L. R. Fifer

I'm going to start with this obituary. This is written about my great grandfather; my mother's grandfather to be exact.

This is from the American Lumberman magazine of May 15, 1926

L. R. Fifer, President of the L. R. Fifer Lumber Co. of Seattle , Washington, died suddenly early Sunday morning., May 9th, at his home in that city. He was 60 years old. Mr. Fifer’s death came with tragic suddenness. He had attended the luncheon of the Seattle Hoo - Hoo Club three days before his death and led the singing and took his usual active part. Friday, he left for Longview, Washington and Portland, Oregon and Saturday returned home, apparently feeling as well as usual. On Sunday morning he arose early, going about the home as usual, but before breakfast he returned to his room to lie down. At breakfast time it was found that he had passed away. Thus fate removed one of the most energetic and also one of the most loveable characters among the lumberman of the Pacific Northwest. “Lou” Fifer, as he was widely known among lumbermen and other friends, was born in Montrose, Iowa. While still a youth, he entered the lumber business in the South, becoming a member of the sales organization of the Long - Bell Lumber Co. With Kansas City as a center he traveled every part of the Southern Pine territory, especially in Kansas, where his genial ways and engaging personality won him hundreds of intimates among lumbermen, laying the foundation of friendships which in scores of instances have persisted to the day of his death. He was on the road for the Long – Bell Lumber Co. about 14 years. Almost 20 years ago he journeyed to Seattle to open offices for that company. On severing his connection with the firm he opened offices as a wholesaler and shortly after the world war he was made manager of the Charles W. Johnson Lumber Co. Most of the time during the last ten years he had been President and Manager of the L. R. Fifer Lumber Co., which he organized about 1914. The company is one of the best known wholesale organizations of Seattle. Personally, Lou Fifer was the embodiment of the spirit of fraternity among lumbermen. Twice he was Viceregent Snark of the Seattle District Hoo – Hoo, a position left vacant by his death, and once he was a member of the Supreme Nine of that organization. It is said of him that never in his life did he meet man, woman or child, whose heart did not warm to him because of his genial good will and the wholesomeness of his character. To his family, to the invalid daughter, who for years had held his tenderest thought, he was gentleness itself. A lifelong associate refers to him as one made oblivious of self through the outpourings of a great soul and warm heart. In every line of human endeavor there is always some one who radiate friendliness, making men realize in spite of themselves that they are brothers, and in the lumber activities of the Pacific Northwest, that man was Lou Fifer. Truly he was well beloved and at his death there comes a hush indicative of sincere grief. Mr. Fifer leaves a widow, Mrs. Hattie L. Fifer, and five children; Mrs. C. W. Spence, Miss Eva Fifer and Raymond R. Fifer of Seattle; Charles R. Fifer, Whittier, California, and Walter R. Fifer of Marion, Ohio. Walter R. is in the lumber business at Marion and Raymond is connected with the L. R. Fifer Lumber Co. The son-in-law, Carl W. Spence, is head of the West Coast Lumber & Trading Co., an export concern. Funeral services were held on Thursday afternoon, May 13, under Masonic auspices, at the Scottish Rite Temple in Seattle.

Note that the Raymond mentioned above (Bold) is my grandfather. My mother was 10 years old when her grandfather died so unexpectedly. I have some more of these obituaries and I hope to scan in some photos as well.