Richard Wayne Anderson

Richard Wayne Anderson was born on September 22, 1933 in Genoa, Nebraska to Ralph and Helen (Munson) Anderson and passed away with family at his side in Portland, Oregon on February 25, 2020, age 86. He and May Elizabeth Haywood were married in Salem, Oregon on February 15, 1958. They lived in Milwaukie, Oregon for many years after having lived on the Oregon coast – Tillamook (where all three of their children were born) and Seaside. Richard and May enjoyed 50 years of marriage before her passing in 2008.

When younger, Richard honed his skills at woodworking (his strong attention to detail probably came from this), and he also cultivated an enthusiasm for music, learning to play the organ and accordion by ear. His family remembers being awakened by Richard playing the accordion and singing, especially the old country songs. The hours he put into woodworking created handmade items such as cribs, coffee tables, hand-painted Lazy Susans, napkin holders, shelves, lathe-spun candlesticks, and many other beautiful – and useful – items.

He worked for the Oregon Dept. of Transportation for 42+ years. He had many interesting stories from his work experience, which included everything from paving roads and plowing snow to cleaning storm drains in drenching rain. He once barely escaped a mudslide that washed his backhoe down into the Wilson River, where it wasn’t seen again for decades! He retired from ODOT as a Section Supervisor.

Richard and May did everything together, including tole painting (eventually devoting an entire room into their craft room), square dancing (in outfits handmade by May), and round dancing, making many friends along the way, including in the B&Bs and Castle 8ers Clubs.

Richard converted to Catholicism, having taken classes at Christ the King after May’s encouragement. She had always wanted to renew their vows on their 50th anniversary. She had been diagnosed with ALS about seven months prior and Richard had been taking care of her at home. They renewed their vows at church – May in her wheelchair and Richard standing by her side holding her hand. She passed away five days later.

Richard will be remembered as a family man, a friend to many, and always willing to lend a hand.

He is survived by three children – son Steven Anderson and his wife Roberta; daughters Kathy Anderson and her longtime boyfriend Dale and Kim Klapel and her husband Gary; half-brother Myron Anderson; grandson Jonathan Klapel and his wife Kate, and granddaughter Nicole Klapel.