BOMBER MEMORIAL

FRED LEE SEGREST ~ Class of 1957
January 30, 1939 - December 26, 2011

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Fred Segrest, 72, passed away the afternoon of December 26, 2011, in Salem, OR. Fred was born January 30, 1939, in Idaho Springs, CO, the son of Emmett Lee Segrest and Rose Catherine Thomas Segrest.

Fred's father was a gold miner in Colorado and after working in heavy construction during the Second World War, the family moved to Richland where Fred attended school, graduating from Columbia High in Richland (home of the Bombers) in 1957.

After high school, Fred attended Washington State University, graduating in the class of '61 with a degree in Public Administration. He met Ann Bailey at WSU, and they were married on August 27, 1960 in Ferndale, WA. During the spring of Fred's junior year at WSU, he was elected Vice-President of the Associated Students of WSU and served in that position during his senior year.

Fred and Ann moved to Los Angeles in 1961 where both daughters were born and where Fred worked for Los Angeles County. Three and a half years later, in January of 1964, they moved to Salem, OR. Fred was hired as a budget analyst for the State of Oregon and served in that position and many other roles in state government during his 30+ year career.

As a budget analyst, his budget assignments included departments of Transportation, Welfare, Education, Higher Education, Corrections, Children's Services, and Veterans Affairs. He also worked directly for several state agencies, including Workers' Compensation Department, the Department of Consumer and Business Services, and in several positions for the Department of Human Resources (now DHS).

After his official retirement, Fred continued his public service, and worked part-time in various state agencies and as a legislative aide for his son-in-law State Representative John Watt of Medford, OR. He later joined John and Cathy Watt as the office manager and research specialist for the Salem office of their lobbying partnership and worked there until the office closed last summer.

During their 51-plus years of marriage, Fred and Ann visited all 50 states, by land, air and sea. Fred loved to read mysteries and military histories and truly enjoyed his Kindle e-reader. He gladly described its virtues to anyone who inquired about it.

Fred is survived by his wife, Ann Marion Bailey Segrest; his daughters and son-in-law, Laura Segrest of Salem and Cathy and John Watt of Medford; his sister Shirley Segrest Telford ('52) from Kirkland, WA; and his nephews Dan and Max Wurz. He also leaves behind the lunch bunch and his friends at first Friday.

A Celebration of Fred's life will be held on Monday, January 16, 2012, from 3 to 5pm at the Spinning Room at Willamette Heritage Center at Mission Mill, 1313 Mill Street SE, Salem, OR.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in memory of Fred to Salem Public Library's "Library2Go" program (e-books and other media) or to the Oregon State Capitol Foundation, 900 Court Street NE, Salem OR 97301.

Arrangements under the direction of Howell-Edwards-Doerksen with Rigdon-Ransom Funeral Directors, Salem, OR.

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