Elaine Gwen Dewey

ELAINE G DEWEY 1930 – 2021

A gracious modern woman, Elaine Gwen Dewey, 90 years young, passed away peacefully in Washougal, Washington May 3, 2021. Elaine was born August 20th, 1930 in Janesville, Wisconsin to Beda and Severn Osterhus, second generation immigrants from Sweden and Norway. Between 1935 to 1949 Elaine and her family lived in Wisconsin, Oregon and then moved to California.

By age 23, Elaine began the clerical profession at a Cadillac dealership in Richmond, California. She always enjoyed working at a fast pace with clients and sales people; and within a few years, she had moved on to handling the correspondence for the President of the Bank of America in San Jose. Always an adventurous free-thinking woman, Elaine moved to Reno, Nevada in 1960 when the opportunity to become an Executive Secretary for Lawyer Gordon Shelley opened-up. Moving beyond clerical work, her duties now included managing Shelly’s business holdings along with producing the “Your Host” tourist magazine.

Elaine married Bryce Dewey, the love of her life, in May of 1961. At that time, Bryce, a charming and gregarious man began a First Aid and Fire Extinguisher company and traveled to many rural Nevada communities.

Elaine, honing her business management skills, later joined a company that produced the Mitchel-Ivey Antique Shows. During the early 70’s she helped to assemble over 100 dealers to exhibit rare Antiques at shows in Portland, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and other Western cities. She loved to be at the show locations, view the antiques, and then celebrate after- hours with Mitchel, Ivey and mingle with the exhibitors.

By 1978, Elaine was helping manage the family First Aid and Extinguisher business. Together Elaine, Bryce and their dogs Pogo and Tosha traveled across the vast quiet beauty of Nevada and cherished seeing Big Horn Sheep, herds of Wild Mustangs and Fall colors of the Aspen trees.

Elaine and Bryce when not traveling, loved to go to live football games and, on occasion, game on poker- card machines. Her compassion for animals often included the kidding about bringing home a Rabbit, Goat, Sheep or Dolphin.

During the 1980’s, Elaine started a new career at the City of Reno, District Attorney’s Office. There she found a rewarding professional challenge, as well as new women friends who, like her, were empathic to the plight of others and enjoyed rousing debates over social injustice. As an evolving woman, she always felt free to voice her opinions but always with compassion and a light touch.

Elaine lived independently and until her passing had great cognitive and physical skills. She enjoyed TV’s           Jeopardy show, played card games on her computer, and helped her Son Jon with accounting for his design business.

Elaine loved and enjoyed her time with family and friends. She was always interested and supportive of her family’s various careers and activities while at the same time she encouraged good eating practices, walks in the garden and time off to enjoy life.

Elaine G. Dewey is survived by her two Son’s Jon Severn Dewey and partner Paul Wayne Mobley, Tomas Hartley Dewey and his wife Cheryl; Daughter Ellen Margaret Silva; and her Nephew Garry and his  wife Linda Restivo.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00AM on Saturday, May 15 ^th , 2021 at the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home with Rev. Joel Ley, officiating.