Surnames: DeMoss, Oliver, Roberts, Connors, Rodriguez, Baker, Christopherson, Morales Louis Oliver "Lou" DeMoss, 71, son of Sherman County pioneers Elbert Talmadge and Mae Belle (Oliver) DeMoss, who were in turn members of the world-renowned musical family known as "The Lyric Bards of Oregon" died on Thursday, April 18, 2002 in The Dalles following a battle with cancer. The DeMoss family were musical concert performers for over 55 years, and performed at World's Fairs and before the crowned heads of Europe, including Queen Victoria and Czar Nicholas II of Russia. They first came to Oregon in 1865 and began their homestead at DeMoss Springs in Sherman County in 1883, performing world-wide from their Oregon home until several decades into the 20th century. Born in Eugene, Oregon on September 18, 1930, he attended Roosevelt Junior High, University High School and Lane Community College. He had been an avid rodeo participant since he was a young man, and served his country in the U.S. Navy from 1952-56 and later in the Forest Service before settling into a career as a construction millwright superintendent. For a 10 year period, he traveled around the U.S. working on many construction sites. He worked on the turbines at the John Day Dam (Rufus, Oregon) project and later worked at Oregon Steel Mills in Portland, retiring in 1995. He married Charlotte Vonnie Roberts in Spokane (Washington) in 1978. He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Charlotte, and by his children and their families; sons Louis M. DeMoss and Dan DeMoss, stepson Wayne Connors and his wife Janine, daughters Lynette Mae DeMoss and her companion Destin Christopherson, Brenda and Jesse Rodriguez, and Delaine and Tony Baker; his brother and sister-in-law Elbert T. "J.R." and Carol DeMoss; grandchildren Alycia Mae Christopherson, Lucas and Alicia Rodriguez, Claire Rose, Alex and Nick Baker, Mario Morales and Jordan DeMoss, as well as numerous extended DeMoss family members in Sherman County and his close personal friend and rodeo partner Leroy Barger. Viewing visitation will be at Columbia Cremation & Burial, 1012 Trevitt Street, on Monday, April 22 from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at The Dalles Evangelical Church, 1001 East 12th Street, on Tuesday, April 23, 2002 with Pastor Tim Clemenson presiding. Interment with military honors will be at the DeMoss Cemetery near Moro (Oregon. Memorial contributions may be made to the Coernbecher Children's Hospital or to the American Caner Society. The Dalles Chronicle April 21, 2002 Written permission to reprint obituary given by The Dalles Chronicle, The Dalles, Oregon. Copied and submitted by Earline Wasser