Ralph Andrew Pepiot, 72, of Cottage Grove passed away Oct. 25, 2009 from complications of pulmonary disease.

He was born April 5, 1937 to Regas (Ray) and Lelia (Rowe) Pepiot. Ralph worked in the lumber industry his entire life, including time at Bald Knob for Mazania Plywood, Creswell, US Plywood of Mapleton, Siuslaw Valley Veneer and Mazania, Lakeview and Walker.

He grew up and attended schools in Nonpareil, Ore. He married Nancy Mae Sjostrom on April 24, 1969 in Reno, Nev. He lived in Sutherlin, Ore. and raised his family in Cottage Grove. Raplh enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, mining and spoiling his grandchildren. He was a member of the Bohemia Mine Owners’ Association and past member of the Elks, Eagles and Moose lodges. Ralph was named employee of the year at Bald Knob for his many years of dedicated service.

Survivors include his wife, daughter Tina Manley of Tupelo, Miss; son and daughter Terry Pepiot and Mina Hass of Junction City and Prineville, respectively; son Scott Pepiot and daughter Julie Nicholson of Bossier City, La. And Marysville, Wash.; daughter Torri Neet, daughter Katrina Patrick and son Thomas Pepiot, all of Cottage Grove; and brothers Alvin and Pat Pepiot of Oakland and Sutherlin, in addition to 17 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a grandson, Joshua Allen Pepiot, and sister Georgie Gilkison.

A memorial mass will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Cottage Grove. Private cremation will be held. Another service will be held at the Shepherd Room of the Cottage Grove Community Center at 3 p.m. Saturday.