The Oregon Association of Nurseries is saddened to report the passing of Wayne Russell, father of Russell’s Nursery founder Loy Russell.

Wayne passed away January 16 at home in Aurora, Oregon, at age 89. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. this Friday, January 24, at Simon-Cornwell Colonial Chapel, 390 N. Second St., Woodburn, Oregon. A reception will follow at noon at the Canby Rod and Gun Club, 25011 Molalla Forest Road, Canby, Oregon.

Wayne was born May 29, 1930 to Ward and Nellie Russell in Salem, Oregon. The family moved to Aurora when Ward founded the family farm in 1937. Wayne served in the Korean War. He married Winona Arms in 1954 and took over the family farm in 1955. Wayne and Winona raised three children on the farm. When his son, Loy, founded Russell’s Nursery in 1981 on land he purchased from his grandparents, Wayne helped him build greenhouses for the new business and later rented him land for it.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, clam digging and sharing his love of the outdoors with his entire family.

Wayne is survived by daughter and son-in-law Diane and Paul Staehely, son and daughter-in-law Loy and Kim Russell, and son and daughter-in-law Ken and Patti Russell, as well as eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be made to CEFI for the Canby High School youth trap club via Canby Rod and Gun Club.