Stuart Ashmusen
Stuart Gould Ashmusen, 94, died April 9, 2009, in Longview, from complications of congestive heart failure.
Born on July 15, 1914, to Frederick Ashmusen and Lelia Snyder in Fremont, Neb., Stuart was raised and attended school in Omaha, Neb. He was an avid motorcyclist and held a variety of jobs before moving to Portland, in 1938 with his first wife, Ramona Brittain, where he became an air mail pilot and shipyard worker. Divorced, he married Donna Hassler in 1941 and after a divorce in 1943; Stuart joined the U.S. Merchant Marine, serving in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters during World War II.
He left the sea in 1947 and moved to El Cajon, Calif., to take care of his widowed mother. Stuart worked for Pacific Telephone and Telegraph, first as a mechanic and later as a fleet manager, until his retirement in 1973.
He then moved with his mother to Payson, Ariz., where he was a founding member of the Tonto Rim Sports Club and a top senior marksman. He also enjoyed camping, rock collecting and jewelry making, and caring for his dogs. He held memberships with the American Legion, the National Rifle Association and the American Telephone Pioneers.
With his health in decline, Stuart moved to Goldendale in 2003 to live with his son. Beginning in 2009, he resided at Canterbury Gardens, a dementia care facility in Longview.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his second wife, Donna Holmes, and his son, Ronald Holmes.
Survivors include his former wife and close friend Ramona Plummer, of Covina, Calif.; five grandchildren, David Hassler, of Goldendale; Dyanna Setondji, of Vancouver; Reanee Thompson, of Keno, Ore.; Reginald Holmes, of Hillsboro, Ore.; Ronda Vivlemore, of Aloha, Ore., and six great-grandchildren.
No services will be held, at Stuart's request. Arrangements are through Dahl-McVicker Funeral Home of Kelso, and Cypress View Mausoleum of San Diego, Calif., where, next to his parents, final interment will take place.
