VANCOUVER – Elmer Turja, 78, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2004, at home in Vancouver.

He was born April 5, 1926, in Astoria and grew up in Portland. After high school he joined the Merchant Marines and served during World War II in Southeast Asia and later on the Columbia River. He moved to Washougal in 1954 and worked for Crown Zellerbach paper mill for 36 years. While living in Washougal he was a planning commissioner, city councilman and mayor. Mr. Turja was also on the Board of Directors of LaCamas Community Credit Union.

After he retired he moved to Long Beach, where he was active in the Peninsula Senior Activities Center and the P.A.C.E. program. Mr. Turja later moved back to Washougal and lived in Vancouver for the past year. He liked being involved in his community. He was Past Master of the Masonic Temple in Washougal and a member of the Washougal and the Long Beach Lions Clubs. He also enjoyed doing carpentry work.

Survivors include his wife, Audrey, in Vancouver; daughters, Lynn Risjord of Vancouver, Kay Lane of Stevensville, Mont., and Leigh Ann Turja of Seattle; son, David Turja of Vancouver; brother, Allen Turja of Lake Oswego; nine grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and his cat, Kissa.

A funeral service was Dec. 13 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Washougal. Burial followed at the Washougal Memorial Cemetery. Straub’s Funeral Home in Camas was in charge of the arrangements. To sign the online guest book, visit www.straubsfuneralhome.com.