Obituary: Carl Fisher

September 14, 1929 – June 5, 2022

Carl Fisher was born September 14, 1929, in Eugene, Oregon to Thomas and Leah (Schoonover) Fisher. He joined older sister Helen.

Carl grew up in the Eugene area often helping his father with automotive and machine repair. Upon finishing his 8th grade school year, he and a buddy went to register for High School and were told they were a day early. Carl decided he had enough of school anyway and never went back.

Carl learned the meaning of hard work from working with his father farming and mechanics in the area. He had no fear in learning something new and was comfortable with repairing things other people broke!

Carl enlisted in the army in 1949 and was stationed in occupied Germany where he drove a half-track with the security patrol. He was often pulled off that duty to repair the vehicle fleet.

After leaving the service in 1952, he met Patsy Bowman at a roller-skating rink. She informed him that she could drive faster than he could! She was proven wrong. They were married in 1954 and soon after added Debbie, Bill and Ed to the family.

In 1965, after working different jobs in the Eugene area, Carl took his family on a great adventure! The plan was to work in Alaska for one year and Hawaii for one year and then return to Oregon. They never made it to Hawaii! After a long trip on mostly unpaved roads, they arrived in Anchorage, Alaska where Carl answered an advertisement for work in Cordova. When they arrived in Cordova on the ferry ‘Chilkat’, they found that the job was non-existent! Thankfully, Carl met Bob Cunninham who offered him work at his Volkswagen dealership. Carl worked for Bob and then tried his hand at commercial fishing with Louis Barnes. He worked on the construction of North Pacific Processors and with Dale Sandstrom on the 27 Mile Bridge project. He also picked up jobs welding and wrenching around town. Jim Poor, owner/operator of St. Elias Cannery offered Carl a job working maintenance after seeing his work ethic/skills in the construction of the cannery. Jim would often send Carl to work on the commercial fleet’s engines when needed.

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Carl soon decided he could be his own boss and became a full-time marine mechanic and welder. He and Patsy also began selling Honda Motorcycles and parts from their home eventually moving to a Second St. location and then to the old Harbor Master Building (PWSSC) in 1975 and expanding to sell Arctic Cat and Moto Ski snow machines.
In 1980, Carl, Patsy and Bill purchased Cordova Outboard, INC. from John French and worked until his retirement in 1994.

Carl spent many happy times hunting and fishing around beautiful Cordova and even traveled to Cold Bay for a Caribou! He loved spending time at the cabin at Boswell Bay and having picnics on the beach.

In 2018, Carl and Patsy moved to Newberg, Oregon for health reasons and to be closer to Debbie and Ed and their families. They quickly made many friends in their building and at church.  He would want you to know that he loved Jesus and tried to live a life worthy of his calling.

Carl passed away peacefully at the age of 92 on Sunday, June 5, 2022, after a short illness. He was preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Leah Fisher of Springfield, Oregon, sister Helen (Dave) Barnet of Eugene, Oregon. He is survived by wife Patsy (Bowman) Fisher of Newberg, Oregon, daughter Deborah Strauss of Newberg, Oregon, son William (Michele) Fisher of Cordova, Alaska, son Edward (Darcy) Fisher of Molalla, Oregon, seven Grandsons, one Granddaughter and 14 Great-grandchildren.

Carl is walking with Jesus and is completely healed. He is probably fulfilling his goal to eat ice-cream at the banquet table!

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