On May 7, 2025, the Oroville High School class of 1948 lost its sole remaining member as Perry Rawn Blackler passed away. Perry was born July 29, 1930 to John Arthur and Ibe Menze Blackler in Tonasket, Washington.

In his younger years, he was involved in the Boy Scouts and was an avid baseball player from Little League to high school baseball. It was his favorite sport, but he was also on the football and bowling teams. He played the trumpet in band and participated in school plays.

After high school Perry attended Washington State College (University) and graduated with a Business Administration degree. While in college, he was in the Air Force ROTC program and that led him to be stationed in Long Beach, California after graduation. He was a 1st Lieutenant when his active duty changed to being in the Reserves.

After the Air Force, he moved back to Oroville and took over the running of the family apple orchard which eventually expanded to growing a variety of soft fruit. His bachelor days came to an end when he met and married his wife, Hilary Robertson. She had come to the U.S. when her family came on an exchange between Oroville’s Trinity Episcopal Church and the Church of England’s church in Harlaxton, Grantham. They were proud parents to Steven, Alison, Sara and Lisa.

Perry loved being outside and active. His children have fond memories of him teaching them how to water ski, snow ski, ice skate, trap shoot and all aspects of working in the orchard. Water skiing behind the Cris Craft was a summertime favorite and snow skiing at Sitzmark and Mt. Baldy were winter pastimes. He loved driving around in his 1959 Ford Fairlane Skyliner convertible, from courting Hilary to having it full of kids and grandkids going on adventures. Traveling to England to visit Hilary’s family was a highlight.

He was a Little League coach for many years, enjoyed building and flying remote control airplanes, curling and trapshooting. Many trophies were humbly stored in his basement office next to his shotgun shell reloading machine.

He was a member of the Sitzmark Ski Patrol, Trinity Episcopal Church, Oroville Gun Club, Oroville/Osoyoos International Rotary Club, Masons, Shriners and was a charter member of the Oroville Golf Course. Following in his father’s footsteps, Perry was on the Board of Directors and later the President of the board for Oroville United Growers later know as Gold Digger Apples.

Perry was preceded in death by his wife, Hilary; his parents, his sister and brother-in-law, Joyce and Willard Hatch; nephew, Patrick and sister-in-law, Alison Hindmarch.

He is survived by his children, Steve, Alison (Chad), Sara (Glenn) and Lisa (Rick); eight grandchildren and numerous nephews and nieces.

Memorials may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church, PO Box 1270 Oroville, WA 98844 and to The Oroville Gun Club PO Box 13 Oroville, WA 98844.

His service will be officiated by the Reverend Marilyn Wilder at the Trinity Episcopal Church on Saturday, June 28th at 1 p.m.

Bergh Funeral Service of Oroville in care of arrangements.