Roger Gene Ritchey

Roger Gene Ritchey, 83, was born and raised in the Forest Grove community, but for the last 4 years resided in Beaverton. He passed away on November 22, 2022 at his home.
Roger was born on August 1, 1939 in Forest Grove, OR. He was the second child born to Roland "Glenn" and Margaret "Helen" (McCue) Ritchey. Roger was raised on the Ritchey Family Farm (South of Forest Grove) and was a big part of the operations while growing up. He attended Forest Grove High School and graduated with the Class of 1957. He then attended Oregon State University, majoring in agronomy, graduating in 1962.
Following College Roger still worked with his family on the Ritchey Farm but soon took a job with Copeland Lumber in Portland. In 1978 he approached Harold Meyer, appraiser, offering to work for free to learn the real estate appraisal business. Mr. Meyer turned him down. Roger went to work for Washington County Property Tax Dept. and had worked as an appraiser for 9 months, when Mr. Meyer hired him away from the county and paid him to come work for him, which he did until 1981 when he and Joan opened their own appraisal office working out of their home and formed Roger G Ritchey and Associates, a real estate appraisal firm that specialized in rural acreage farms, timber and vineyard and specialty properties, retiring in 2001.
He met his future wife, Joan (Michalke) Cline, in January 1975, while riding the TriMet bus to work. This friendship soon swelled into a loving relationship. They married on March 27, 1976 at their home on Hiatt Rd. in Forest Grove. In 1992 they made their home between Forest Grove and their beach home in Lincoln City. In 2012 they moved permanently to Lincoln City until 2018 when they moved to Beaverton to be closer to their children.
Roger was a master storyteller and authored two books, "Hankering For the Way It Was" and "Mostly True Stories and Other Lies". Joan and Roger loved to travel and had visited over forty countries and both were involved with Toast Masters Club. Roger loved the outdoors, chopping wood and walking through timber. He was an avid gardener and enjoyed making wine with his friend Glenn. He was also a member of several writing groups and learned to play Bridge. He loved his dogs especially Sammi and Banner.
He is preceded in death by his parents and a daughter, Le Chelle Ritchey.
He is survived by his loving wife, Joan, two children, Chantay and her spouse Dave Huffman both of Seattle, Nicole Ritchey of Seattle, three stepchildren and their spouses, Dale and Rose Cline of Manassas, VA, Kevin and TC Cline of Vancouver, WA, Karen and Kurt Wagner of Beaverton, a sister, Carol Beth Larson of La Grande, thirteen grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren.