William "Bill" Walter Frazier

William Walter Frazier, 63, formerly of Union County, died peacefully surrounded by his family Aug. 16, shortly after being diagnosed with metastasized small cell lung cancer.

A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church in Wilsonville.

William was born Sept. 4, 1946, to Frank and Lorraine Frazier.

He married Manya Brown in 1966. They graduated from Eastern Oregon University.

Those who knew Bill say he was a gifted communicator. He became a high school language arts teacher in Lebanon, where the Fraziers raised their children, Natalee and Eric. Bill finished his master's of curriculum and instruction from the University of Oregon while teaching in Lebanon.

Bill was invited to join Willamette Industries as the human resources manager. After 12 years at Willamette Industries, Bill moved with his wife to Los Angeles, where he worked for the Los Angeles MTA and joined his brother, Richard, in Richard's church ministry.

In 2001, Bill and Manya moved back to Oregon to be near their grandchildren and settled in Canby.

He was an active member and past president of the Eastern Oregon University Alumni Association.

Bill discovered his joy of barbershop singing while teaching school in Lebanon, and continued as a singer, choreographer and International Stage Presence judge through the rest of his life.

Bill was a man of strong faith. He was active in St. Francis Episcopal Church and the Episcopal Diocese of Oregon. After his retirement, Bill wrote two novels and a screenplay, all concerned with issues of faith.

He is survived by brothers, Loren and Richard; his wife, Manya; children, Eric and his wife, Jayme Frazier, in Lebanon, and Natalee and her husband, Mike Evans, in Canby; and eight grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to OSHU for small cell lung cancer research or Eastern Oregon University.

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