Cecil Carathers

OBITUARY OF CECIL FREEMAN CARATHERS Cecil F. Carathers, 85, died April 2, 2008 in Vancouver where he had resided the past 28 years. The son of Marion and Fannie (Howerton) Carathers, he was born in Ennis, Kentucky on May 21, 1922. Cecil grew up in the Ennis area, attended local schools and worked doing odd jobs to help support his family during the Depression years. As soon as he turned 18 he joined the United States Navy where he served the next six years during World War II. An a quiet, sunny Sunday morning, while on his way to church Cecil witnessed history firsthand. He was stationed at Pearl Harbor and the date was December 7, 1941. He was there to attend electrical school and later served aboard a cruiser in the South Pacific. When his military duty was complete, Cecil followed his faith and became a member of the Loren Fox Evangelistic Party which traveled throughout Canada and the United States. Cecil learned to play the guitar and was a member for the next four years. For two years he served in the U.S. merchant marine before moving to Los Angeles where he attended L.I.F.E. Foursquare Bible College and became an ordained Foursquare minister. He settled in the Baltimore, Maryland-Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area where he established several small churches. In 1946 he met Aimee Wirkkala in Naselle. Their paths met again in Detroit, Michigan in 1957 where Aimee had been invited to play the organ at a Loren Fox evangelistic meeting. The couple were married August 23, 1958 at the Assembly of God in Naselle and they initially traveled together doing evangelistic preaching. Setting in Newport, Washington Cecil pastored an Assembly of God congregation before moving to Longview where he pastored the Abernathy Assembly of God west of town until 1972. Cecil left the ministry in 1972 and became an self-employed painting contractor in Longview. In 1981 he moved to Vancouver where he continued his business, finally retiring 6 years ago. He built a loyal clientele due to his attention to detail and integrity. He attended the Hazel Dell Assembly of God in Vancouver. Cecil was a man dedicated to his family and his Christian faith. Blessed with a wonderful sense of humor, he enjoyed sharing stories, taking his family for hikes and picnics and playing his guitar. An avid reader, he was self taught in many subjects. He was a beloved husband, father and grandfather and a friend to many. Besides his wife Aimee of Vancouver, he is survived by a son Jerry Carathers of Vancouver; daughter Linda Clay and her husband Steven of Vancouver; grandchildren Kristen and Justin Ross; sister Hazel Lamey of Brunswick, Georgia; and brother Raymond Carathers of Indianapolis, Indiana. He was preceded in death by brothers Lawrence and Fred and sister Esther Cowles. Funeral service will be held at the Naselle Assembly of God on Saturday afternoon, April 5, 2008. Graveside service follows at the Peaceful Hill Cemetery, Naselle. A reception follows at the church. Sign the guestbook or share a memory at www.penttilaschapel.com.