, but his father

liked to have a little country close so in their large city yard they had a garden and turkeys. Orville

would help with the turkeys but did not enjoy that job very much.

When he was in high school, he worked summers in a corner store with an ice cream fountain as a

soda jerk. He then graduated to mowing lawns in a cemetery. His last job before he found his career

path was as a gas station attendant.

Orville went to work for Farmers Insurance Group and remained there for the rest of his career. He

started working with the Insurance filing department and he would always say he left a good high

paying job to become a file clerk. Orville advanced into management positions and was transferred

from Kansas City to Pocatello, Idaho.

Early in his career at Farmers, He and a friend decided since they were working together, they

should both join the Naval Reserve in landlocked Missouri. Orville was in the Naval Reserve for

several years and did spend training time at sea.

Orville and Gerri raised their family in Pocatello and took advantage of what the environment

offered. They purchased a 15’ camper trailer and the family of 5 would go camping and brave the

mosquitos. Orville learned to hunt both deer and pheasant. A boat led to a new passion for

watersports for the family.

He was transferred to Aurora, IL during the mid-1970s. In the early, 1980s, he was transferred to

Farmers Insurance home office in Los Angeles, CA. In California, he earned the Insurance

Underwriting CPCU certification. He studied at the same table with Liz while she was studying for

college. Orville, Jeff, and Liz celebrated in their graduation gowns together that year. Orville was

promoted to the position of VP of Data Processing in the Mid 1980s.

Orville was always willing to help by volunteering for organizations. He was a volunteer Cub Scout

Cubmaster and director of the Pocatello Racquet Club. He was a volunteer election worker for years.

Orville loved the holidays with family around. He specialized in making Dagwood sandwiches from

leftover Thanksgiving turkey with Colemans Hot Mustard prepared at home. He had an annual

tradition of making many containers of Chex party mix to give away. He also loved to shop for and

personally cook a prime rib for Christmas dinner.

Orville and Gerri enjoyed retirement starting in 1995 and liked to travel by both car and plane. They

would drive to Las Vegas, NV and Laughlin, NV to make the poker machines work hard. They also

enjoyed cruise ship vacations. They would cruise on the Caribbean Seas and European Rivers alike.

We will miss his never-ending sayings like “I used to complain I had no shoes until I saw a man with

no feet.” We will remember him fondly when we hear those familiar quotes over our lifetimes.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.gateskingsleygates.com for the Orr family.