Jerry Joe Olson

Jerry was born in Spokane, WA on April 17, 1934 to Carl and Lea Olson who were farmers just south of Davenport. He was born with his twin sister, Mary Jane. Jerry had an older sister and brother, Janet and Dale. Jerry worked on the farm until he graduated from Davenport High School and went on to study at Washington State College (now WSU) where he earned a B.S. in Police Science.

After college, he went on to serve in the US Army as a military police investigator and trainer. After his Army service, he moved to California and worked briefly as an insurance investigator before co-founding Turnbow Research Labs. In 1976, his love of farming and wanting to ensure his kids got a good education called him back to Davenport. And, right after moving there, he met his future wife, Carolyn. Carolyn and Jerry were married on February 17, 1983.

Jerry is survived by his wife Carolyn of Davenport, WA and his 5 children, son Don Olson and wife Nina of Davenport, WA; daughter Lisa (Olson) Riley and husband Robert of Houston, TX; son Mike Meyer, wife Stacy of Spokane, WA and their sons Ryan and Max; daughter Kea (Meyer) Nielsen of Spokane, WA and daughter Caren Olson of Federal Way, WA; nephew Brian Miller and wife Linda of Davenport and their daughter and son, Meghan and Brian; niece Jo Marie (Miller) Jellen of Tacoma, WA and her daughter Nicole and husband Marcus; nephew Larry Koeller of Pendleton, OR and niece Shirley (Koeller) Johnson of Baker City, OR.

In addition to farming and ranching, Jerry served as a Davenport city council member from 1987 through 1998 and served as pro-tem mayor for a period of time. He worked many years as a Lincoln County Reserve Sherriff’s Deputy and was an active member of the Vintage Harvest crew. Jerry was also a member of morning coffee brigade. He really loved being with his family, watching his grandkids grow, enjoyed hunting, fishing and model trains and was so proud of his community.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Thursday, July 7, 2016 at 2 PM at Strate Funeral Home in Davenport, WA. Memorials can be sent to Vintage Harvest c/o Lincoln Country Historical Society, P.O. Box 585, Davenport, WA 99122. Please sign the online guestbook at www.stratefuneralhome.com.