The Argus Observer (Ontario, Malheur County, Oregon)
Thursday, September 5, 2002
Alvin Walter Guerrant
Dec. 8, 1920 - Aug. 30, 2002
Alvin Walter Guerrant, 81, Ontario, died Friday, Aug. 30, 2002, at Presbyterian Community Care Center, Ontario. Services will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2002, at Treasure Valley Baptist Church, 386 North Verde Dr., Ontario with Rev. Dale Cardwell officiating.
Interment will follow in Riverside Cemetery, Payette. Friends are welcome to bring potluck and join the family in the Wheat building at Treasure Valley Baptist Church following the services. Friends may call from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 6, 2002, at Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, Payette. Services and arrangements under the direction of Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, Payette.
Alvin was born Dec. 8, 1920, to Philip Floyd and Grace Belle (Bolin) Guerrant in Pendleton. He grew up in the Pendleton area and enlisted Aug. 25, 1942, in the Navy during World War II where he was a Gunner's Mate 3rd Class and served as armed guard aboard merchant ships. He served on the S.S. Carl Mares, S.S. Carl Schurz, S.S. Victoria, S.S. San Bruno and S.S. Otis Skinner. While he was aboard the S.S. Carl Shurz, a Japanese kamikaze suicide plane, near Linguayan Gulf in the Philippine Islands hit the ship. He was discharged Dec. 22, 1945, in Bremerton, Wash.
He attended Eastern Oregon School of Education (now Eastern Oregon University), La Grande. for a short time. It was here that he met Eunice Geraldine McBride, whom he married Dec. 17, 1948, in Kennewick, Wash. They resided in Richland, Wash., where Alvin was a fireman in the Richland Fire Department for 15 years.
While living in Richland, Wash., six children were born, Robert Lee, Ray Wesley, Marcella Lynn, Samuel Philip, Alan Walter and Nelda Jo. After moving to the Oregon Slope area, a daughter, Marguerite Grace, was born in Weiser. He worked at various jobs, including Ore-Ida, filling vending machines in local area businesses and his last job was Gold Seal Dust Mop delivery service for the Ontario Laundry.
He was active in several community organizations including Civitan president and candy box chairman, 4-H leader, Treasure Valley Association for Handicapped and Retarded Citizens president, Malheur Country Historical Society president, Veterans of Foreign War Post 5452 commander 1991 to 1992, a volunteer at Four Rivers Cultural Center, a volunteer driver for the Department of Human Resources and a member of Treasure Valley Baptist Church.
He and his wife also worked in Sunday schools under the auspices of the American Missionary Fellowship. One Sunday school was held in the schoolhouse in the Little Willow area east of Payette, and one in the Ontario Heights Grange Hall north of Ontario.
Alvin is survived by his wife, Eunice, Ontario; sons, Robert "Bob" Guerrant and wife, Meg, The Dalles, Samuel "Sam" Guerrant and wife, Rhonda, Weiser; daughter, Marcella "Marcy" Mather and husband, Franklin, Weiser; two sisters, Evelyn Thomas, Milton Freewater, Ore., and Alta Mae Bain, Great Falls, Mont.; nine grandchildren, Jodi Marie Witter and husband, Dean, Portland, Karalee "Kari" Ruamussen and husband, Andy, Salem,
Robert "Robi" Walter Guerrant, The Dalles, Lori Anna Guerrant, The Dalles, Misty Rose Guerrant, Weiser, Brandon Thomas Guerrant, Boise, Courtney Diane Walsh and husband Jimmie, Weiser, Todd John Mather, Corvallis, Tiffany Lynn Mather, Helena, Mont.; two great-granddaughters, Alexis Marie Walsh, Weiser, and Lindsi Reann Witter, Portland; one brother-in-law, Milford Skolrud, Walla Walla, Wash.; three nieces; one nephew; and other relatives.
Alvin was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Hazel Skolrud; and four children, Ray Wesley, Alan Walter, Nelda Jo and Marguerite Grace.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Shiloh Bible Conference or the Japanese Garden at the Four Rivers Cultural Center, c/o Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, P.O. Box 730, Payette, ID 83661.
