John Jamison Overbay

John was born in Bend, Oregon to Charles Overbay and Marguerite Jamison Overbay along with his twin brother, James Overbay (Jim), who is a few moments older than John. John graduated from Bend High School in 1952 while attending Central Oregon Community College (COCC), where he was one of the college's first students. John attended Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon then married his high school sweetheart, Yvonne Wagner in 1954. John enlisted in the Army Reserve, Artillery Unit, in Prineville, Oregon during the Korean War. Sergeant John Overbay was a sharpshooter and served for 3 or 4 years. John went to work for his father-in-law, Irl Wagner, who owned a grocery store (Wagner's), on 3 rd and Greenwood in Bend. During the years, while working for Wagner's, he and Yvonne had 4 children. They decided to move to the Portland area where John went to work for a grocery wholesale company, United Grocers, working in the Store Planning and Engineering Department. John scouted new locations, designed grocery stores (including his own store, Milwaukie Thriftway), and also remodeled grocery stores all over the state of Oregon (including his father-in-law's stores). John was highly active with the Boys Scouts, volunteering as Scout Master, for many years. John's 3 sons enjoyed the scouting program along with him. In 1966, the Wagner's Grocery Store on 3 rd and Revere opened. John convinced Irl to relocate Irl's store (on 3 rd and Greenwood) to 3 rd and Revere, even though people said the location was too far out of town and would not survive. The Wagner Square in Redmond, Oregon opened in 1980 along with the Redmond Cinemas. Shortly after the opening of Wagner Square, John and Yvonne purchased the stores along with the real estate from Irl and Bernice Wagner. This transaction forced John to leave his job with United Grocers (conflict of interest). The Pinebrook Plaza, on the south side of Bend (Hwy 97 and Pinebrook), opened in March of 1990, which was John's last major project. During the early 90's, John's businesses (including Wagner's Price Slasher in Prineville, Oregon), provided over 300 jobs in Central Oregon. In November 1994, the family made an exceedingly difficult decision to sell the Wagner's Super Stores business to Albertson's but kept the real estate that provided employment for several family members, including one of his grandsons (4 th generation with the company). The family managed the Shopping Centers and John enjoyed working with and doing remodels for the tenants over the years. Albertsons became the major anchor tenant for Overbay Development Co LLC. At the time the company sold the Wagner Mall and Pinebrook Plaza in 2019, there were 36 active tenants. The Wagner Square sold in 2020 and John retired at the age of 85. John's work was his hobby. John was also active with the community, sitting on several committees, including the Parkway Planning Committee, St. Charles Medical Center Advisory Committee, and COCC. John was the most active with COCC, serving on the Foundation's Board of Trustees for 20 years, and was elected 4 times to the COCC Board of Directors, serving 13 years. He made donations to St. Charles Medical Center Bend and COCC. The largest donation being $1 million dollars to COCC that started "The John Overbay Endowment" scholarship fund in 2019. John passed away comfortably at his home in Bend, Oregon on Monday, May 1, 2023, at 88 years old. Thank you to Comfort Keeper's and all the amazing caregivers that touched John's life in recent years. You are loved and appreciated for allowing John to live out his life at home. John is survived by his twin brother Jim Overbay, his daughter Connie Overbay, his sons Ronald Overbay and Robert Overbay, 14 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. John is preceded in death by his wife Yvonne Wagner Overbay, his son Tom Overbay, his grandson James LaMere, and 2 great-grandsons. John's service will be held at Niswonger-Reynolds Funeral Home on Friday, May 19th @ 1pm. Donations can be made to COCC's "The John Overbay Endowment" scholarship fund by contacting the COCC Foundation @ 541-383-7225 or mailed to: COCC Foundation Boyle Education Center 2600 NW College Way Bend, OR 97703

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John Jamison Overbay

October 27, 1934 - May 1, 2023