Laurie Gerald Houck

1928 - 2008 Laurie was born on August 13, 1928, in Tucson, Arizona. He was the second child born to Gerald and Laura Lee Houck. Laurie attended Tucson schools. At the age of 16, he started working at fire lookout stations in Idaho for seven summers. After graduating from Tucson High, he served in the U.S. Army at the end of World War II. Then he graduated from the University of Arizona with a Master's degree. At Oregon State he earned a PhD in plant pathology. Upon graduation, he worked for the United States Department of Agriculture for 40 years as a plant pathologist, specializing in post-harvest preservation of citrus. Laurie married Marlene Moore in 1957, while at Oregon State. She passed away in 1970, leaving behind two young daughters. Laurie loved hiking in the Sierras, and birding with the Fresno Audubon Society Wednesday Walkers. He was also a member of the San Joaquin River Parkway Trust, and the Sierra Foothill Conservancy, where he led hikes and volunteered to work on the property. He was also a member of the San Joaquin River Trail Council, where he and Max Yonkin mapped out six miles of a portion of a trail on United States Forest Service land leading toward the Ansel Adams Wilderness. Future generations of hikers will use this trail. He was in the process of writing a book about good places to hike locally. He was an active member of the Unitarian-Universalist Church. He was a gentle and caring man, deeply concerned for the well-being of others. He was a life-long learner, and an avid gardener with many grafted fruit trees in his yard. The family wishes to thank all for their love and concern, especially Dr. Tom Richardson, Dr. Jim Kemp, Dick Richardson, Chuck Kope, and Paul Dyer, who were with him when he died suddenly while hiking at Eastman Lake. He will be sorely missed by all who loved him. Laurie is survived by his loving wife, Margaret, whom he married in 1978, after moving to the Fresno United States Department of Agriculture office. He is also survived by his two wonderful daughters, Lorna and Marlys, and their husbands John Teal and Mark Dodson; two grandchildren, Carys and Colson Houck-Teal. He had two stepdaughters, Vickie Johns, and her husband, Miles Johns, and Debbie Schleich; step-grandchildren, Melissa, Brannon, Brendan, Alissa, Eva, and Christopher; and his brothers and sisters, Geralee Britnall, Mollilou Forbes, Glen Houck and his wife Pat, and Duane Houck and his wife Sue. A Memorial Service will be held at the Unitarian-Universalist Church, 2672 E. Alluvial Avenue in Clovis, Ca. 93611, on Saturday, February 23, 2008, at 2:00 p.m. The family requests no flowers. Remembrances may be made to the Unitarian-Universalist Church in honor of Laurie Houck; or to the groups listed above; or to your favorite charity in his name. FAREWELL 660 W. Locust Fresno, Ca. (559) 440-0484