John Aaro John Auro By FRANCES CATTO Lilliwaup lost a beloved pioneer resident Sunday when John R, Aaro‘died in Mark E, Reed Hospital in McCleary. April 11 would have been his. 87th birthday For 85 of his years John had lived by the Lilliwaup River which he had known and loved since days when Indian friends came in their canoes. Of Norwegian parentage. John was the second of four children, a daughter and three sons, born to George and Randi Aaro. When John was two years old the family moved to Lilliwaup from New Westminster, BC. The mother died in 1895 at the birth of her fourth child, a son Ragnvald. The Aaros' first Lilliwaup home was on the north side of the e:- experience of parenthood Nowl river in the area known for many years as "the ranch " In 1916 George Aaro built a home and a combination store and post office at Lilliwaup and the mail that Postmaster Aaro sorted came in on a launch, The two-story home is now occupied by Bob Moffet and his wife Ellen, daughter of the late Clouse Aaro of Holly, Washington. When the Aaro family arrived in 1890 they found a town that had visions of becoming a big city, It was platted that year by the Lilliwaup Falls Townsite‘ Company. This was the short-lived boom encouraged by promoters and steamship lines Stories in eastern papers told of opportunities accompanying a proposed railroad‘ along Hood Canal to Port Townsend. John recalled that many buildings were constructed during this boom (hotels, saloons, a dmg . store, cabinet shop, department store and dock), later moved to other sites or left to decay. Friends of John Aaro have enjoyed his many stories, marked by gentle humor, of his life experiences, ranging from the days of trails to the days of automobiles and highways and from river footlogs to bridges. To tell ofJohn Aaro is also to tell of his brother Ragnvald since they were so closely associated and always spoken of as "The Aaro Boys." any other citizens. They fished and hunted together, prospected during a mining fever period, and went salmon fishing in Alaska before the days of power boats. John sailed in I907 in a square-rigger from Seattle to" Kodiak. Later the brothers were employed as logging and} construction powder men, They were considered among the best. In retirement years the brothers played Cribbage together. In 1949 John forsook his bachelor life to marry an attractive widow, Ernesta Ward. Adoption of her grandson, John, who shared their' home“ from‘ infancy until his marriage, gave the Lillivmup man the added Together they knew Lillivmup and its surrounding , woods and mountains better than , ,\ r young John and his wife Wanda have a son, Adam Even after injuries from two automobile accidents, John Aaro, using a cane, took his daily walks to the post office and had coffee and greeted friends at the motel lunch counter. His last home was a mobile unit to which John and Ernesta moved from their cottage It was across the road and still closer to his river. After a recent fall he was hospitalized and, unable to walk, moved to a convalescent center in Elmar Graveside services were held Tuesday afternoon at Shelton Memorial Park, with the Reverend Roland Huber of Faith Lutheran Church officiating. Surviving are his wife, Emesta, of the home; a son, John, and a grandson, Adam, of Chehalis; one brother, Ragnvald, Lillimup; three stepdaughters, Helen Bioomquist, Kathryn Germeau and Joyce McNaIly, all of Seattle; and ten nephews and nieces, including Ellen Moffet, Lilliwaupr r Oé/‘r/V %% 9;“ , OCR Text: John Aaro John Auro By FRANCES CATTO Lilliwaup lost a beloved pioneer resident Sunday when John R, Aaro‘died in Mark E, Reed Hospital in McCleary. April 11 would have been his. 87th birthday For 85 of his years John had lived by the Lilliwaup River which he had known and loved since days when Indian friends came in their canoes. Of Norwegian parentage. John was the second of four children, a daughter and three sons, born to George and Randi Aaro. When John was two years old the family moved to Lilliwaup from New Westminster, BC. The mother died in 1895 at the birth of her fourth child, a son Ragnvald. The Aaros' first Lilliwaup home was on the north side of the e:- experience of parenthood Nowl river in the area known for many years as "the ranch " In 1916 George Aaro built a home and a combination store and post office at Lilliwaup and the mail that Postmaster Aaro sorted came in on a launch, The two-story home is now occupied by Bob Moffet and his wife Ellen, daughter of the late Clouse Aaro of Holly, Washington. When the Aaro family arrived in 1890 they found a town that had visions of becoming a big city, It was platted that year by the Lilliwaup Falls Townsite‘ Company. This was the short-lived boom encouraged by promoters and steamship lines Stories in eastern papers told of opportunities accompanying a proposed railroad‘ along Hood Canal to Port Townsend. John recalled that many buildings were constructed during this boom (hotels, saloons, a dmg . store, cabinet shop, department store and dock), later moved to other sites or left to decay. Friends of John Aaro have enjoyed his many stories, marked by gentle humor, of his life experiences, ranging from the days of trails to the days of automobiles and highways and from river footlogs to bridges. To tell ofJohn Aaro is also to tell of his brother Ragnvald since they were so closely associated and always spoken of as "The Aaro Boys." any other citizens. They fished and hunted together, prospected during a mining fever period, and went salmon fishing in Alaska before the days of power boats. John sailed in I907 in a square-rigger from Seattle to" Kodiak. Later the brothers were employed as logging and} construction powder men, They were considered among the best. In retirement years the brothers played Cribbage together. In 1949 John forsook his bachelor life to marry an attractive widow, Ernesta Ward. Adoption of her grandson, John, who shared their' home“ from‘ infancy until his marriage, gave the Lillivmup man the added Together they knew Lillivmup and its surrounding , woods and mountains better than , ,\ r young John and his wife Wanda have a son, Adam Even after injuries from two automobile accidents, John Aaro, using a cane, took his daily walks to the post office and had coffee and greeted friends at the motel lunch counter. His last home was a mobile unit to which John and Ernesta moved from their cottage It was across the road and still closer to his river. After a recent fall he was hospitalized and, unable to walk, moved to a convalescent center in Elmar Graveside services were held Tuesday afternoon at Shelton Memorial Park, with the Reverend Roland Huber of Faith Lutheran Church officiating. Surviving are his wife, Emesta, of the home; a son, John, and a grandson, Adam, of Chehalis; one brother, Ragnvald, Lillimup; three stepdaughters, Helen Bioomquist, Kathryn Germeau and Joyce McNaIly, all of Seattle; and ten nephews and nieces, including Ellen Moffet, Lilliwaupr r Oé/‘r/V %% 9;“ , Mason County Genealogical Society,Obituaries,Obituaries for Shelton Cemetery,A Last Name,Aaro, John R..tif,Aaro, John R..tif, Aaro, John R..tif