Lawson (L.G.) Brian died peacefully in his home November 20th at the age of 94.
L.G. was born August 29, 1914 in Lincoln, Nebraska. The family farmed in the Lincoln area until they moved to Portland during the dust bowl era of the 1930’s. After graduating high school, L.G. went to work for International Harvester Co. selling milking machines and other farm equipment. In 1939 he married Joan Macdonald, she died in 1982. In 1941, L. G. and his family purchased 160 acres near Sandy. At the time, this property had been devastated by several forest fires, but L. G. had a vision for his “ranch”. He spent many weekends replanting trees and improving the land. In 1961, he was awarded the Tree Farmer of the Year award by Clackamas County. In 1958, he also achieved another one of his goals when he started Brian Trout Ranch which was Oregon’s first commercial trout farm.
During WWII, L.G. was an instructor for the Army at Fort Bragg and Fort Lewis. He continued working for International Harvester until 1950 when he joined Mack Truck as a sales manager. He returned to International Harvester and stayed with them until his retirement in 1973. During his career with Mack Truck and International, he became known as a trouble shooter. He had the ability to help ailing branches and dealerships and was transferred to numerous cities such as Seattle, Pendleton, The Dalles, Klamath Falls, Missoula, San Francisco, Montreal, and Salem. In between moves, the company always sent him back to Portland which gave L. G. the opportunity to continue working on his ranch. In 1970 he and his wife Joan were finally able to make their permanent home in Sandy.
After retirement, L.G. became active in the Education Association, Wildcat Neighborhood Group and the Sandy Fire Department. It was later in life that he took great pleasure in handcrafting walking sticks and giving them to hundreds of people in the Sandy Area. In 2006, he made walking sticks for the entire graduating class of Sandy High so they might all “walk steadily into their future”.
L.G. was preceded in death by his wife Joan; sister Elizabeth Donnerburg; brother Bill Brian and sister Rosemary Woltring.
He is survived by his daughters Louise Watts (Bob) of Suisun, CA and Barbara Vargo (John) of Jefferson, OH; son Gary Brian (Sue) of Sandy and sister Marguerete Leipzig of McMinnville. He left 6 grandchildren, Cynthia Gibson and Anthony Laws of CA, Brian Vargo of NC; Christopher Vargo of OH; and Kelly and Andrew Brian of Sandy. Four great-grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews and a host of caring friends and neighbors.
As per L.G.’s wishes there will be no funeral. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in his name to the Sandy Fire Department, P.O. Box 518 Sandy, OR 97055