Elmer Layton Watts, 88, passed away March 7 in Hines.

Elmer was born May 14, 1930, in Hillsboro to Marie (Schlesser) and (David) Layton Watts. He was raised on his family’s dairy farm in Hillsboro. He attended elementary school at the Rosedale School, a one-room school house, and later graduated from Hillsboro’s Hilhi High School in 1948.

Elmer made his first trip to Harney County in the summer of 1948 where he worked as a farm hand for various ranches, including the Ausmus Ranch, where Louise Ausmus was the camp cook. Soon, he was called to service by Uncle Sam and joined the Korean Conflict as a medic. His Army buddies remembered him as wanting to go home to be a farmer.

After 21 months in the Army, he came home to farm filberts, prunes, and cherries in Washington County. Later, he would farm alfalfa in Harney County.

Elmer enjoyed working as a mechanic. He maintained his own farm equipment and even created his own filbert-harvesting machine with the help of his brother, John. He was always ready and willing to help friends and neighbors with their repair jobs. He also enjoyed photography and traveling.

A gentle, quiet man with a sense of humor and a quick wit, he left a long trail of goodness on this earth, with many lifelong friends. He raised his own family within 1.5 miles of the house where he was born. He moved to Princeton, in Harney County, in 1998 to form the Watts Ranch with his brother, John, where he farmed for several years before retiring.

Elmer married (Ella) Nina Breunig Greenslate in 1959. Together, they raised two daughters, Donna and Marilyn. Nina passed away in 1997.

Life came full circle when Elmer was remarried in 2000 to (Marilyn) Louise Ausmus Bamberry, the former cook at the Ausmus Ranch.

Elmer is survived by his wife, Louise; brother, John, of Princeton; sister, Mary, of The Dalles; daughters, Donna Burt (Earl) of Bremerton, Wash., and Marilyn Watts (Carol) of Ocean Park, Wash.; grandchildren, Scott Burt (Rebecca) and Casey Burt; as well as two great-grandchildren, Mahalia and Andrew.

Elmer was preceded in death by his parents, Layton and Marie; and his first wife, (Ella) Nina.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 16, at St. Andrew’s Episcopal/Peace Lutheran Church, 393 W. “A” Street in Burns.

A second service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 23, at All Saints Episcopal Church, 372 NE Lincoln Street in Hillsboro.

Donations in Elmer’s memory may be made to Harney County Hospice or to your local hospice.

Please visit www.lafolletteschapel.com and sign into the online guestbook.