Eighth Generation

12910. Ruby Fern Coffey was born on 28 February 1915 in Gentry Co., MO. Ruby died in Hood River, Hood River Co., OR on 27 November 1974 and was buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Hood River, Hood River Co., OR in November 1974 .³⁷²⁵⁷

Ruby Fern Coffey and Paul Edward Worthen were married in 1946 in Hood River, Hood River Co., OR. Paul Edward Worthen was born on 22 January 1920 in Murphysboro, Jackson Co., IL. Paul died in Hood River, Hood River Co., OR on 11 October 2006 and was buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Hood River, Hood River Co., OR in October 2006 .^37258,37259

Obituary, Hood River News, Oct. 18, 2006

Paul Edward Worthen, 86 and a longtime resident of Hood River, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Oct. 11, 2006.

A memorial gathering to celebrate Paul's life will be at noon on Saturday, Oct. 21, at Anderson's Tribute Center.

Paul was born Jan. 22, 1920, in Murphysboro, Ill., to Elmer and Edith Worthen. He moved to Central Oregon in 1929 with his parents and sisters, Mary and Rachel. They lived near Parkdale for nearly two years before moving to Shevlin, Ore., for employment.

Paul graduated from LaPine High School in 1938 with athletic honors in track and basketball. He served his country proudly in the United States Air Corps from 1940-45, with tours of duty at Guadalcanal, South Pacific and the Alameda Naval Station. He received a letter of commendation from the Secretary of the Navy during World War II.

He came home to Hood River and married Fern Coffey in 1946. They resided in El Monte, Calif., for a few years; Fern died in 1974.

Nancy Oliver and Paul married in 1975. He owned "Worthen Builders" and built many homes and businesses in the Mid-Columbia area. In 1983 Paul was honored by his peers as Homebuilder of the Year.

His greatest joy was working with Craftsmen for Christ and Habitat for Humanity. This work took him several places to build churches and schools in Oregon, Washington, Kenya, Africa, Samoa, Haiti, and Sitka, Alaska. He was one of the builders of the First Baptist Church on Belmont and a member of Tucker Road Baptist Church.

Paul loved his many faithful dogs. Over the years he has owned several breeds; his favorites being his German Shepherds: Buddy, Bruce and Hogan.

Paul is survived and will be dearly missed by: his wife, Nancy, at their home in Hood River; daughters Joyce Riley (and granddaughter Stephanie) and Donna Sheirbon and her husband, Tom; son, Steven and wife Jennifer (and great-grandson Tyler and great-granddaughter, Amanda); stepson, Lee Oliver; and sister, Rachel Shields. He was preceded in death by his sister, Mary House, and granddaughter, Sarah Sheirbon.

Paul wanted to finish the Tucker Road Baptist Church's fellowship hall project so the family suggests that memorials be made to the church specifically for their fellowship renovations project in care of Anderson's Tribute Center (Funerals, Receptions, Cremations), 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031; (541) 386-1000; www.andersonstributecenter.com .