Norman O. Ayars

Norman O. Ayars, 82 of Pendleton and formerly of La Grande, died Dec. 9 at St. Anthony Hospital.

A memorial service will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at the First Church of God in Pendleton. Burial will be at 1 p.m. at Hillcrest Cemetery in La Grande.

Mr. Ayars was born Nov. 19, 1923 to William Oscar and Maude Banton Ayars in La Grande. He attended school in La Grande and graduated from high school in Ukiah. He attended the Polytechnic College of Engineering in Oakland, Calif. and served in the Army Air Forces during World War II.

He worked in the lumber and logging industry in Eastern Oregon and Idaho and on Aug. 17, 1949, married Marjorie Carter in Lewiston. In 1969 the family moved to Lewiston where he joined the police department. He was appointed chief in 1976 and retired in 1979.

Mr. Ayars was a member and charter president of the Lewiston Police Association and served in the Lewiston Police Retirement fund board and in both local and state police officers associations. Hew ass a member of the Idaho Peace Officers Association, the National Sheriffs Association, the Elks and Masonic Lodge 10. He was a 32nd degree mason with the Scottish Rite and was a noble of the Calam Temple of the Shrine.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing and reading historical novels, and was partial to humor.

Survivors include stepchildren, Vicki Lee Carter of Salt Lake City and Wayne "Pat": Jones of San Jose, Calif.; a brother, Wesley Ayars of Pendleton; and two sisters, Alladeen Weatherspoon of Lacey, Wash., and Doris Foster of Bellingham; several grandchildren an great-grandchildren. His wife and a step-son, Richard, died earlier.

Memorials may be made to the VFW Let'er Buck Post 922, P.O. Box 787, Pendleton 97801.