Wahkiakum Eagle-January 2001

BIGHILL, Ronald Walter 'Skeeter'
	
  Age 68, lifelong Naselle resident, died in Astoria.  He was one of 
two sons born to Walter and Hulda (Penttila) Bighill, and was born in 
South Bend.
  He attended Naselle Elementary and graduated from Naselle High School 
in 1951.
  For over 40 years Skeeter worked in logging, log trucking and log 
yard operations.  He began by working in a saw shop, later operated a 
logging supply store.  For over 25 years he worked for Crown 
Zellerbach, running shovel loaders in the woods and in the Cathlamet 
sorting yard, and also drove log and dump trucks.  He did some logging 
on his own and drove for J & W Trucking and several other operators 
before retiring in 1994.
  Skeeter was confirmed in the Lutheran church as a youth.  He enjoyed 
building and collecting model tractors and cars, woodworking, reading 
and was a horseman.  Spending time with his family and logging friends 
were also enjoyed.  His family will remember him as a loving, proud and 
gracious husband, father and grandfather, plain spoken and positive, 
who took great pride in his family.
  He and Ethel 'Jean' Clay were married June 14, 1952, in Naselle.  She 
survives.
  Also surviving are a son, Danny, of Tacoma, son and daughter-in-law, 
David and Debbie Bighill of Naselle; daughters and sons-in-law, Cathy 
and Tom Phillips of Placerville,  Ginger and Brian Cameron of Fort 
Collins, Colo., and Tracy and Corrie Shirek of Tacoma; 11 grand-
children; one great-granddaughter; and brother, William Bighill of 
Naselle.
  A memorial service was held Monday at Penttila's Chapel by the Sea, 
Long Beach.


Burial place unknown
06 Nov 1932-18 Jan 2001
(As transcribed by the Wahkiakum County Historical Society Museum)