The Wahkiakum County Eagle-March 5, 2009 Leon J. Almer Leon James Almer, known to all as "Red" passed away February 25, 2009, at Columbia View Care Center in Cathlamet, WA. He was born February 8, 1929 in Jamestown, North Dakota to Henry and Elizabeth (Klundt) Almer. The family lived in Montana for several years before moving to Vancouver, WA in 1938, where at the age of 16, Red worked for Dodge Pumps and Plumbing. Red moved to Skamokawa in 1949 and worked several different jobs including logging for Durrahs. He worked for Heagy and Sons in Woodland and moved with Heagy and Sons Logging to work at Crown Zellerbach in 1947-48. He was a Wahkiakum County Deputy Sheriff in 1956-57. He was a member of the Skamokawa Volunteer Fire Department in the early 1950s for eight years. In 1968, he started his own business, Red's Plumbing, becoming well known throughout the county. Red served as Wahkiakum County Commissioner for two different terms, first elected in 1968 and again in 1990. He also served as a Skamokawa Sewer District Commissioner and sat in on many fair board meetings. In 2002, the Wahkiakum County Fair was dedicated to him "for all he had given the county, through his leadership, dedication and willingness to help others and most of all for being everyone's friend." In 1981, he and his sister Betty bought the Oasis Tavern in Skamokawa. Red married Zenna Melick in 1950 and they later divorced. In 1969 he married Carolyn Anderson and she preceded him in death in 1978. Several years later, he married Jerry Miller and they later divorced. He spent many a year doing what he loved most--hunting and fishing. For many years he taught hunting safety classes to budding hunters in the county. He was quite the entertainer, showing off his talent in many places throughout the county, playing with many bands and performing in many Skamokawa Revue programs. Red was a devoted and loving father and brother and is survived by sons and daughter-in-law Jim and Darlene Almer and grandson Tom of Longview; daughter and son-in-law Rita and Edd Kirwan and grandson Ryan of Longview; daughter and son-in-law Julie and Syd Hampson and grandsons Tyler and Zachary of Chehalis; sisters Betty Koziel of Skamokawa and Sylvia Cuda of Vancouver; brothers Arnie Almer and Stanley Hartung of Vancouver, Harold Almer of Woodland, Allan Almer of Riverside, Calif., and Roger Almer of Longview; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, his stepfather Henry Hartung, sister Agnes and brothers Calvin (Kelly) and Gordon Almer. Services were held March 2 at Skamokawa Methodist Church. Memorial donations can be made to a charity of choice. Dowling Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Unknown Burial 8 February 1929-25 February 2009 (As compiled by the Wahkiakum County Historical Society in 2009.)