Harold Keith Mendenhall

Harold Keith Mendenhall died today at the age of 81 after a valiant fight against heart and lung problems. He went from the arms of his family to the arms of Jesus.

Harold was born October 7, 1928 in Grants Pass, Oregon to Edwin Rhodes Mendenhall and Clara Poujade Mendenhall. He was the youngest or five children and outlived all of his brothers and sisters. He grew up in Grants Pass and graduated from Grants Pass High School. In 1949 he met Jackie Gormley and after a short courtship they were married July 18, 1949. He chose well. They were married for 60 years and were inseparable for all of them.

Harold and Jackie went right to work and had three daughters, Judy, Sue and Carolyn. The girls were raised in Eureka, California in a number of houses that Harold bought, fixed up and sold. It was a life of hard work mixed with camping, games and life long friends. You would expect that the close family life would change when Judy married and moved to Pennsylvania and Sue married and moved to Oregon but the family remained close regardless of the distance.

Harold and Jackie's daughters each had two children. The grandchildren Christopher, Rachel, Crystal, Michelle, Steven and Eric were the joy of their lives. They poured their lives into their grandchildren like they poured their lives into their children. And then came six great-grandchildren. Harold loved the greats and they loved him back. Two great-grand-daughters were born in the last year and Harold was able to meet them both for the first time this last week.

Harold worked in the mills for many years but in the middle of his working life he became a longshoreman working in the docks in Eureka and the southern Oregon coast. When work got slow in Eureka he and Jackie moved to Vancouver, Washington where he worked until he retired. Upon retirement Harold and Jackie moved to Monmouth to be closer to Sue and to watch their youngest grandsons, Steven and Eric grow up. He and Jackie were regulars at every sporting event from tee-ball to high school playoff games.

The bible says "by their fruit you will know them". Harold's life leaves behind much fruit: a family that loves like he loved them, many lifelong friends and memories that will last forever. Papa, you are not with us in the body any more but you will always be with us in our spirit and in our memories.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 27 at Corvallis Evangelical Church. A second memorial service will be held in Eureka, California. The time and place for the Eureka service are to be determined. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Lung Association.