Arthur Joseph Filliger

Arthur Joseph Filliger, 88, passed away Saturday, June 21, 2014, in Seaside. He was born April 17, 1926, in Astoria, to Arthur Anton Filliger and Mary Christine Filliger, who were Swiss immigrants. He grew up in the Lewis and Clark area on a dairy farm and was active in 4-H and FFA. He attended and graduated from Star of the Sea Catholic School.
He enlisted in the Navy at age 17 and served in South Pacific in WWII. Following his discharge from the Navy, he returned to Astoria to work on the family dairy farm.
He married Ardith Mae Polk on December 30,1948, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Astoria. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary before her death in January 2014. Art and Ardith moved to Pleasant Hill, California in 1961.
He worked for Norden Laboratories, a subsidiary of Smith, Kline, and French as a sales representative for veterinary pharmaceuticals. He worked for Norden for 15 years until returning to Astoria in 1976. He went to work for Lovell Auto until his retirement.
Art enjoyed gardening and traveling. A highlight of his life was a trip to Switzerland in 1992, where he met many relatives and visited the birthplace of his parents. Art had great pride in the large stone house in Lewis and Clark his family purchased from Mary Strong Kinney, the first woman senator in Oregon.
He loved to work the gardens, and kept the large yard meticulously landscaped. He was well known for his homemade raspberry cordial.
Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Greg and Susan Filliger of Seaside; two daughters, Jan Morrison of Warrenton and Kellie Kinkead of Ashland; and a son, Scott Filliger of Warrenton; grandchildren Ariel Morrison of Seattle, Washington, and Jared Morrison of Warrenton; and a sister, Lorraine Ewing of Carmel, California.
His was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Laird of Astoria, who died in 2008.
Visitation will be held Thursday, June 26, 2014, from 4-7 p.m. at Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary.
Recitation of the holy rosary will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 27, 2014, at St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Church. A funeral Mass will follow at 11:00 a.m.
A reception will follow at the Star of the Sea School Auditorium. At 3:00 p.m. there will be a graveside service with military honors at Ocean View Cemetery in Warrenton.
Memorial contributions may be given to Lower Columbia Hospice.