System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!Zelda Marie Allen
ZELDA MARIE ALLEN, 86, formerly of Ashland, passed away Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at her home in Medford, attended by her family. She was born to Henry and Freda Sybrant in Josie, Nebraska on September 8, 1924. Zelda attended school in Harrison, Nebraska, and graduated 8th grade in Strickler, Arkansas.
Zelda married James "Jim" W. Allen on May 5, 1942 in Ontario, California. They settled in Ashland in the early 1950's and raised their family of three daughters. Zelda worked in the home, pursuing vegetable gardening, canning, sewing and bread baking. Girl scouting gave Zelda a passion for camping and hiking.
Zelda loved to travel, especially in her little motor home with her dear friend, Marge McCartney. Camping with her family gave her great joy. Her retirement years were filled with needlecrafts, reading, crossword puzzles and watching birds at the feeder and bath from her kitchen window. She became a beloved member of Set Free Christian Fellowship where she was everyone's "Grandma Zelda".
Zelda is survived by two daughters, Pat (Jerry) Peters, and Zena (Larry) Palmer, both of Medford, Oregon; grandchildren Tony (Julie) Reeder, Ashland, Oregon, Scott Reeder, and Heather Hoyle, both of Medford, Oregon, Mark (Dawn) Peters, Christine (Dan) Ryan and Keri Scheuritzel of Connecticut; great-grandchildren Tyler Aguiar, Travis and Matthew Reeder, Jeremy Buckalew, Skyler Hoyle; Tristan Everett, Grace Hoyle, Shane, Zachary, Shaylyn, MiKayla and Carsen Peters; James Riley and Chayton Scheuritzel; her brother, Roy (Laura) Sybrant of Prairie Grove, Arkansas; and numerous nieces and nephews.Zelda was preceded in death by her husband, James Allen (1968), infant son, "Jimmy" Allen (1943), daughter Mary Jeska (2007), father, Henry Sybrant (1962), mother, Fred Sybrant (1969), and sister Jane Moore (1988).
A public viewing will be held at Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home, 1811 Ashland Street, Ashland, Oregon from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 9, 2011. Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, March 10, 2011 at Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Scenic Hills Memorial Park, Ashland, Oregon.
Many thanks to the staff at Providence Hospice for their care, assistance and guidance during the final days of Zelda's life.
Parker T. Hess
Parker Thomas Hess, former Ashland Postmaster and a longtime resident of Ashland, died June 13, 2011 at a foster home in Medford. He was 93.
Born on June 14, 1917 in Riggins, Idaho, Parker was the eighth of ten children born to Jennie Hess and Allen Orville Hess. After moving around during the first decade of his life, Parker's family settled in Ashland in 1927. Three years later, tragedy befell the family following the sudden death of Parker's mother and the economic difficulties of the Depression.
After living briefly in Jacksonville following his mother's passing, Parker returned to Ashland and made the town his permanent home. During his teenage years, the community of Ashland took Parker under its wing and allowed him to grow and thrive despite his trying family circumstances. He held various jobs to make ends meet, and for several years he lived on A.E. "Ally" Powell's enclosed back porch and then at the local fire hall. In 1936, he graduated from Ashland High School, where he was a star athlete in football, basketball, and baseball. He briefly attended Southern Oregon Normal School until financial difficulties arose. During World War II, he was stationed in San Francisco as a Naval Shore Patrol Officer.
Throughout his adult life Parker was a well-known fixture in the Ashland community. He was the town's first motorcycle police officer, and from 1951-73, he served as Postmaster of the local Post Office. Over the years, Parker was also a sports referee, Boy Scout leader, Rotarian, and local billiards champion. He attended the Methodist and Presbyterian churches and belonged to the Toastmasters and Postmasters clubs. He participated in local coffee klatches nearly every morning for over half a century. In 2007, Parker and his wife Gertie served as Grand Marshals of the 4th of July Parade. In 2009, Parker was recognized for 70 years of service with the local Elks Lodge. More important than the memberships and activities, however, Parker treasured and supported the community of Ashland-from the high-school athletes of the day to local business owners and their employees to friends and neighbors he met over the years.
In February 1941, Parker married Gertie Wenner, an Ashland native and his lifelong soulmate. Together they raised three children and were married for over seven decades. In retirement Parker and Gertie enjoyed traveling. Parker was foremost a family man, and he cared deeply about the well being of his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren. He is survived by his wife Gertie, son Steve (Billie) Hess of Sun City West, Ariz., son Tod (Peggy) Hess of Beaverton, Ore., daughter Susan Yates of Ashland. Grandchildren are Paul (Tam) Hess, Mark (MinhHai) Hess, Frank Honts, Melinda (Honts) (Chris) Williamson, Natalie (Glen) Long and Stephanie (Mark) Spohnhauer, 14 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
His family recalls many fond memories of Parker/Dad/Gramps: going fishing, hunting, and camping, taking walks and playing in Lithia Park, singing silly children's songs, watching home movies, listening to bedtime stories, and laughing along with his practical jokes. The family will remember his undying humor and love of laughter in every aspect of his life. He will be missed.
A celebration of Parker's life will be held Saturday, July 2nd at the First Presbyterian Church (Siskiyou and Walker) at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made either to the Ashland Schools Foundation, 100 Walker Avenue, Ashland, or the Ashland Elks Lodge No. 944, Harrison Scholarship Fund, PO Box 569, Ashland. Arrangements by Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home, (541)-482-2816.
Charles Roy Meek
CHARLES ROY MEEK, 86, passed away February 27, 2012 in Ashland, Oregon.
Charles was born March 5, 1925 in Montague, California to Walter Ray Meek and Ora Isabel Meek (Kegg) of Montague, California. He was a descendant of the early Siskiyou County pioneer John Kegg who arrived in 1852.
Charles graduated from Yreka High School in 1943 and upon graduation enlisted in the U. S. Navy. He served for three years in the South Pacific as a Radio Operator in the Armed Guard. After the ending of World War II he attended San Jose State University and graduated as an Engineer. His profession took him to several cities and areas throughout the United States, including Bucks County Pennsylvania, Austin, Texas, Los Angeles and San Jose, California, and Corvallis and Ashland, Oregon. His work involved the quality control and manufacturing of building materials and the design and construction management of civil and municipal water systems projects. After 25 years with CH2M HILL he retired to Ashland, Oregon.
In Ashland he was actively engaged as a volunteer for the BLM, Rogue Valley Medical Center, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Ashland Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Ashland Rotary Club, Rogue Fly Fishers, and Rogue Valley Amateur Radio Club. His interests were exploring in the Oregon outdoors and enjoyed fly fishing, hunting, camping and reading early American western history.
Surviving is his daughter, Lynne E. Evey and husband Roger of Morro Bay, California; a sister, Carolyn Haley Weggers and husband Bill of Everett, Washington; and his partner, Sharon L. Nelson of Ashland, Oregon. Two daughters, Janette C. Merriman and Lorene Karen Meek, and his wife of 45 years, Patricia L. (Reed) Meek, and brother, Harry W. Meek, preceded him in death.
No services are planned. Arrangements by Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home, Ashland, Ore.
Harry Wendell Hyde
Harry Wendell Hyde, 90, of Medford, Oregon died Saturday, October 1, 2011 at Providence Hospital in Medford.
Wendell was born May 6, 1921 in Tipton, Iowa the son of Bertha and Harry Hyde. He graduated from Taylor University in Indiana, he also graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary was ordained and pastored a Christian & Missionary Alliance church for a short while, later acquiring a master’s degree in Physics Education at the University of Arizona in Flagstaff.
Wendell moved to Santa Barbara, CA in 1960 where he taught high school science courses for 26 years at Santa Barbara High School until his retirement in 1986. He moved to Pasadena, CA continuing, now as a full time volunteer, at the U.S. Center for World Missions working in the Mobilization department. Wendell spent the last 6 years of his life living in Medford, OR near his daughter, Jane and family.
Wendell was active as a 25 year board member of the SB Rescue Mission as well as participating in Christian Business Men’s Committee and also contributed to The Far Eastern Broadcasting Corporation and World Vision and other Christian organizations.
As an astronomy buff, Wendell taught Westmont College night courses teaching in the Astronomy program and presenting for the SB Planetarium as needed.
Surviving are: his daughter, Jane Gorevin of Medford, a son, Joseph Hyde of Santa Barbara, grandchildren, Johnny Rodriguez, Loretta Gorevin-Sandoval and Kathryn Gorevin, great grandchildren, Isabel and Rachel.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis and two children, Wendy and Teddy.
Marguerite (“Marge”) Comstock
Born October 5, 1914 Died January 1, 2012
Marge’s heritage is German on both sides, as was much of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in her childhood. Three of her four grandparents were born in Germany.
Her mother’s father grew potatoes in central Wisconsin on a glacial lake. Marge recalled fondly skinny-dipping in this lake as a child and enjoying big family meals in the farmhouse. Her mother left to work in Milwaukee, where she met her husband, August Haase.
Marge’s father’s parents were wealthy 3rd generation fine furniture factory owners when they emigrated from Berlin in 1858. Her grandfather Haase was bitter about having to leave because of political events and made furniture out of his home after settling in this country, though her grandfather’s brothers started new businesses here. Marge’s father was the youngest child and the only one to be born in the USA. His sisters had been born in Germany.
Her father, August Haase, was a furniture maker born in 1873. Marge adored him. He worked as an apprentice age 13-17 for his uncle and by 18 was manager of a new factory. Carefully saving his pay, he banked them with his father with the dream of building his own factory. However, his father, having lost his own factory back in Berlin and apparently certain that he was saving his son from a similar loss, refused to give his son back his own money, even after August had laid the foundations.
Having given up his dream, at 30 when his father finally died, he took only his own money from his father’s estate to build a house for his family. Later the accountant at the factory where he worked inherited a lot of money and convinced August to go into business with him. They made billiard tables, bowling alleys, and the grand bars for saloons out west. As part of the job, August traveled to the South to buy hardwoods off boats from Africa. He also traveled out west to measure saloons and design the wood paneling and bars, proud that they always fit without any need for modification. At one time he held over 30 patents.
Marge was the sixth of seven children. The oldest, Dorothy (Dottie) was regarded as a flapper and had a son (Griffie) whom Marge’s mother raised as if he were her own. Then came four brothers, Herman (who died at 14 of blood poisoning), Elmer, Oliver and Milton, then Marge and, four years younger, her sister Dolores. Elmer, who attended Marquette University and became an engineer, was assigned by Marge’s mother to oversee Marge’s studying. The other two brothers were police officers. Dolores became head surgical nurse in a Milwaukee hospital and married a farmer outside of the city. All of Marge’s siblings have passed away.
In her youth, Marge was an athlete. Captain of her volleyball team, she was proud that “they never lost a game.” She excelled at golf which she played every morning and had a low handicap. All summer she swam the Milwaukee River with her brothers near their home. As one of the younger children, she was always working hard to keep up with the older ones and not be left behind.
Marge did well in school, bringing home a report card with all A’s . Her mother said it “looked like wallpaper.” When she entered high school she was taken out of academic courses in which she excelled, and forced to take secretarial courses, which she hated. This was one of the tragedies of her life. She wanted to become a designer.
Like most women in her time, Marge was not expected to or supported in going to college. Also, the Depression had begun. Marge didn’t even have enough money for bus fare so we walked to downtown Milwaukee to the design school in an attempt to get a scholarship. Decades later, she graduated from the prestigious New York School of Interior Design, and, after moving to California was invited to teach this subject at the Santa Rosa College. Thus, despite not going to college in her youth, she was delighted to be a professor.
On September 11, 1937, at the age of 22, Marge married Roy Comstock, son of southern Minnesota farmers. Educated at the University of Minnesota, Roy was an electrical engineer and had a job with Cutler-Hammer, an electrical control firm. Because he was doing vital war work, Roy was asked to resign his commission in the Army and the family moved to the New York City area. As an engineer, Roy designed controls for cruisers, submarines, and PT boats. He later became Vice-President and Chief Engineer of O.Z. Electrical Manufacturing Company, which he helped build and expand. There, he continued to design controls, including those for ballistic missile silos, to install high tension wires in bridges including the Golden Gate and Bay bridges, and to create “ground fault” devices so wires could be installed underground instead of on poles. As chair of a professional committee, he helped write the electrical codes for the USA. He was in Who’s Who.
Marge’s mother died of a sudden stroke while Marge was early in her second pregnancy. Miscarrying, Marge had a near-death experience meeting her guardian angel. After the young family moved to the New York area during the war, Marge’s father would live with the family in the cold half of the year, to escape the rigors of winters in Milwaukee. While east, he remodeled the kitchen, made furniture (which Marge designed), built a boat, and played with his grandchildren. In his last years he moved to a local Lutheran old age home, dying at age 92.
In summers the family often went by car to the Midwest, where they visited family members on farms in southern Minnesota and eastern Wisconsin.
Marge and Roy enjoyed traveling together. When the children were older, Marge would join Roy on some of his business trips. They also traveled with friends to various European countries and to Morocco. They visited Kani when she worked in Japan and enjoyed Hawaii on the way. Marge travelled for a month with Kani in China, Hong Kong, and Japan where Kani was doing business.
Marge and Roy had four children, Craig in 1939, Constance (Kani) in 1941, Bruce in 1943, and Barbara in 1947. Marge was determined that the boys and girls would be treated equally and all given encouragement and support to pursue college educations, and do what they loved. All attended public school in White Plains, NY, and Craig also went to Concordia Prep in nearby Bronxville. For college, Craig went to Harvard; Kani to Valparaiso University in Indiana; Bruce to University of Colorado-Boulder; and Barbara to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. All of the children proceeded to do graduate work.
Of Marge’s children, Craig has worked as a research institute and foundation director, author, artist, and book creation coach; Kani as a research biochemist, director and creator of schools for English as a second language in Tokyo and USA, director of cultural exchange programs, teacher of the Hoffman Process and life coach; Bruce as a computer systems designer, owner of a hot-air balloon manufacturing company and champion balloonist; Barbara as an artist, a Hoffman teacher, and a life coach.
After Roy retired, he and Marge moved to Santa Rosa, California, at a time when three of their children lived in the Bay Area. After Roy’s Alzheimer’s made it impossible for Marge to provide the 24-hour care he needed, they moved to Ann Arbor, near Bruce, the site of a good nursing home. Visited every day by Marge, Roy died in 1986. They dearly loved each other. Marge often said she dreamed about him.
Marge became a real estate agent in Ann Arbor and, with the help of her interior design skills, she was the top sales person in her office. Earning certificates from the Graduate Real Estate Institute, she worked in Ann Arbor and California until she was 79 years old.
After Roy’s death in 1986, Marge moved back to the Bay Area and then, at the age of 85, to Ashland, Oregon. She was joined in Ashland first by her two daughters, and later by Craig and then Bruce. Marge lived in her own house until 2006, in an independent living apartment, and finally in a house shared with Kristine Pandey, a loving care-giver. She was also lovingly cared for by Julie Dawson and Sandra Foulk as well as her four children.
After many years of living in other places in the USA and in other countries, Marge’s four children and their partners now all live in Ashland and enjoy seeing each other frequently.
Marge’s only grandchild, Courtney and her husband, Matt, have a son, Baden, born in December 2004. They live in Melbourne, Australia. All of Marge’s or Roy’s siblings are deceased.
John B. Alexander
John Brockett Alexander was born June 13, 1927 in Portland, Oregon to John Billings and Helen Parker Alexander. John grew up in many places following his civil engineer father who was building dams across the United States.
He graduated high school from the Kentucky Military Institute in Louisville, Kentucky. He returned to Oregon to attend Oregon State University. He graduated with a Business Administration degree in 1949.
While at OSU, John met the love of his life Vera Bishop. They were married in August 1949 and just recently celebrated their 62nd anniversary.
He is survived by his wife, Vera and their three children John Bishop and wife Denise, Scott Tracy and wife Ivaly, and daughter Carol Ann Baker and husband Ken. They have five grandchildren, Neil Alexander, Tucker Alexander, Kristyn Baker, Austin Baker, and Kasey Baker.
John served our country in the Navy during World War II and the Korean War. He was a store manager for the J. C. Penney Company for over 38 years. He managed stores in Enterprise, Oregon, Gresham, Oregon, Portland, Oregon, Bremerton, Washington, Phoenix, Arizona and Hanford, California. John was an avid golfer and a devoted member of the Episcopal Church where ever they lived. John was a lay Eucharistic Minister since 1953 and a vestry member in five different parishes. He is a past president of the Gresham Rotary club and he and his wife delivered food for the Food and Friends program. He enjoyed gardening and reading United States History.
Contributions in his memory may be made to St. Mark’s Memorial Fund, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 426 West 6th Street, Medford, OR 97520 or to a charity of your choice.
Michael R. Neathamer
Mike, also known to friends and family as "Hammer" and "Pops", passed away on Tuesday, April 5, 2011. He was born on July 8, 1945, and a longtime resident of Medford, Ore.
Most knew him as a GREAT Car Man, HAM of the Group, a HUGE Pet Lover, an ALL Star Athlete (Go #14!), an AVID Fisherman, LOVED to Golf, and he had a CONTAGIOUS Laugh!
He is survived by his wife, Annette; children, Natasha, Chris, and stepdaughter, Bridgette; three sisters; one brother; nephews, nieces, cousins; and one grandson.
He is now at peace and not in pain anymore, joining his parents and loved ones in Heaven. He will be forever missed by his friends and family!
A memorial service will be announced at a later time. Cards, letters, or notes may be sent to Neathamer Family, C/O Litwiller Funeral Home, 1811 Ashland Street, Ashland, OR 97520.
William Weston "Bill" Patton
William Weston Patton, Oregon Shakespeare Festival's first general manager and executive director, died at home in Ashland, Ore., on January 13, 2011, following a long journey with prostate cancer. Patton led the Oregon Shakespeare Festival from 1953 to his retirement in 1995. He was 83.
Born September 22, 1927, in Medford, Ore., Bill Patton was the youngest of Edith Warner and Hamilton Patton's four children. His theatrical and entrepreneurial flair became apparent early. Billy Patton was known for the dramatic marionette and puppet shows he designed and performed in his basement (admittance 2 cents). Not too many years later, young Bill was running a fireworks stand, investing the proceeds in new puppets and moving performances to the window of Mann's Department Store. Patton attended Medford High School, where he designed lighting for school plays and dances. He graduated in 1945. He met Angus L. Bowmer, founder of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF), when he did lights for Bowmer's wartime Medford Little Theatre production, "Deadlier Than The Male". Patton attended Stanford University, but his studies were interrupted by two years proud service with the United States Army Air Forces. He returned to Stanford on the GI Bill, earning a degree in drama with a minor in journalism.
Patton started spending summers working at the Festival in Ashland in 1948, initially as a lighting technician and soon as actor, wardrobe assistant and lighting director. Following his graduation and the close of the 1951 OSF season, Patton was hired at Columbia Broadcasting System in Hollywood as a production assistant and stage hand. He worked on leading radio and television shows including I Love Lucy, Jack Benny, and Burns and Allen. During the summers Patton continued his work at OSF.
Bowmer appointed Patton general manager in 1953, making him the Festival's first full-time employee. A steadfast steward of the Festival, Patton had a deep appreciation for the collaborative nature of theatre and led OSF in partnership with three artistic directors: Angus Bowmer, Jerry Turner and Henry Woronicz. In 1981, Patton's title changed to executive director and he commenced another important partnership by hiring Paul Nicholson as general manager. Patton's proudest achievements include the construction of the Festival's performing spaces, as conceived by his longtime friend and colleague OSF's senior scenic and theatre designer, Richard L. Hay: The Elizabethan Theatre (1959), the Angus Bowmer Theatre (1970), the Black Swan (1977), and the Allen Pavilion of the Elizabethan Stage (1992). In 1993 he received the Oregon Governor's Award for the Arts. His life and work have also been honored by the Shakespeare Theatre Association, Institute of Outdoor Drama, American Shakespeare Center, Arts Management Magazine, Ashland Chamber of Commerce, Lewis & Clark College, and Southern Oregon University.
A Medford native, Patton treasured his friendships and associations within the Rogue Valley. He understood the theatre would never flourish without community goodwill and the dedicated service of countless volunteers. He devoted himself to building understanding between the community and the Festival. He was a long-time member of Rotary, past president of the Ashland Chamber of Commerce, board member of the Southern Oregon Humane Society and On Track and an elder of First Presbyterian Church of Ashland.
Patton's love of theatre and appreciation for what it takes to produce it extended beyond the Festival. He was an avid audience member and supporter of other theatre companies near and far.
In addition to theatre, Patton's passions included his family, travel and gardening.
He found his life's partner, Shirley Douglass, in the summer of 1958, when Shirley came to OSF to join the acting company. They were married December 27 in Portland, Ore. In 1961, they built their Ashland dream home, Treetops, on the hill above the Festival. That same year daughter Kristin was born, followed by Kent, in 1963, and Will, in 1968. Treetops became home to many, including Shirley's mother, Belle Douglass, and four foreign exchange students that became like daughters (Pia Kummer, Gisela Spann, Laurence Claeyssens and Naoko Itabashi). Treetops also provided shorter-term hospitality to a multitude of friends and family. Every year at Christmas time, Bill would climb the tallest pine tree near the house and string holiday lights. The Patton Tree became an annual beacon of the season for generations of Rogue Valley Residents.
Patton delighted in the new experiences, adventures and shared memories of travel. There were cruises to Hawaii, the Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal and the Mediterranean as well as a number of trips to Europe. Bill and Shirley developed a special affinity for Kauai, returning often to the Garden Island.
Patton loved to garden and grow things, bringing in fresh-cut flowers to Shirley, tending to tropical orchids, and sharing the bounty of his garden with friends and co-workers. Generations of children fondly recall helping to harvest and feast upon Patton berries.
Patton felt most fortunate to have a life in theatre while being deeply rooted in community. He was thankful not to have to live the nomadic life more typical of theatre people, but to raise his family in one home where he could nurture deep friendships, participate in community life and create a quiet garden. He was a kind and gentle man, known for his perseverance and fondness for bad puns.
Patton is pre-deceased by his parents; sisters, Doris Harris and Helen Casey; and brother, Kenneth. He is survived by his wife, Shirley Douglass Patton; stepbrother, Charles R. Braley (Goodie); and stepsister, Nancy Fox; half sisters, Jean Patton Ashcraft and Julie Patton Barker; children, Kristin Patton (John Coleman), of La Grange, Ill.; Kent (Amy) Patton, of Ashland, Ore.; Will (Shalem) Patton, of Portland, Ore.; grandchildren, Jed, Katie, Lilli, Jo, Zack, Kate and Cade; and a large and loving extended family including sisters-in-law, nephews and nieces, foreign exchange students and theatre family.
A celebration of Bill Patton's life is planned for Friday, February 4, 2011. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Ashland, 1615 Clark Avenue. The service will be followed by a reception from 4:30 6:30 pm in the lobby of the Angus Bowmer Theatre, 15 S. Pioneer.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Bill and Shirley Patton Education Fund of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, 15 S. Pioneer Street, Ashland, OR 97520 or in support of Ashland Community Hospital Hospice through contributions to the ACH Foundation, P.O. Box 98, Ashland, OR 97520. You are also encouraged to spontaneously share a fresh cut flower or succulent berry with someone you love.
Kathryn Yvonne Mearns
A private family service for Kathryn Yvonne Mearns will be held on her birthday. Mrs. Mearns, 89, of Ashland, died Saturday, November 12, 2011 at the New Dawn Adult Foster Home near Jacksonville, OR.
She was born December 22, 1921 in Armington, Montana the daughter of Robert and Kathryn Siegling. She graduated from Belt High School in Belt, Montana and the Carroll College in Great Falls, Montana.
On October 24, 1941 at Butte, Montana she married William D. Mearns who preceded her in death in 2004.
She moved with her family to Talent, Oregon in 1949 where she and her husband managed the Par-A-Dise Motel that was owned by her parents. In 1956 they moved to Ashland and built a home on Holly Street in 1959. She was a member of the Eastern Star.
For 35 years she taught 2nd grade at Talent Elementary School. During this time she taught hundreds of “her kids” how to read and write. She was very proud of the accomplishments of her students as they grew up.
She and her husband, Bill, spent their retirement years in Yuma, AZ, Brookings, OR and the Rogue Valley. They made many trips to watch their grandson, Scott, play baseball and basketball. They traveled to China, Hawaii, the Caribbean, the Northeast in the Fall, and many other shorter trips. But most of all, she spent time with Bill. Now they are together again.
In May of 2010, Yvonne broke her hip. This ended her independence, but not her enjoyment. She stayed at New Dawn, a foster home in the Applegate Valley, near her daughter and son-in-law. Donita, James, Amber and Tom saw to her every need. Her family was able to spend quality time with her as a result and they are very appreciative for that time.
She is survived by her daughter, Billee Kay and Pete Stemple, her grandson, Scott and Kara Stemple and their two children, Camden and Lela and several nieces and nephews living in Montana.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a sister, Dale.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be donated to the William D. Mearns Scholarship at Ashland High School in her name.
Mark George Settle
Mark George Settle, 95, died at his Jacksonville home on Sunday, February 12, 2012. He is survived by his wife Annabelle and a large extended family.
Mark was born February 21, 1916 in Lone Pine, California, one of eleven children of William and Marion Settle. He graduated from Antelope Valley High School in Lancaster, California and attended Fresno State.
He married Annabelle Fisher on February 18, 1939 and they made their first home in Burbank, California. Mark retired as a Captain on the Burbank Fire Department in 1966. He and Annabelle moved to the Applegate Valley and later to their home in Jacksonville.
Survivors in addition to his wife Annabelle include their children, Nancy (Bruce) Sturm, Kathy (Hasso) Hering, and Margie Smoak, along with fourteen grandchildren, nineteen great grandchildren, eight great-great grandchildren, and numerous caring nieces and nephews. Mark and Annabelle were also loving parents to twenty-two foster children. He was preceded in death by his ten siblings and his son Dan.
A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, February 16, 2012 at Memory Gardens Memorial Park in Medford.
