Percy and Annie Jarrell

(Prepared by: Linda Holscher)

Percy and Annie Jarrell have been married for 58 years! Those years have been filled with fun, family, hard work and service to the Glory of the Lord.

            Percy moved from Arkansas to Oregon and eventually settled in Hillsboro for high school. Annie moved from Nebraska to Washington and then to Hillsboro, where she lived only a few blocks from Percy. Annie’s best friend Janie introduced her to the cousin of her boyfriend – a good-looking Merchant Marine named Percy.

After 4 ½ years in the Pacific during WWII the Jarrells bought a house in Hillsboro and then in 1948 they decided to become farmers and moved to 80 acres on Firdale Rd south of Hillsboro. They still live on 5 of those original acres. As farmers, they first grew strawberries but the price fell that year and they only received 8cents a pound. Next they grew an abundant gooseberry crop but the demand dropped for them and they barely made any money again. Finally the Jarrells decided they didn’t enjoy being starving farmers so Percy became an apprentice carpenter.

After learning the trade and gaining an understanding of the construction business, he started his own business in 1952. Those skills helped him build two houses on their property including their current home over looking the forested hills of Hillsboro. During the 35 years they had the construction business they also purchased a number of rentals they managed. In 1980 they started their third business – a nursery. First they specialized in red, lacy leaf maples and then introduced Oregonians to ornamental grasses.

While working hard running their business they raised four children – David, Connie, Stanley and Kathy. Now their extended family includes 8 grand and 5 great grand kids. As a family they enjoyed horseback riding, snow skiing, water skiing, hunting and fishing. Once the kids graduated from high school Annie entered Portland State University and earned a sociology degree. She enjoyed her practicums with the correctional department but she was always so busy with the family businesses she never took an outside job. Percy pursued his dream of flying and even owned his own plane for about ten years. He joined the Oregon Flying Farmers, an international club, and enjoyed attending gatherings in Baja, Canada, and all over the Northwest.

The Jarrells love of flying, traveling and helping others led them to take many mission trips. On the Navajo Indian Reservation they worked for a month restoring buildings. Other mission trips were made to the Ravapii and the Quileute Reservations in Washington. Further travels led them to the Sierra Madre Mountains in Mexico to help the Tarahumara Indians who lived in caves and cedar houses. Another adventurous mission trip led them to Shismirish, Alaska, in the Arctic Circle where they helped restore a church. Annie and Percy also took youth to the Makah Indian Reservation in Washington to help repair and paint buildings.

For people who enjoy working, it’s a little hard for Percy and Annie to slow down. They both are frequent volunteers around the church and they are usually the ones who compile these member interviews for us.

Prepared by: Linda Holscher