Obituary of Russell Edward Mohney

Russell Edward Mohney, Jr. of Centralia died on August 31, 2010. He was 75. He was born on January 15, 1935 in Centralia, WA., to Russell Edward Mohney, Sr. and Margaret Alida (Davis) Mohney. He graduated from Centralia HS in 1953, and went on to serve in the United States Marine Corps, the Air Force, and the National Guard. He was a published author, a radio disc jockey and personality both in Washington and in Taiwan, and he was consistently involved in local charities, politics, and organizations focused on responsible use and treatment of land and wildlife. For the last ten years of his life, he wrote for the outdoors section of the Centralia Chronicle, alongside his duties as a public relations representative for Centralia College. Everything this man loved to do, he did well. His interest in Native American art resulted in original designs that found some commercial success; his love for birdwatching resulted in designing birdhouses meant to house many types of backyard species; his love for the great outdoors resulted in many books on camping, hiking, fishing, survival tactics, and how to use what is found in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest, which gave birth to his most popular book, Why Wild Edibles? In addition, he was an accomplished carpenter, prospector, chef, gardener, and visual artist. He had an inexhaustible hunger for knowledge that he fed until the day he left us, a hunger that kept him young at heart. His knowledge of the great outdoors was shared with his readers and resulted in the Russ Mohney Recreation Resource Stewardship award, administered by the Centralia Chronicle and the Lewis County Economic Development Council. Mohney was preceded in death by his parents, Russell Edward Mohney, Sr. and Margaret Alida (Davis) Mohney, and his beloved life partner, Linda Sue Harbison. He is survived by son Kevin (and wife Cindy) Mohney; daughter Kelly Ann (and husband Steve) Landers; daughter Kirsten (and husband Kenny) Oakland; daughter Katie (and husband Brad) Kahle; sister Judith (and husband Allen) Daniels; sister Karen (and husband Greg) Gandy; sister Janet (and husband Mike) Moline; and several grandchildren, nieces and nephews. His legacy is shared not only by his surviving family members, but also by his readers, whom he adored and held in the highest regard. A public memorial service will be held on Friday, Sept. 10 at 2 pm at the Corbet Theater at Centralia College; the family would like to invite his readers to attend, to thank them all for putting a bounce in his step. Donations may be made to Friends of the Cowlitz, the Russ Mohney Recreation Resource Stewardship, or other charitable organizations.