Benjamin Osburn “Ozzie” Shaw, Jr., 90, of Sweet Home, Oregon passed away Tuesday, December 29, 2015 in Vancouver, Washington.

He was born in Clarendon, Arkansas to Benjamin Shaw and Lottie Dugan. When Ozzie was two years old, his father was killed and he was raised by his mom. His family moved to Kansas, and then to Red Oak, Iowa, where Shaw was a multisport athlete. He graduated from high school in 1942.

Ozzie worked with the U.S. Treasury in Washington, D.C., and then, at 18, he enlisted in the Navy Air Corps. After his discharge in 1946, he returned to Red Oak and attended Red Oak Junior College.

He began his surveying career in Montgomery County, Iowa. Soon after being named assistant engineer in 1950, he moved to Sweet Home, and worked for a couple different surveying companies. He then branched out on his own to start a private survey business, Shaw-Dobyns and Associates. His surveying company did well and was a mainstay in Sweet Home for years. In 1981, he was elected as Linn County Surveyor, a title he held for many years.

He married his first wife, Lavonne Brown, in 1947. They were divorced in 1954. He then married Barbara Stone in 1955. They celebrated their 60th anniversary this past year (2015).

Ozzie started the Linn County Park System in 1959 and remained involved ever since. In 1993, the county dedicated the “B. Osburn ‘Ozzie’ Shaw” recreational area at Sunnyside Park. Recently Ozzie was named “Parks Chairman Emeritus for Life,” honoring his 50-plus years of interest and passion for Linn County and its parks.

As a civic leader in Sweet Home, Ozzie was heavily involved in Rotary, the Elks, and more recently in the Senior Center. Many didn’t know, but he spent more than 20 years running the score board at the Sweet Home High School football games. He enjoyed being involved in other local activities, such as helping with the Sportsman’s Holiday parade and the yearly Easter Egg hunt.

Ozzie is survived by his wife of 60 years, Barbara; sister Charlene Corrin of Fresno, CA; son John Bingham of Lake Havasu City, AZ; daughter Kathleen Shaw of Mukilteo, WA; daughter Maureen Davis of Culver, OR; son Randy Bingham of Lake Havasu City, AZ; son Ben Shaw of Scappoose, OR; and son Mike Shaw of Vancouver, WA; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Ozzie was preceded in death by his father in 1928 and his mother in 1995.

A celebration of his life will be held at 11:00 a.m., on January 9th at Sweet Home Evangelical Church with a reception to follow. Contributions can be made in lieu of flowers to the Sweet Home Crisis Pregnancy Center or to Linn County Parks.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.