Earl Adams, 81, of Medford, Ore., passed away Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Earl was born in Northampton, Mass., in 1927. He served in the Navy, and while attending a USO Social in a church basement in Norfolk, Va., he met the love of his life, and his wife of nearly 62 years, Virginia Bradshaw. They were married on Dec. 5, 1948. Earl then attended the University of Missouri School of Journalism and worked at the Columbia Daily Tribune there. He started as a reporter at the Mail Tribune in 1955. He later became the city editor and in 1968, was named managing editor. He became associate editor in 1982 and was a leader in bringing computers into the newsroom. Earl was remembered as a calm presence when big news broke on deadline, such as when Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned in October 1973 and when President Ronald Reagan was shot in March 1981. With his wife, Virginia, Earl raised two sons, Greg and Mark, in Medford, and the family was involved in a variety of youth activities. Earl was also was remembered as a wonderful and gifted cook - he was totally self-taught! He also loved working in his yard. After retiring from the paper in December 1992, Adams took up painting, focusing on landscapes of Southern Oregon, including Crater Lake.
Adams is survived by his wife, who still lives in Medford; his sons, Greg (Laurie) Adams, of Vancouver, Wash. and Mark Adams; three granddaughters, Jennifer, Julia and Jillian.; and three sisters in Massachusetts.
A private service was held in October. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to ACCESS Inc.
Nancy May Allan, 60, of Medford, Ore., passed away Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009 at Providence Medical Center.
She was born in Boston, Mass., on April 5, 1949, and lived in the Rogue Valley for 21 years. Her passions, besides her family, were dancing, music, cooking and shopping. Nancy was also a clairvoyant-medium.
She will be missed by her daughter, Lisa (Matthew) Wahl; granchildren, Cody and Alyssa; brothers, Thomas and John J.; sister, Kathleen and dearest friend, Frank.
There will be a celebration of life in the spring.
"Today we live to follow our paths, with love and integrity, to our every tomorrow." - Nancy Allen
Robert J. Curry, 84, of Grants Pass, Ore., passed away Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, at Highland House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Grants Pass. Arrangements are pending with Stephens Family Chapel.
Vern Garvin, 78, of Brookings, Ore., passed away Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009. He was born March 17, 1931, to Doyle and Amanda Garvin, in Gold Beach, Ore., raised on the Chetco River on his family's dairy farm and graduated from BHHS in 1949. After graduation, he worked in the logging industry until 1952, when he was called to serve in the Korean War. He then returned to the Brookings area and his logging job until 1955, when he enrolled in Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls, Ore.
On June 23, 1956, Vern married Dorothy Rowley. The following spring they both finished their Associate's Degree. They then returned to Brookings to start their first business, Curry County Communications, which later became Becco, Inc. The business started as a television repair service or anything that needed to be fixed. Vern added two-way radio communications for marine and logging businesses. He later added 24 hour answering service and emergency dispatch.
In 1960, Vern purchased half of KURY Radio with Norm Oberst and through the years brought FM radio to Curry County. He moved the 284 ft. tower via helicopter from Ocean View Dr. to Dawson Tract. The station was off the air for only five hours.
In 1964, he was granted a Cable TV franchise. In 1972, the engineering and building of Skyline Cable commenced. He installed the first commercial satellite dish west of the Mississippi and brought a wide range of channels to the Southern Oregon coast. In addition he built the systems in Port Orford and Cottage Grove.
In 1987, Vern and his three brothers purchased the McDonough Farm in Sams Valley, near Gold Hill, Ore. In 1991, Vern and his family purchased the farm from the three brothers and Vern and Dorothy spent part time in Brookings and part time in the valley. Vern, never one to rest on his laurels, decided to plant a vineyard in 1999. After planting 70 acres of fruit, the vineyard provides wine grapes for many wineries in Oregon and fruit for the families own label, Cliff Creek Cellars.
Besides keeping busy with all of his business ventures, Vern was an accomplished fixed wing and helicopter pilot since 1957. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and camping with his family. Vern and Dorothy traveled extensively throughout the world, making many friends. He was a member of the Brookings Presbyterian Church and served on countless committees. He was Grand Master of Masons in Oregon in 1985-86 and a 50 year member of the Sidney Croft Lodge #206 in Brookings, Ore. He belonged to Royal Arch, Scottish Rite, Hillah Temple of Shriners, Order of Eastern Star and VFW. He served on the Brookings Chamber Board and the Chetco Federal Credit Union Board.
Vern was a tireless and nameless supporter of the Brookings-Harbor area, providing sound systems to countless community events. He brought Grand Deputies into the community for the Azalea Festival including Mickey Mouse. He believed in the education of our youth and established the Garvin Family Masonic Scholarship. He was a supporter of the Chetco Museum and always had a hand to help anyone in need.
He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Garvin; his three children, Lee Garvin, Roy Garvin and Ruth Garvin; daughter-in-law, Cristi Garvin; grandchildren, Kelly Garvin, Teri Garvin and Cory Garvin; brothers, Walter (Pat) Garvin, Glenn Garvin, Richard (Rainie) Garvin; and a large extended family including Lorraine Gordon, Jeff Gordon and Jill Gordon.
Services will be held on Monday, November 23, 2009, at 10 a.m. at the Brookings Presbyterian Church. The family will also hold a celebration of life at their home on Sams Valley Vineyard, Sunday, November 29, 2009, from 3-6 pm. The address is 1019 McDonough Rd., Gold Hill, OR.
Doris E. Helms, 85, of Central Point, Ore., passed away Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009. Memory Gardens Memorial Park and Mortuary in care of arrangements. www.memorygardensmortuary.com
James I. (Jim) Meredith, 43, passed away Monday, Nov. 16, 2009, at his home in Medford, Ore. Jim is survived by his beloved wife, Georgia; mother, Irene Meredith; two stepchildren, Callie Calicott and Rosemary Riggs; and five siblings, Pam Meredith, Kim Meredith Mate, Sammie Pakros, Tami Meredith and Tom Meredith. Along with being a wonderful son, husband, brother, and stepfather, he mentored five nieces and nephews and one grand-nephew. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert (Bob) Meredith. Jim was an avid outdoorsman, who loved hunting, fishing and gathering mushrooms. He showed tremendous respect for people, and delighted many with his great sense of humor. He had a sharp mind and a gift for remembering facts. Jim was born July 24, 1966, in Medford, Ore. He graduated from Crater High School in 1984. He attended Portland State University and Southern Oregon University. He was a lifelong resident of the Rogue Valley. He married his long-time love, Georgia Riggs on June 4, 2009, in Medford. Jim's mother, Irene, served as their best man. Jim was a Senior Supervisor at Harry and David, where he worked for over 20 years. Jim's life will be celebrated on Saturday, November 21st, at 4:00 p.m. at the Conger-Morris Central Point Chapel. Rev. Garland Shinn will officiate. Reception to follow at Mojomudd in the Winco plaza, next to Dirty Dogz.
Michael E. Norris, 68, of Central Point, Ore., passed away Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009 at Rogue Valley Medical Center. Arrangements Rogue Valley Funeral Alternatives. 770-6505 www.roguevalleyfunerals.com
Eileen M. Peterson, 89, of Jacksonville, Ore., died Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, at Wings of Love Foster Care. Arrangements entrusted to Conger-Morris, Medford. 772-7111.
Douglas Frank Pritchard May 12, 1951-Oct. 29, 2009
A memorial service for Douglas Frank Pritchard, will be held this Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. at the Medford Congregational Church of Christ, 1801 E. Jackson St., Medford.
Roy Rumsey, 89, of Ashland, Ore., passed away Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009 at his home. Hillcrest Memorial Park and Mortuary in care of arrangements. www.hillcrestmortuary.com
Paul Seagoe, 73, of Grants Pass, Ore., passed away Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, at his residence at The Suites Assisted Living Community in Grants Pass. Arrangements are pending with Stephens Family Chapel.
Vita "Gale" Webb, 70, of Medford, Ore., died on Oct. 25, 2009, in her home, surrounded by loved ones.
Gale was born July 7, 1939, in Kansas City, Mo. and moved to the Rogue Valley with her two children in 1981. Although she worked in a variety of industries, her true passion was caring for her family. As a single mother, she faced many struggles over the years and overcame every one with grace, perseverance and love. After attending RCC, Gale contributed her time to volunteer in elementary schools helping young children learn to read and in the Hispanic community helping people with translations and adjusting to their new homes in the United States.
Gale was always there to lend a hand to anyone in need and genuinely cared about everyone she met. She enjoyed journaling, creating beautiful works of art, political discussions, attending her book club with friends, going to PowWow's and bringing her own unique perspective to the support groups she attended. Survivors include her daughters, Paula Webb and Anna Petersen; her son, Kevin; two grandchildren; and her brother, Michael.
A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009, at 3:00 p.m. in her family home. Memorial contributions may be made to Ashland Community Hospice.
Rusty Wimmer peacefully passed on Monday in the compassionate care of his loved ones. He is survived by his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who love him dearly.
Born in Jerome, Ariz., as a teen, Rusty moved with his parents and two sisters to Medford. His family was followed by aunts, uncles and cousins, some of whom live on in the Rogue Valley. He graduated from Medford Senior High in 1947. Over the years, his parents' home was the setting for countless family celebrations and Grandma's Kitchen was one of Rusty's favorite places to be.
Rusty's hands were huge, but not as big as his heart, and his kinship ties extended far beyond his immediate family. Many, many people found a safe haven in his Medford home of forty-five years. Those huge hands could plant a tiny seedling, paint an HO scale train and stroke a cat into serenity. They cradled many a child into slumber and to those children his hands became the whole world.
A mechanic is a craftsman who uses tools to repair machinery and Rusty used his whole body as a tool. With his finger nails, a hammer and a screwdriver, he could repair just about anything. He was a skilled welder who could just as easily create a beautiful rose from barbed wire, as weld a tractor blade.
His two great loves, family and work, were combined in 1980 into businesses that now include a third generation. Rusty's 4X4 and Tom's Bronco Parts grew from a small home business to one that continues to thrive and will carry on Rusty's legacy of hard work.
Some might be surprised to know he retired 18 years ago and he filled his days with model railroading, tending a beautiful and bountiful garden, reading, and spending time with his family, friends and neighbors. As a model railroader, Rusty was transported into a world that might have been limited by the size of his shop, but never by the expanse of his imagination. His garden not only supplied many families with luscious tomatoes, melons, and cucumbers, it was also filled with flowers too many for just his garden alone. It was not uncommon to be gifted a flat of seedlings: seeds that cast out and bloom year after year.
He lived his life one day at a time and was proud to have 53 years of sobriety. The fellowship and community of AA and Ontrack were important parts of his life and he sponsored many people through their own recoveries.
He will be missed by all who were blessed to know him.
His Family gives thanks to the professional care providers at Providence Medical Center. In lieu of flowers you may donate to the Providence Community Health Foundation's Hospice and Home Care Fund at: http://www.providence.org/medford/foundation /funds.htm A Celebration of His Life will be held on December 5th from 1:00-5:00 p.m. at Events on the Peak. For more information call 541-779-1339 or see http://eventsonthepeak.com/brochure_events.p df
Earl Adams
Vern Robert Garvin
Max Herman Wimmer
