Alfred Franklin Finnell

Alfred Finnell — Alfred Franklin Finnell

Alfred Franklin Finnell, 101, of Sweet Home passed away Saturday. He was born in Nashville, Arkansas to James Desmore and Ella (Short) Finnell on Aug. 21, 1911.

As the child of a saw filer, Alfred traveled with his family across the U.S., also spending time in Nicaragua and Mexico. The family settled in the Portland area where he attended and graduated from Beaverton High School. Believing in higher education, he attended Oregon Normal School and Oregon State University. Teaching high school for two years in Dundee, Ore. and a school principal/basketball coach in Vida, Wash. convinced Alfred that he had no interest in the politics involved with public education nor the low paying salary. He went back into the field that flowed through his veins, becoming a master saw filer in the Pacific Northwest.

Alfred met and married Floretta Ruth Mundale in Vader, Wash. They were married for 65 years at the time of her passing. They have three children, 10 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and 22 great-great-grandchildren. Alfred and Floretta were loved by countless family and friends.

Alfred filed saws in Ketchikan, Alaska, Lebanon, Ore., Entiat, Ardenvoir and Oroville, Wash. Retiring at age 75, he lived an additional 38 years of leisure while enjoying family, friends, gardening, traveling and napping. At age 91, Alfred moved to Craig, Alaska with his granddaughter and family. All of the teenagers knew him simply as “Alfred.” At age 95, Alfred moved back to Sweet Home, Oregon to live with his son and extended family. He had lost the sight in one eye, his hearing was limited at best, but he was healthy as a horse and retained all of his facilities until the very end. Alfred died peacefully in his sleep Aug. 3, 2013, 18 days short of his 102nd birthday.

Viewing will be noon – 2 p.m on Saturday, Aug 10 at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel. Funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel. Burial will be at noon Monday, Aug. 12 at Riverview Cemetery in Oroville, Wash. Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements. www.sweethomefuneral.com.