Obituary for Neil C. Ausman
Neil Conrad Ausman, age 88, was born November 22, 1934 in Lewiston, ID. On February 21, 2023, he
passed into the arms of his Savior Jesus Christ. Neil is survived by his wife, Joan Grimsby, children Sheri
Louthan (Lamar), Lori McKinney (Doug), Ed Ausman (Jody), step children Anne Hougham (Francis), Eric
Grimsby (Judy), and David Grimsby. Neil’s grandchildren include Kayla Thomas (Brett), Kendra Marvin
(Kurt), Kerri Schnider, Samuel Louthan (Lindsay), John Ausman (Jessie), Cameron Ausman (Brooklyn),
Rachelle Goebel (Matt) and 13 great grandchildren (so far!). Neil is also survived by nieces Diane Duncan
(Jeff), Mary Kay Hayes (Jerry), Marcia Roles (David) and nephew Tom Tower (Becky) as well as numerous
step grandchildren and great nieces and nephews. His family meant everything to him.
Preceding Neil in death were his wife of 55 years, Jean Ausman, parents Dale and Eleanor Ausman, sister
Dalene Braden, in-laws Edwin and Pearl Tower, brother in law Gordon Tower and his wife Kathleen
Tower.
Neil married Jean Tower on October 3, 1954 in Prosser, WA. They had met at WSU summer music camp.
Neil and Jean raised their family and farmed on Windy Ridge Ranch in Asotin, WA. Both were active
members of the Asotin Methodist Church and offered their gifts of music for many years. Neil is
remembered by many as a 4-H Leader and Asotin County Wheat Growers member. Neil participated in
and traveled with the Calam Shriners oriental band and was a supporter of the Shriners Hospitals for
Children. Neil also served as Mayor of the Town of Asotin and was an Asotin County Commissioner from
1977 to 1992. Once retired from farming and politics, Neil and Jean settled in Clarkston, WA and spent
their winters in Arizona for several years. They traveled extensively in their motor home to the Oregon
Coast and made a cross country trip to the East Coast, ending up in Yuma. Neil also drove school bus for
the Clarkston School District. Lots of kids remember him, he had a wonderful way of relating to young
people and they respected and cared about him.
After Jean’s death in 2010, Neil started traveling to AZ again and met Joan Grimsby. They married on
August 31, 2013. Neil and Joan split their time between Yuma, AZ and San Carlos, CA for the past 9 ½
years. They also spent a lot of time traveling and enjoyed several trips and cruises to Europe, the
Panama Canal and Alaska to name a few. Joan showed him a whole new world, literally. They also made
annual treks back to Clarkston to see family and enjoy friends at Asotin Days.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive,
Tampa, FL 33607 or Shrinerschildrens.org, or Gideons International at P.O. Box 97251
Washington, DC 20090-7251 or gideons.org/donate.
Visitation will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 11 th at Merchant’s Funeral Home
in Clarkston. A graveside service will be held at the Asotin City Cemetery on March 11 th at 10 a.m.
Merchant Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
passed into the arms of his Savior Jesus Christ. Neil is survived by his wife, Joan Grimsby, children Sheri
Louthan (Lamar), Lori McKinney (Doug), Ed Ausman (Jody), step children Anne Hougham (Francis), Eric
Grimsby (Judy), and David Grimsby. Neil’s grandchildren include Kayla Thomas (Brett), Kendra Marvin
(Kurt), Kerri Schnider, Samuel Louthan (Lindsay), John Ausman (Jessie), Cameron Ausman (Brooklyn),
Rachelle Goebel (Matt) and 13 great grandchildren (so far!). Neil is also survived by nieces Diane Duncan
(Jeff), Mary Kay Hayes (Jerry), Marcia Roles (David) and nephew Tom Tower (Becky) as well as numerous
step grandchildren and great nieces and nephews. His family meant everything to him.
Preceding Neil in death were his wife of 55 years, Jean Ausman, parents Dale and Eleanor Ausman, sister
Dalene Braden, in-laws Edwin and Pearl Tower, brother in law Gordon Tower and his wife Kathleen
Tower.
Neil married Jean Tower on October 3, 1954 in Prosser, WA. They had met at WSU summer music camp.
Neil and Jean raised their family and farmed on Windy Ridge Ranch in Asotin, WA. Both were active
members of the Asotin Methodist Church and offered their gifts of music for many years. Neil is
remembered by many as a 4-H Leader and Asotin County Wheat Growers member. Neil participated in
and traveled with the Calam Shriners oriental band and was a supporter of the Shriners Hospitals for
Children. Neil also served as Mayor of the Town of Asotin and was an Asotin County Commissioner from
1977 to 1992. Once retired from farming and politics, Neil and Jean settled in Clarkston, WA and spent
their winters in Arizona for several years. They traveled extensively in their motor home to the Oregon
Coast and made a cross country trip to the East Coast, ending up in Yuma. Neil also drove school bus for
the Clarkston School District. Lots of kids remember him, he had a wonderful way of relating to young
people and they respected and cared about him.
After Jean’s death in 2010, Neil started traveling to AZ again and met Joan Grimsby. They married on
August 31, 2013. Neil and Joan split their time between Yuma, AZ and San Carlos, CA for the past 9 ½
years. They also spent a lot of time traveling and enjoyed several trips and cruises to Europe, the
Panama Canal and Alaska to name a few. Joan showed him a whole new world, literally. They also made
annual treks back to Clarkston to see family and enjoy friends at Asotin Days.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive,
Tampa, FL 33607 or Shrinerschildrens.org, or Gideons International at P.O. Box 97251
Washington, DC 20090-7251 or gideons.org/donate.
Visitation will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 11 th at Merchant’s Funeral Home
in Clarkston. A graveside service will be held at the Asotin City Cemetery on March 11 th at 10 a.m.
Merchant Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.