William (Bill) Raymond Sharrar died peacefulloy in his Mount Angel home Aug. 7, 2018. He was born in Portland, Oregon on Aug. 1, 1923, the son of Glenn and Lucy Sharrrar. He had two sisters, Charlotte and Kathryn, and a brother Glenn, all deceased. His family endured much hardship through the Depression years, and the early deaths of both of his sisters at age five and 21.
He joined the Civilian Conservation Corps at age 16, working in rural Eastern Oregon repairing and building fences, sending his earnings home to help support his family. At age 17, he enlisted in the peacetime U.S. Navy. He served for a year and a day before World War II began. He was stationed at Pearl Harbor on the U.S.S. Bagley when the Japanese attacked on the morning of Dec. 7, 1941. He served almost five years fighting in the South Pacific, including Savo Island. He was awarded the Purple Heart for his wounds while serving to defend his country.
After the war, he met his bride-to-be, Patricia Rose Drapeau, whom he married on May 7, 1949 at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Portland. They moved to rural property outside of Mount Angel, with the intention of farming and an ideal of raising their family surrounded by the “air, space and light” of the agricultural countryside.
In 1955, they moved into town on
an acre of land and raised their six daughters and one son on the property.
Bill was a devoted husband and father, and a beloved friend of many in the community.
He served the St. Mary’s Parish in many capacities: ushering, bringing communion to the sick and home-bound, and sitting with the dying at the Benedictine nursing home. He spent countless hours at Mount Angel Abbey, walking up the hill before dawn almost every day for morning prayer.
He loved woodworking and restoration, cabinet making, gardening, bee-keeping, growing dahlias and all aspects of maintaining his home and caring for his acre. He also loved classical music and opera.
Bill was a member of the American Legion, marching in numerous Mount Angel Memorial and Independence Day parades, and speaking to many groups about his war experience as a Pearl Harbor survivor. He was especially proud of the service of his son Michael in the U.S. Marine Corps, as well as the service of his great-granddaughter Erika Meyers in the U.S. Navy. He always welcomed visitors into his home with the greeting “Welcome to the U.S.S. Neversail!”…
He is survived by Patricia, his wife of 69 years; his daughters Mary Elizabeth; Theresa Marie and husband Roger Smedstad; Dorothy Mercedes; Margaret Mary and husband Mike Plumb; Rose Virginia; Kathryn Marie and husband Mike Honan; and son, Michael John and wife Tiffany; as well as 18 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren.
Bill was 95 years old. A favorite prayer was read by his family at his bedside: “O Lord, support us all the day long, until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes, and busy world lies hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in thy mercy, grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last.”
A funeral was held Aug 10. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Mount Angel.
