Wallace “Wally” Elmer Sawtell has died. He was born Jan. 23, 1923 in the Sawtell family home in Molalla to Elmer Levi and Martha Alice Watts Sawtell. He attended Molalla Grade School and Molalla High School then went on to Oregon State College and Purdue University.

He served two years in the U.S. Navy and two years in the Merchant Marines during World War II. After returning from the service, he met Lorene Lou Solomon in Gladstone and they were married on Sept. 7, 1945.

He graduated from Oregon State in 1946 with a degree in agricultural education. He then taught vocational agriculture at Banks High School for a year before returning to his true passion of farming in Molalla, where he became a very successful third-generation turkey grower. He also raised registered Berkshire hogs during the late 40s and early 50s and registered Angus cattle and Hampshire sheep.

As a third-generation turkey grower, he won several awards. He was the president of the Oregon Turkey Growers and Oregon Turkey Improvement Association and Clackamas County Livestockman of the Year. He served many years on the Molalla school and fire boards. He was recognized for his voice and was the announcer for the Molalla Street Parade for many years. He also participated in the Molalla Buckeroo and won many cowboy horse races.

For fun and relaxation, he would head for the hills of Oregon on hunting trips or grab his fishing pole and go deep sea fishing on the Oregon Coast with family.

Survivors include his children, Tom Sawtell (Marian), Maryellen Means (David) and Beverly Feddersen (Doug); six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Lorene Lou Sawtell.

A celebration of his life will be held Thursday, June 2 at 2 p.m. at Molalla Church of the Nazarene. Memorial contributions may be made to Adams Cemetery or Providence Willamette Falls Hospice.

 Published: 5/24/2011 2:45:57 PM in the on-line Molalla Pioneer, Molalla, Oregon