Owen Nicholson

He enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17 and became a Sonarman on Destroyer Escort USS Reynolds DE-42 operating in the South Pacific. His ship was involved in 8 battles, sank 2 Japanese submarines, and was in Tokyo Bay when the Japanese surrendered to end WWII. Owen kept a diary hidden in the back of his foot locker, which was the basis of a book he published later in life “Tour of Sea Duy April 8, 1943 – February 15, 1946.

After the war, Owen attended University of Colorado, majoring in Business and graduating in 3 years while playing football and wrestling. It was there that he met his beloved wife Constance Ann Doremus, to whom he was married for 66 years before Ann’s passing in 2016.

His career took him to Utah (Mine & Smelter Co), California, Arizona, and Oregon (Anaconda Wire & Cable Co), and Texas (Condumex Wire & Cable Co) where he opened the first US office of this Mexican company.

Owen was always involved in the community including homeowner associations, High School Dad’s Club, PTA, and many professional organizations. After retiring in Manzanita, Oregon, Owen became a life member of Manzanita Links, co-founded with Ann the Nehalem Bay Historical Society, chaired the City of Manzanita Planning Commission, and served on the boards of Nehalem Bay Wastewater Agency, Rinehart Clinic, and the Mudd-Nick Foundation. He was named (along with Ann) the Manzanita Person of the Year in 2004 and the Mudd-Nick Foundation Person of the Year in 2013.

Above all, Owen was devoted to his family. He coached his 3 sons in Pee Wee, Little League, and Babe Ruth baseball. He was an OSU football season ticket holder for 50 years to spend time with Ann and the boys. Family events and vacations were always his priority.

Owen is survived by his 3 sons, Doug (Michele), Jim (Lynda), and Bill (Kathy); grandsons, Eric (Sara), and Spencer (April); and great-grandchildren, Stephen, Jeffrey, Gavin, and Adalyn.

Our family would like to thank the many good friends who supported Owen throughout his nearly 101 years and the loving caregivers who helped him live at home the past 7 years.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday November 9 at 2 p.m. at the North County Recreation District Performing Arts Center in Nehalem, OR.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mudd-Nick Foundation at muddnickfoundation.com or P.O. Box 250, Manzanita, OR 97130.