News

Brethren,

The roll of the workmen has been called, and Illustrious Brother John D. Livie, 33°, IGH, Past Grand Master, born May 14^th, 1935, at Juneau, Alaska, has not answered to his name. He was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on August 15^th, 1957, in Gastineaux Lodge No. 124, F.&A.M. of Alaska. On December 25^th, 2021, the Great Architect of the Universe smiled upon him and taking him by the hand, gently led him to that “house not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens.” There is no death. All that is beautiful and good and true in human life is no more affected by the shadow called death than by the darkness that divides today from tomorrow. In this, our Brother’s hour of victory, we should rejoice that we can see far enough into the future to know that all is well with him. He is but a step-in advance of us and we thank our Creator that we had and loved him for a while.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 15, 2022, at 10:00am at the Scottish Rite Center, 4090 Commercial St. SE, Salem, OR 97302

Excerpt from his obituary: “John was born May 14, 1935, in Juneau, Alaska. After graduating from Juneau High School, he joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in Anchorage, AK. During his second year of service, he married his high school sweetheart, Carol (Lawrence) Livie on July 23, 1955. After finishing his tour of duty in Anchorage, he and Carol moved to Salem, Oregon where they raised their three children, Debra Bedell (Duane), Keith Livie and Cathy Smith (Randy). After graduating from Willamette University, John went to work for Pepsi Cola Bottling Co., where he worked for 37 years. John and Carol lost their oldest daughter, Debra, in November from Cancer. Besides his wife, Carol, and their two other children, he is survived by four grandchildren, Doug Bedell (Terry), Tony Bedell, Aimee Rodriquez (Matt) and Hailee Smith and three great grandchildren, Nick, Ella and Sawyer Bedell.”

Masonic History from Men of Honor in the Oregon Scottish Rite, by Michael D. Robinson:

John Douglas Livie (PGM 2000-01) (U.S. Army, Pepsi Bottling Co. regional service manager.) was born on May 14, 1935, in Juneau, Alaska. He was raised in a small gold mining town five miles out of Juneau, called Thane. As a teen he was active in Rifle Club and DeMolay. He was initiated into Royal Arch Gunnison Chapter DeMolay on May 17, 1949, and received his DeMolay degree on May 26, 1949, serving as Master Councilor in 1953. He graduated from Juneau High School in May of 1954. He married Carol Lawrence in Juneau on July 23, 1955. He spent 2 years in the U.S. Army in Anchorage, Alaska, then moved down to Salem, Oregon so he could attend Willamette University. He went to work for Pepsi Cola Bottling Co., working for 34 years in delivery, sales and as service manager for Marion, Polk, and Yamhill counties in Oregon. After retiring he worked as a shuttle driver for Robertson Motors for 2 years. He was Initiated an EA on June 28, 1957, Passed to FC July 25 and Raised a Master Mason on August 15, 1957, in Gastineaux Lodge #124 F.&A.M. in Douglas, Alaska. He demitted and affiliated with Ainsworth Lodge #201 in Salem, Oregon on March 13, 1979. He was Master of that Lodge in 1991 and received the Hiram Award for outstanding service to Ainsworth Lodge on May of 1996. He was Secretary of Ainsworth Lodge 2005-2013. He joined Glacier Lodge #10 of Anchorage, Alaska in 1997. While visiting his Mother Lodge, now known as Mt. Juneau-Gastineaux Lodge #21 in Juneau on his 66th birthday in 2001, he was made an Honorary Past Master of that Lodge. He was made a Life member of Warren Lodge #10 in Jacksonville, Oregon on March 16, 2020. He received his 50-year service Award on February 2, 2007, his 60-year Award on April 11, 2017, and completed the Fellows of the Craft December 3, 2013. In Grand Lodge he was appointed District Deputy GM for District #16 for 3 years 1992-95. He was appointed Grand Pursuivant in 1995-96 and appointed Senior Grand Deacon in 1996-97. He was elected Junior Grand Warden (1997-98), Senior Grand Warden (1998-99) and Deputy Grand Master (1999-2000) before serving as the 151st Grand Master of Oregon 2000-01. He received the Scottish Rite degrees in the Salem Valley, 4º-14º May 8, 1980, 18º May 15, 30º May 22, and the 32° on May 8, 1980. He was Invested Knight Commander of the Court of Honour (K.C.C.H.) on November 12, 2005, in Portland, Oregon. He was Coronated Inspector General Honorary 33º November 14, 2009, in Salem, Oregon. He served as General Secretary and Treasurer of the Salem Valley. In York Rite, he was a member of Multnomah Chapter No. 1, Royal Arch Masons; Hodson Council No. 1, Cryptic Masons of Oregon, DeMolay Commandry No. 5, Knights Templar of Oregon, and a member of the Saint Janus Red Cross of Constantine. He was a Member Al Kader Shrine and Willamette Valley Chapter No. 529, National Sojourners. He was Worthy Patron of Ainsworth Chapter No. 176 (now consolidated with Trinity Chapter No. 175) in 1977-78, and 1981-82, and Worthy Patron of Adah Chapter No. 34, Order of the Eastern Star in 1984-85; and was a member of Cherry Court, Order of the Amaranth. In the 1960s, he was active with the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts of America, and served as Cub Master for Pack No. 103, in Salem, Oregon in 1969. In the 1970s, he was active with the International Order of Job’s Daughters and served as Bethel No. 48, Associate Guardian in 1970-1971. He was the DeMolay Advisory Board Chairman of Chemeketa Chapter, Order of DeMolay, in Salem, from 1996 through 1999 and received the “Guild of the Leather Apron” in 1998 and the DeMolay “Legion of Honor” in 1999. He also served on the DeMolay Foundation Board of Trustees. He was made a “Member of Honor” of the Grand Guardian Council of the International Order of Job’s Daughters in May 2000. In June 2001, he received the Grand Cross of Color, from the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls. In December of 2021 he received his 65-year service award from the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of Oregon.