Tom Rutledge lost his fight with brain cancer in December – the only battle he ever truly lost.

He will be missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

We are not certain where Tom is now, but the path had better be cleared for his arrival. If it isn’t, he’ll clear-cut his way through the debris to find the light, the meaning, the humor, and most importantly, the story.

If you were one of the fortunate ones to have sat in his company, you know
his special moment. As conversation swirled around a group of his friends,
Tom would lean forward, roll his capricious eyes, flash that thin, beguiling
grin, and say “That reminds me of the time ...” At that moment all
conversation stopped and Tom would weave a tale. The cadence of his
delivery was captivating – the stock of a natural-born storyteller – and the
story was always funny but marked with a poignancy that would make you
nod your head with an understanding that carried over your laughter.

Tom operated an independent logging business until his death. His previous
incarnations included truck driver, roughneck and tug boat hand. Besides the
Mountain, he spent time in Wyoming and Alaska. He had a passion for music,
and was a first-rate beer drinker – enjoying a Hefeweizen with a lemon wedge
which he referred to (in his patented self-accusing style) as a “logger’s fruit
medley.”

He was raised in Gleneden Beach, attended Taft grade and high schools,
graduated from Salem High and attended Oregon College of Education. He
enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1966 and served in Vietnam, attaining the rank
of Lance Corporal. He returned from military service and attended Clackamas
Community College before moving to Welches where he spent the last 40
years of his life. He celebrated the great outdoors and had a passion for the
natural beauty of the area.

He was the son of Dale L. and Zela V. Rutledge and is survived by his wife
Kimberly Rutledge; mother Zela Rutledge; stepson Dalton Bixby; brother Dale
W. Rutledge; sister Piri Pompa and her husband David Pompa; sister-in-law
Sherry Rutledge; nephew Adam Rutledge; and close cousins Peggy Gesik and
Bonnie Kessler. He was preceded in death by his father, Dale Rutledge.
Tom reminds us of a time ... and a story without end.