Richard Melvin Surface
In Memory of Richard Surface
June 29,1937 - Nov 2,2009
Richard stood at the gate
His head was bent
low.
He merely asked the
man of fate
Which way he ought to
go.
"What have you
done?" St. Peter said
"To seek
admittance here?"
"I ran a nursery
down on earth
For many and many a
year."
St. Peter opened wide
the gate
And gently pressed
the bell
"Come in,"
he said, "and choose your harp."
"You've had your
share of hell."
Anonymous
Richard Melvin Surface was born 72 ˝ years ago on June 29, 1937
at 11:58pm, on the original site of Surface Nursery and passed away November 2, 2009 at
his home surrounded by family and friends. Richard’s parents, Melvin and Dona
Surface, started the retail/wholesale nursery on acreage which is now a housing
development located near Twelve Mile Corner.
Back then, horses were still used to prepare the ground for planting and to bring in
crops from the fields. Richard loved to ride his favorite horse to visit friends or pick
up groceries at Zim’s for his mother. His parents also owned the East Winds Café
during his high school days. Selling milkshakes for 35˘ and Steak and Fries for $2.50
made Richard a very popular young man.
A member of the Future Farmers of America, Richard continued to donate
trees to the Wallowa County FFA, where he and Debbie, his wife of 25 years, have a 700
acre ranch just outside of Joseph, where the main street is lined with donated Surface
trees. Richard and Debbie loved the ranch and felt it was one of the most beautiful places
in Wallowa County and wanted to protect the beauty. They chose the Rocky Mountain Elk
Foundation as the curator. Due to their contributions and dedication, they are Imperial
Habitat Partners with the Elk Foundation.
Richard met and married Debbie in Sunriver, Oregon, where they have
enjoyed a home on the Deschutes River for many years. With a passion for winter
activities, they spent many a day snowmobiling and skiing on the slopes of Mt. Bachelor.
Richard was a licensed pilot for 30
years. His love of flying took him and his Beechcraft Bonanza F33A, to as far east as
Charlotte, NC, as far south as Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and as far North as Tsaha Lake,
British Columbia, Canada. Richard’s last cross country trip was to a Rocky Mountain
Elk Habitat council meeting in Spearfish, South Dakota with a side trip to Mount Rushmore.
With the love of adventure and the love of his wife, Richard traveled
the globe. Fishing trips to Costa Rica for Tarpon, the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of
Australia for Black Marlin, and sailboat charter to Grenada were favorite memories. His
last great adventure with Debbie was a trip of a lifetime in 2008 on a South African
Safari with National Geographic. Richard flew a DC3 from the left seat during the
expedition.
Richard is fondly remembered as having packed a lot of living into 72
years of life. He is survived by his wife, Debbie, a daughter, Jill and a sister, Jean.
Many long time employees will keep the quality of the Surface name intact with the wisdom
Richard bestowed upon them. A Celebration of Richard’s life is planned to be held at
the nursery in August, 2010.
The family suggests memorial contributions to OHSU Knight Cancer
Institute or the caring hands of Mt. Hood Hospice, or to the Horticultural Research
Institute Endowment Fund (Melvin, Dona, Richard and Debra Surface Fund).
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