Ernest Robert Osier was born in Kelso, Washington, on November 7, 1927, to Robert and Arva (Boylan) Osier. He was the oldest of three boys and one girl. He grew up in Skamania, Washington while his Dad worked on the construction of the Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River. In the mid-30's, after the Dam was built, the family moved to Kalama Washington, another small town on the Columbia. It was not unusual during this time for abandoned boats to be seen floating down the river and Ernie managed to catch two such boats by the time he was 12 years old. Even at that young age he showed a knack for making things work and he was able to fix both boats and make them sea worthy. During high school Ernie worked as a Projectionist at the Kalama Theatre and was a drummer in the school band.

He joined the Army in 1947 where he was promoted to Corporal in 1948, and taught math in the Army Signal Corp on the Island of Hawaii. After his Honorable discharge in 1950 he went to work in Los Angeles at McDonald Douglas as a Lofts Man, working on the DC-9 design. It was during his time at McDonald Douglas, that he became a self-taught Mechanical Engineer. Ernie later moved back to the Pacific Northwest where he built his first house on a hill above Willamette, Oregon. There he worked as a Machine Design Engineer in the Fruit, Vegetable, and Seafood industries.

Ernie was a brilliant Machine Designer and was credited with numerous innovative designs that improved the fruit, vegetable, and seafood handling and packaging processes throughout the 60's, 70's and 80's. Ernie retired to Seaside, Oregon in the late 80's where he built his second house. He was later diagnosed with Alzheimer's and finally moved to Brush, Colorado where he lived at Sunset Manor until his death.

Ernie was an avid hunter and fisherman, but he always believed that a man should hunt and fish not for the sport but to feed his family. He was an outdoorsman who loved nature and appreciated all it had to offer. His annual vacations were trips to the Blue Mountains of Oregon where he would take his family and go camping in the summer and Elk hunting in the fall. He was also an avid gardener and arborist, canning the fruit and vegetables he grew in his garden and orchard. Ernie was a Jack of all trades and a Master of most.

He was Father to one daughter, Geri-Ann, and one son, Jay Carl, and was looked to as a mentor by several young Hunters, Fishermen, and Engineers. Ernie passed away quietly and comfortably on March 27, 2017 at Sunset Manor. He was preceded in death by his youngest Brother (Kenny) his Mother and Father, Sister Lois and his second wife Gretchen. He is survived by his Brother Arthur, his first wife Geri, his Daughter, Son, Daughter-in-Law Renee, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Ernie loved life and never hid behind adversity. He will be missed by his family, friends, caregivers, and fellow residents at Sunset Manor.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 1, 2017, at 11:00 AM at the Snyder Bible Church in Snyder. Military honors by the US Army will presented at the Church. The service does conclude at the Church.