Jon M. French
Oct. 30, 2025
Jon Michael French, 81, died of heart failure on Oct. 30, 2025, with his wife and daughter at his side.
He was a beloved husband, caring parent, talented musician, loyal friend, committed environmentalist and activist, valued volunteer, and philanthropist.
Jon was born to Nettie Chelson French and Gayle French and raised in Los Angeles. He graduated from Los Angeles High School, UCLA, and then Humboldt State University with a master’s in wildlife biology.
In between UCLA and Humboldt State, Jon worked as a social worker in Los Angeles. After obtaining his master’s degree, he went to work for the United Nations in Iran for two years helping to develop a wildlife museum.
Jon met Patricia (Trish) Ferrell in Oklahoma in 1979 and they married in 1983. In 1984, they started a new adventure by moving to Oregon along with Trish’s daughter, Christy, and son, Brandon, and Jon’s wheelchair-bound mother, Nettie. They moved to Portland so Trish could attend the Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College.
After Trish graduated from law school, they moved from Northwest Portland to a rural area in Clackamas County outside Oregon City. They started and ran Trish’s law firm in Oregon City and West Linn for 30 years. Jon ran the office, worked with clients and was a preeminent researcher.
They gradually reduced their practice and moved to the coast to retire in the Bayshore community north of Waldport in 2019.
Jon became an active volunteer with environmental groups and frequently volunteered with projects for the Bayshore Beach Club homeowners association. He also did bird surveys for Audubon for years, photographed King Tide events for the Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition, helped start a group that monitored water quality and pesticide use in the Beavercreek watershed, and volunteered at the South Lincoln Resource Center in Waldport.
He made an amazing network of wonderful friends in short order and always had a gentle welcoming smile.
Jon passed away at home from heart failure with Trish and Christy at his side. He is survived by his wife, Trish Ferrell-French; daughter, Christy Cutting and her husband, Eric, of Roseburg; and Brandon Cutting of Hidden Valley Lake, Calif. and his wife, Megan, and their children Keegan and Trevor.
People wishing to make donations in Jon’s name can do so to Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition, Elakha Alliance, Waldport Food Share or South Lincoln Resources.
