Russell Alan Rainey

Russ was born in Monroe, Louisiana to Dr. Oliver Charles (O.C.) Raney and Betty Jean Heath Raney on February 1, 1952. After a short time, the family moved to Pine Bluff, Arkansas where Russ remained until his graduation from Pine Bluff High School.

During his college days at Westminster College in Fulton, MO, Russ enjoyed studying German and his many fraternity brothers of SAE. In his junior year he studied abroad in Germany and became enamored with the wines in Baden and nearby, in Alsace. Returning home to the US, Russ knew he wanted to do something with wine.

Following college, Russ made his home in St. Louis, MO. He experimented with planting grape vines in one of oldest US pre-Prohibition wine regions near Augusta, MO. He became manager of the retail wine shop called Cheshire Cellars located in a St. Louis landmark called The Cheshire Inn.

Cheshire Cellars became a popular hang-out for the many friends Russ made in his time in St. Louis. Often, Russ and friends would be in search of a meal following an after-hours wine tasting. During one of these evening expeditions, they chose to have dinner in a new place where Russ noticed a young server. He called her at work the next day, asking her out on a date. Uncertain of which young man was asking her out, Mary Ann Mattingly, recalling how sweetly entertaining this entire group of guys were, said, "Yes!"

Mary and Russ were married in Fulton, MO at St. Mary Aldermanbury, a church designed and built by English architect, Christopher Wren. Stone by stone, this church was reconstructed at its current sight at Westminster College, following the bombing of London in WWII. Winston Churchill made his famous “Iron Curtain” speech here, and the church now houses the Churchill Museum on the Westminster Campus.

The Pacific Northwest and its new wine industry beckoned Russ and Mary. They landed, first, in Portland, Oregon. Russ worked in the wine wholesale business for a while and then, in retail, where he helped late owner, Rachel Starr, establish Great Wine Buys in 1984. (GWB is Portland’s oldest independent wine shop and is still operating today.) GWB’s back room became another after hours wine tasting venue where many friendships were made. Soon, Russ became winemaker at Adams Winery, Portland’s first urban winery located in NW Portland. Russ made the first vintage 1984 Pinot Noir under the Adams Winery label.

Between 1983 and 1986, Russ and Mary scoured the mid-Willamette Valley, looking for the perfect piece of land that would become their property for Evesham Wood Vineyard and Winery, established in 1986. Russ made and sold his stellar wines and Mary ran the business side. He was one of the first winemakers in the Willamette Valley to leave his wines unfiltered, as was done in Burgundy, to keep the flavor of the wines fully intact. Russ, along with winemaker and friend, John Paul of Cameron Winery, became founders of the Deep Roots Coalition (drc) It’s mission championed the preservation of water, as well as, wines, from dry-farmed grapes, that express the unique flavors of their terroir. In the fall of 1996, Russ and Mary looked up from their work and realized, they had no progeny. In June 1997, Aidan was born.

After 24 years of making notable wines, Russ handed over the reins to Erin Nuccio, a faithful intern, and his wife Jordan, in 2010. Erin, building on the traditions and wine style that Russ established, has taken the business to a larger, more polished iteration of Evesham Wood, which he and Jordan still own and operate.

Russ died from complications of Frontotemporal Dementia, a rare neurological brain disease. His wonderfully created brain was donated to the Oregon Brain Bank at Oregon Health and Sciences University. His good nature allowed family and friends to find humor in the disinhibition that often accompanies FTD. “UNFILTERED” a term found on many early bottles of his wine, became an apt label for the front of a T-shirt he might eventually wear!

Russ was predeceased by his parents, Betty and Oliver as well as his little brother, Ricky. He is survived by his wife, Mary, and his son, Aidan. He is also survived by his siblings, Charles “Randy” Raney (Karen), LeahBeth Simon (Dan) and Lisa Raney-Batham (Steve), their spouses and a number of nieces and one nephew.

A funeral for Russell (Russ) Rainey of Salem, Oregon will be held on Saturday, August 27, 2022 at 1:00pm at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church located at 3295 Ladd Avenue NE, Salem, OR 97301. A reception will follow. For more information call 503.363.0601.

A memorial celebration for Russell (Russ) Rainey of Salem, Oregon will be held on Sunday, August 28, 2022 at 3:00pm at Evesham Wood Vineyard and Winery located at 3795 Wallace Road NW, Salem, Oregon 97304. For more information call 503.371.8478.

Memorial donations may be made to The AFTD online at https://www.classy.org/give/381228/#!/donation/checkout or sent by mail to:. The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, 2700 Horizon Dr, Ste 120, King of Prussia, PA 19406

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to OHSU foundation in the name of Layton Aging and Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. Donations may be sent there as well.