Leonard David Attrell

Leonard David Attrell, beloved husband, father, brother and uncle, died May 2, 2025 in Sherwood, Oregon. He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered not only by family and friends but also by the many he served in the community, with his wife, Gloria, through Attrell’s Funeral Chapels in Newberg and Sherwood. Leonard was born May 8, 1931 in Lacombe, Alberta, Canada to Alberta (nee Arnett) and David Attrell. Leonard was thankful they were Christians and he became a Christian as a child. The family moved to Newberg when Leonard was six years old, living there most of the time until graduation from Newberg Union High School in 1949. Leonard enjoyed singing in high school and throughout his life. As a junior in high school, he was cast as Ralph Rackstraw in Gilbert & Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore and met Gloria Lundquist, who was the choir pianist. They began dating and married the year after graduation on August 11, 1950 at Free Methodist Church in Newberg. After marriage, they first lived in Portland and then moved to Coos Bay where their son, Ronald, was born in 1952. Always interested in cars, Leonard worked in automotive repair becoming a specialist in wheel alignment, brakes and frame straightening in Coos Bay and Salem. He enjoyed it but wanted to work more directly with people. He began exploring college options, considering medicine, with the family moving to Salem in 1953. They found needed childcare in Blanche and Ken Seipp who, with their sons, became like family. While continuing automotive work, Leonard realized college and graduate school were too long and not affordable. He met Charles Edwards, owner of Howell-Edwards Funeral Chapel in Salem, who helped Leonard understand about becoming a mortician. Leonard felt this fit God calling him to serve people directly in their time of loss and grief. He served his two year internship at Howell-Edwards, then the family moved for him to attend San Francisco College of Mortuary Science. He graduated in 1962, passed his licensing exams in Oregon, and worked as a funeral director and embalmer the rest of his career. After graduation, the family moved to Medford where he worked for Conger- Morris Funeral Home until returning to work at Howell-Edwards in 1963. In 1964, the family moved to Newberg where Leonard became a partner at Mannenbach Funeral Home. In 1966, he and Gloria bought out the partner to become Attrell’s Newberg Funeral Chapel and Attrell’s Sherwood Funeral Chapel. Opportunity arose in 1968 to expand in Newberg by purchasing Valley View Memorial Park & Mausoleum and Manson Florist (becoming Showcase by Manson, then Showcase of Flowers), the latter for property for a future building. Leonard and Gloria owned, operated and managed the businesses together. They were on the leading edge of funeral chapels incorporating cemeteries and florists to provide a more full and convenient range of services. The chapel also became known for an annual live nativity scene at Christmas. Their son, Ron, became a funeral director and worked with them, beginning in 1974 for ten years, as they increased community education and support around coping with dying, death and grief. Their historic building, Hollingsworth Funeral Home from 1905, on First and Howard Streets, became too small so, in 1976, they built a new funeral chapel and florist on Villa Road to better serve the community. In 1979, Roy Brown retired, selling Brown Funeral Home to the Attrell’s. Later, Gainer’s Florist also joined with Showcase of Flowers. Leonard and Gloria retired in 2015. Leonard and Gloria were extremely grateful for the team of full and part-time people who worked with them all these years. This began in about 1967 with Karon Heineman, working in the office, who remained with them until her retirement in 2005. Leonard and Gloria knew that their 60 years of service and involvements would have been impossible without the talented and dedicated team of coworkers with which God blessed them. While very busy with work, Leonard also took time to actively participate in his communities beginning when they returned to Newberg in 1964. Some involvements: Newberg Rotary Club (member 1967), Past President (1986), Past Secretary-Treasurer, Polio Plus Committee Chairman, a Paul Harris Fellow, he and Gloria were Newberg Rotary Couple of the Year in 1988; Elected as a Charter Board Member of Chehalem Park and Recreation District, serving 18 years and as Board Chairman for several terms; Newberg Library Board Member for 15 years and Chairman for two terms; Friendsview Manor board member for 18 years, serving as treasurer and resigning in 1997; past board member for many years at The Inn of Spanish Head. George Fox College (now University) and City of Newberg named Leonard their Citizen of the Year in 1975 with a special citation from Newberg City Council that same year. Leonard volunteered many years with Newberg’s Berrian Festival including Parade Chairman and Festival Chairman. He was honored as Junior Chamber Of Commerce Citizen of the Year in 1968. He and Gloria were also members and participants of professional organizations for continuing education and ongoing development. These included The International Order of the Golden Rule (select funeral homes), Gold Service Award in 1990; NFDA; Oregon Funeral Directors Association, treasurer in 1995; FTD and Teleflora. Both Leonard and Gloria served in leadership roles in many local fundraising efforts including March of Dimes, George Fox University and Newberg Library Building Campaign. They were always a reliable source of fundraising for local schools, community clubs and churches in Newberg, Sherwood, Dundee and St. Paul. Wherever he lived, Leonard was active and supportive of the church he attended. Raised Free Methodist, he and Gloria continued and raised their son in that church until joining others in their moves. First, Seacliff Evangelical United Brethren Church in San Francisco, then joining The Church of the Nazarene when they moved to Medford. They continued as active members of that church in Newberg and Portland First Church and continued support the rest of their lives. He sang in choirs and in The King’s Messengers in Portland and served often as a Board Member or Chairman of the Board. Other roles served with Gloria were Sunday School Teachers and Youth Department Leaders. Leonard also felt called to do mission work overseas. He did numerous work/ mission trips in Kenya and El Salvador to help build churches, African Nazarene University and hospitals. He also became a personal witness speaker for Harvest Partners Jesus Films in India (14 churches), Russia and Africa. He and Gloria continued support for this evangelical work. They also sponsored and connected with numerous children in Africa so they could learn of Jesus, have improved medical care and quality of life. Leonard said (with Gloria concurring), “We owe all we have done to the God who made us and provided us with the opportunities to be of service to our fellowman, and then gave us the health and desire to pursue those opportunities.” Leonard is survived by his wife, Gloria; son, Ronald (Michael); brother, Clifford (Glenna); sister-in-law, Louise; nephew, Greg (Gina); nieces, Donna, RuthAnn (Larry); grandnephews and grandnieces, Joshua, Sarah (Shaun), Cameron (Robbie), Anastasia (Andrew), Jassminne, Bethany Grace (Thoran), Wendy (Chad), Tad, Colton, Landon and Shani (Shaun’s widow); great-grandnephews, Jason, Lewis, Lane, Colt, William, Owen and Liam; first cousin, Evelyn Arnett; beloved cousins; loved extended family including Karen Attrell, former sister-in-law; the Seipp families; and loved friends. He was preceded in death by his sister, Verna; nephew, Jeffrey; and grandnephew, Shaun. Memorial Service, August 11, 2025, 1 p.m. at The Church of the Nazarene in Newberg. A reception will follow. Private Inurnment, Valley View Memorial Park, Newberg. Donations may be made to George Fox University, Harvest Partners Jesus Film Project, Rotary Foundation Polio Eradication, or charity of your choice. Arrangements, Attrell’s Funeral Chapels.

Leonard David Attrell

May 8, 1931 - May 2, 2025