Russ Jolley's Bequest Helps Educate the Public

Like Nancy Russell, Russ adopted a near lifetime devotion to the Columbia Gorge and when a newspaper reporter once asked Russ why he never married, he slyly said that the Gorge was his "mistress." Russ wrote Wildflowers of the Columbia Gorge, required reading for any Gorge wildflower enthusiast and led Friends' hikes for decades, attracting a following of devoted fans. Russ died at the age of 86, and though he left this world with few monetary resources, he bequeathed his entire estate to Friends of the Columbia Gorge. His bequest has helped us educate the public about the some of the very special living treasures of the Columbia Gorge. His legacy to the entire Gorge is incalculable.