Elmer James Price's Obituary
Elmer J. Price Elmer passed away peacefully surrounded by family on March 9, 2009. He lived 95 years full of adventure, iris growing, mountain climbing, and fatherly guidance. He was born in 1913 in Tacoma, and lived nearly all of his life there. We believe Elmer to have departed on the ultimate backpacking ascent to the high meadows. He was a man most accustomed to wearing boots, either for hiking or work, and those boots, with legs attached, took him ever higher. He was a member of the Tacoma Mountaineers and led many hikes through the Cascades and Olympics. He served one year as the organization's vice president. As he slowed down just a little in his 80s, he led shorter hikes through Point Defiance Park. He served MetroParks Tacoma by maintaining trails through Point Defiance. He continued to be active into his 90s by doing his ten minutes on the treadmill at the Wellness Center at Franke Tobey Jones. Even when working he often went higher than most, climbing up the old ASARCO Smelter smokestack. He worked for ASARCO in instrumentation and environmental controls for many years until retiring in 1978. In retirement, he continued hiking, documenting the beauty of the mountains with his camera, and growing iris in his garden and in the gardens at Point Defiance. He was a lifelong member of the Pierce County Iris Society and a Master Gardener. He was also a member of the Boy Scouts, serving as a district commissioner. Growing up in Tacoma, he was one of the region's first Sea Scouts. He was fond of rowing around Puget Sound and lashing his boat to the barges going here and there. Elmer worked for the CCC during the Great Depression and during World War II, was a recipient of the Bronze Star and a member of MacArthur's rear echelon. While in occupied Japan, he was discharged from the U.S. Army and worked for the Civil Service. There he met his wife Teruko, and thus began a 62-year romance. They were married in 1947. He WAs preceded by his father Joseph Price, mother Dorthea, and brother Erwin. He is survived by his wife Teruko, daughter Mary Hudson, her husband James, son Joseph Price and his wife Denise. He has nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. A celebration of Elmer's life will take place in the Mountain View Garden Chapel, Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Elmer's memory to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation.
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