Lavern Holmes
Worked at Bohemia Lumber Co.
Lavern Henry Holmes of Cottage Grove died on Jan. 31, 2000, of congestive heart failure. He was 70.
He was born on May 2, 1929, in Eugene to Frank and Charlotta Holmes.
Mr. Holmes married Mary D. Cornell on Oct. 8, 1994, in Ketchican, Alaska.
He was a mill worker for Bohemia Lumber Co.
He enjoyed gardening, farming and visiting friends and family.
Mr. Holmes was involved in the ministry of the Assembly of God Church.
He is survived by his wife; a daughter, Nancy Hass of Dayton; four sons, Dan Holmes of Tomball, Texas, Sonny Gordon and Tim Cornell, both of Ketchican, Alaska, and Leslie Gordon of Seattle, Wash.; and seven grandchildren.
A memorial was Friday at the Family Praise Center. Inurnment was at Fir Grove Cemetery.
Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel and Crematorium was in charge of arrangements.
Lake Ledford
Served in the U.S. Army
Lake Robert Ledford of Curtin died on Feb. 2, 2000, of age-related causes. He was 82.
He was born on Sept. 30, 1917, in Blairsville, Ga., to Burt and Callie Ledford and married Coy Carringer on April 27, 1939, in Hiawassee, Ga.
He was a resident of Vale before moving to Cottage Grove in 1992.
Mr. Ledford was a logger and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He enjoyed fishing and bird hunting. He was a member of the Baptist Church in Medford.
Mr. Ledford is survived by four sons, Sammy Ledford of Haysville, N.C., Jack Ledford of Twitty, Texas, Vince Ledford of Cottage Grove and Gary Ledford of Tempe, Ariz.; six daughters, Carrie Blanchard of Drain, Wanda Farrell of Madras, Peggy Cook of Cottage Grove, Helen Willis and Linda Ledford, both of Medford, and Betty Steele of Concord, Calif.; three sisters, Truly Odom and Hazel Townsend, both of North Carolina, and Gladys Postell of Sacramento, Calif.; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Ralph Ledford.
The funeral was Monday at Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel. Burial was at Comstock Cemetery in Curtin.
Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel and Crematorium was in charge of arrangements.
Marie A. Marcotte
1920-2001
Marie Annett Marcotte of Creswell died March 29, 2001, of age-related causes. She was 80.
She was born June 15, 1920, in Los Angeles, Calif., to Howard and Marie (Juneau) McNeely.
She married Harold Marcotte in Los Angeles on May 15, 1938. They moved to the area in 1942, and would have celebrated their 63rd anniversary in May.
She spent her time primarily as a homemaker, and was an accomplished cook who enjoyed having company over for dinner. She also enjoyed dancing.
She attended the New Hope Baptist Church in Creswell.
Marcotte was preceded in death by her brother, Howard McNeely.
She is survived by her husband; two sons, Dennis Marcotte of Lake Oswego and Duane Marcotte of Eugene; a daughter, Nadine Fincher of Seminole, Texas; 10 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.
A funeral was held on April 2, 2001, at Lane Memorial Garden Chapel. Lane Memorial Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Kidney Association of Oregon.
Hollie Breeden, Jr.
1934-2001
Hollie H. Breeden, Jr. of Springfield, died June 26, 2001 from complications of diabetes. He was 67.
Mr. Breeden was born May 15, 1934, in San Antonio, Tex. to Hollie H. Breeden, Sr. and Ruby Crawford.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1948 to 1955, including service during the Korean War.
He married Kay Alexander in Jackson, Miss. on August 29, 1964.
Mr. Breeden was an automobile mechanic who enjoyed model railroads and trains, camping, collectiong coins, hunting and fishing, and square dancing.
He was a long time leader in the Boy Scouts of America in Lane County.
Mr. Breeden is survived by his wife, Kay Breeden; two daughters, Cindy Rice of San Antonio, Tex. and Jane Cook of Roseburg; three sons, Hal Breeden of Sacramento, Calif., Jesse Breeden of Eugene, and Steve Breeden of Springfield; a brother, Tommy West of San Antonio, Tex; six sisters, Barbara Luce of San Antonio, Tex., Eva Evans of San Antonio, Tex., Beverly West of San Antonio, Tex., Hattie Rogers of Wichita, Tex., Opal Russell of Wichita, Tex. and Lenora Hilburn of Wichita, Tex.; and two grandchildren.
A memorial service is planned for Sunday, July 8, 2001 at 3:00 p.m. at the Glenwood Christian Church in Eugene.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Olive Rice
1918-2003
Olive Rosella Rice of Cottage Grove died June 8 of congestive heart failure. She was 84.
Rice was born Dec. 4, 1918, in Menlo, Kan., to William and Jennie Carroll Clark.
She married Howard Rice in Eaton, Colo., on June 24, 1936. In 1941, the couple moved to Washington state. They moved to Cottage Grove in 1955.
After graduating from Eugene Business College, Rice started working at the U.S. Forest Service in Cottage Grove. From 1957 to 1967, she and her husband owned and operated the Walker Store.
Rice is remembered as an expert seamstress, a talented artist, and a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She volunteered 15 years as a hostess at the local senior center, where she enjoyed playing cards with friends.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church and belonged to the Mount View Sewing and Quilting Club and to the Thursday Pinochle Club.
Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Jan Winders of Cottage Grove; a son, Jerry of Temecula, Calif.; 12 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. A son, Carl, died in 1968 and a grandson, Mike Woodward, died in 1983.
A memorial service was held June 14 at Walker Church in Saginaw. Burial was at Walker Cemetery.
Everett M. Curtis
1924-2002
Everett M. Curtis of Yoncalla died March 9, 2002, of emphysema at the age of 77. He had been an area resident for over 50 years.
He was born Oct. 6, 1924, in Missouri Valley, Iowa, to Simon and Eva (Jenkins) Curtis.
He married Charlcie M. Bledsoe in Warrenton in 1946. She died in 1976.
In June 1977, he married Marjorie Lee in Yoncalla.
Mr. Curtis joined the U.S. Navy in 1941, and was in boot camp when Pearl Harbor was attacked on Dec. 7. He was on many cruises in the Pacific, serving on two troop ships, the J. Franklin Bell A.P.A. 16, and the Pondera A.P.A. 191. These ships brought military families from Pearl Harbor, and were involved in invasions of Gilbert, Marshall Islands, Tarawa, New Zealand, Okinawa and other islands.
In his occupation as a plywood worker, he worked for Yoncalla Lumber Company until it burned, then worked for Woolley Plywood until his retirement. After retirement, he enjoyed working in his garden. He made several trips to ship reunions and to visit his cousin and friends.
He was preceded in death by his first wife; a granddaughter, Sherry M. Curtis; a brother, Edwin Curtis; and two sisters, Elizabeth Egerer and Nilda Wise. He is survived by two sons, Edwin and wife Stephanie Curtis of Springfield and Chuck Curtis of Columbus, Ga.; three stepdaughters, LeeAnn and husband Gary Hafner of Salem, Diana and husband Don Vroman of Harrisburg and Lila Brannon of Drain; a stepson, Karl Lee of Sutherlin; 13 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
A visitation was held March 13 at Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel. A funeral service was held the following day at Drain Assembly of God Church. Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel & Crematorium was in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to community services in Yoncalla, including the library or public schools.
Carl Otis Braden
1921-2002
Carl Otis Braden of Cottage Grove died May 2, 2002, of age-related causes. He was 80.
He was born May 7, 1921, in Burley, Idaho, to John Lawrence and Mary Pearl Braden. He attended public schools in Burley and Declo, Idaho, and went to Bergen Junior College in Teaneck, N.J., the University of Utah in Salt Lake City and the University of Oregon.
Mr. Braden served with the U.S. Navy during World War II in the Pacific Theatre.
He married Doris Oldmixon in Dighton, Mass., on April 13, 1947.
Mr. Braden taught secondary education in Idaho and Oregon for 33 years. He enjoyed woodworking and woodcarving, photography, gardening and fishing.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years; two sons, Steve Braden of Salem and Barry Braden of Merritt Island, Fla.; a daughter, Carol of Nebraska City, Neb.; sisters Iona Sullivan of Florence and Opal Knippen of Naples, Fla.; a brother, Zedic Braden of Sandy, Utah; five grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
A visitation was held May 5 at Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel. A memorial service was held the following day at the United Methodist Church in Cottage Grove. Burial was at Fir Grove Cemetery. Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel & Crematorium was in charge of arrangements.
Margaret E. Keene
1926-2002
Margaret Elizabeth "Granny" Keene, recently of Eugene and an almost lifelong resident of the area, died of age-related causes on June 2, 2002. She was 92.
She was born in Dorena to Bert and Ethel (Kimball) Cline. She married Howard B. Keene in Eugene on Dec. 8, 1926. She lived in Saginaw for most of her life, as well as in Cottage Grove from 1972-84 and Eugene for a decade.
Her husband was disabled, and during their marriage, Mrs. Keene was the sole provider for her family, taking a Greyhound bus from Saginaw, and later Cottage Grove, to Eugene Linen Supply, where she worked all day before returning home to do chores every night. She retired in 1973, but never rested - the only time she sat down was to read the Bible. She enjoyed flowers, sewing, canning, bingo and slots, traveling, her grandchildren and meeting and visiting with people. She loved everybody.
She belonged to Fairfield Nazarene Church and Eugene Eagles Aerie #275, and had international training in communication. She won first place for nonfiction in the 1996 ITC writing competition.
Her husband preceded her in death on Oct. 10, 1972, as did her son, Robert Howard Keene, on Aug. 4, 1998. She is survived by two daughters, Bonita "Bonnie" Thomas and Anna L. Collins of Eugene; seven grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandson.
Martha Collins
1927-2002
Martha M. Collins of Cottage Grove died of cancer Aug. 6, 2002. She was 75.
She was born June 3, 1927, in Dallas, Ore., to James and Saloma McClellan.
She married Charles F. Collins in Dallas on March 15, 1947.
She was a homemaker, and enjoyed ceramics, photography and camping.
Mrs. Collins is survived by her husband of 55 years; a son, Charles F. Collins III of Portland; and a brother, James McClellan of Independence.
No service was planned. Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel & Crematorium is in charge of arrangements.
Georgia "Bernice" Demanett
1924-2002
Georgia "Bernice" Demanett of Cottage Grove died Monday, Oct. 21 of age-related causes. She was 78.
A resident of the Cottage Grove area for 57 years, Mrs. Demanett was born April 14, 1924, in San Diego, Calif., to George and Helen (Spice) Thayer.
She married Carl L. Demanett on May 8, 1948, in Eugene.
Mrs. Demanett was a homemaker who loved drawing, sewing, crocheting, quilting, making artificial flowers and gardening. She was a member of a local Jehovah's Witnesses congregation.
Mrs. Demanett is survived by her husband, Carl Demanett; a daughter, Carolyn Demanett of Cottage Grove; two sons, Daniel Demanett and James Demanett, both of Cottage Grove; five sisters, Iris Rubello of San Diego, Calif., Nellie DuPlanti of Bowie, Texas, Betty Myers of Cottage Grove, Letha Myers of Cottage Grove and Evelyn Bender of Eugene; numerous nieces and nephews; and three grandchildren.
No services are planned; she was buried at Brumbaugh Cemetery.
Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel and Crematorium was in charge of arrangements.
Erma Collins
1923-2002
Erma L. (Raisor) Collins, 79, died Nov. 27 at the home of her daughter in Roseburg of complications from a stroke and heart attack.
She was born in Mapleton, Iowa, to Jake and Mary (Barrett) Raisor Jan. 16, 1923. She moved to Cottage Grove from Nebraska with her family in 1932. She attended London Elementary School, the West Side School (where the Cottage Grove Community Hospital now stands), Jefferson High School (now Jefferson Apartments), and was a member of the first senior class to graduate from the new high school in the spring of 1940.
She married Robert H. Collins of Roseburg March 21, 1944. He died in 1992.
She loved gardening, music, playing cards and bingo, laughing and having lunch with her brothers and sisters, and especially spending time with her grandchildren.
Mrs. Collins is survived by five children, Betty Ann Upchurch of Old Hickory, Tenn., David H. Collins of Kasilof, Alaska, Margery Hall and Steve Collins of Roseburg, and Clifford Collins of Salem; six sisters, Bessie Gilham of Cottage Grove, Doris Magnusson of Puyallup, Wash., Ruth Brown of Elgin, Leota Doyle of Eureka, Calif., Bonnie Pynch of Roseburg and Rita Ladd of La Grande; three brothers, Ralph Raisor of Coulee, Wash., Jim Raisor of Florence and Bob Raisor of Cottage Grove; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Jean Hackett
1920-2003
Jean Marie Hackett of Drain died Feb. 22 of age-related causes. She was 82.
Hackett was born June 8, 1920, in Pendleton to Frank and Celita McFarland Roach. She married George Hackett in Pendleton on April 27, 1941. He died Oct. 3, 1984.
She lived in many cities in Oregon including Pendleton, Sutherlin, Creswell and Blue River before settling in Drain. She was a homemaker, and she worked for Union Pacific Railroad.
She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, traveling, going to yard sales, hunting and fishing. She was a member of the Eagles in Pendleton.
Survivors include a daughter, Sandra McDonald of Drain; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
A graveside service was held Feb. 26 at Valley View Cemetery in Sutherlin. Chapel of the Firs in Sutherlin is in charge of arrangements.
Kathleen Anne Dugan
1953-2003
Kathleen Anne Dugan, 49, of Vancouver, Wash., and formerly of Cottage Grove, died June 9, 2003, after an 18-month battle with cancer.
At her request, no service is scheduled. A family gathering will be held at a later date.
She was born on July 24, 1953, in Eugene, Oregon, the first daughter and second child of John D. Dugan, Jr. and Patricia P. (Hunter) Dugan.
After graduating from Cottage Grove High School in 1971, she attended Lane Community College and a business college in Portland.
For a time, she worked for International Transport in Vancouver, Wash. Later she took a job with Western Transportation, a division of Crown Zellerbach Corp., staying with the company for more than 20 years as it became James River Corp., then Fort James and Georgia Pacific Corp.
She was an avid reader.
Dugan is survived by her father, John D. Dugan Jr., of Cottage Grove; her sister and brother-in-law, Linda and Greg Arnold, of Cottage Grove; her brother and sister-in-law, John D. Dugan III and Alesanne Dugan, of Lebanon, Ore.; three nephews, Jonathan Arnold, of Cottage Grove and Dennis and Kevin Dugan, both of Lebanon; and Judy Hunter, of Vancouver, the aunt who cared for her during the last months of her life.
She also is survived by numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
Her mother, Patricia Dugan, died in 1995.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society and sent to Memorial Gardens Funeral Chapel, of Vancouver, which handled arrangements.
George W. Johnson
1912-2001
George W. Johnson of Cottage Grove died April 6, 2001, of age-related causes. He was 88.
He was born July 26, 1912, in Colorado Springs, Colo., to Walter and Lulu Reed.
Johnson married June Williams on May 23, 1942, in Chehalis, Wash. They moved to Cottage Grove that year and were long-time residents.
He served with the 315th Bombadiers in the US Army Air Corps during World War II. He remained with the US Army Corps of Engineers, and was involved with the construction of Dorena Resevoir.
He was affiliated with the Masons, Hillah Temple Shrine, Eastern Star, Hiram Council, Cottage Grove Prospectors and Gold Diggers, Moose Lodge, BPOE, Dorena Grange and the American Legion. He was also a past commander of Ivanhoe Commandery #2 and a member of the 315th Bomb Wing Association.
Johnson enjoyed golf, fishing and hunting, and was an avid U of O Duck football fan.
He was preceded in death by his wife on March 27, 1992.
He is survived by a son, Grant Johnson of Cottage Grove; a stepsister, Dottie Raasch of Appleton, Wis.; and two grandchildren.
A visitation was held April 10, 2001, at Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel. A funeral was held the next day at the Masonic Center in Cottage Grove. Burial was at Fir Grove Cemetery. Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel and Crematorium was in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to Masonic Lodge AF&AM #51, 33322 Row River Rd., Cottage Grove, OR 97424.
J.B. Rohletter
1914-2001
J.B. Rohletter of Yoncalla died June 17, 2001, of age-related causes. He was 82.
Mr. Rohletter was born December 14, 1914 in White Sulphur Springs, Mont. to Wilborn Harrison Rohletter and Meetsy Lavonia Turpen.
He married Bernadette Ruley in California on May 5, 1943.
Mr. Rohletter worked for Rockwell Corporation in Canoga Park, Calif. from 1941 until his retirement in 1979.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening and reading.
His wife preceeded him in death on July 4, 1977.
Mr. Rohletter is survived by two sons, Gary and David Rohletter of San Fernando Valley, Calif.; two daughters, Jenny Troutman of Palmdale, Calif. and Diane Radomski of Camarillo, Calif.; a sister, Francis (Dessie) MacKay of Yoncalla; and eight grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A memorial service was held Saturday, June 30, 2001 at Yoncalla United Methodist Church. Burial was at Mayn Cemetery in White Sulphur Springs, Mont.
Memorial contributions may be made to the United Methodist Church of Yoncalla in memory of J.B. Rohletter.
Stanley Rembiszewski
1916-2002
Stanley Rembiszewski, 85, of Drain died March 7, 2002, from complications of diabetes.
He was born Dec. 23, 1916, in Toledo, Ohio, to Stephan and Martha Rembiszewski. He lived in Chicago for many years, and received his education at Lane Tech High School and Weeden Barber College.
He married Lillian Derus in Chicago on Sept. 27, 1941; she died on Oct. 26, 1971.
He married Sharon Dosenbach in Chicago on March 17, 1972; she survives him. He is also survived by two daughters, Nancy Kraczek of DeMossville, Ky., and Suzanne Walker of Springfield; a son, Stanley and wife Belinda Rembiszewski of Yoncalla; seven
He was a machinist for 45 years, first at North-western Railroad in Chicago, and later with Clear Fir in Springfield and Kimwood Corp. in Cottage Grove.
Mr. Rembiszewski served in the C.C.C. at Wolf Creek and in Bend (in the Black Butte area) during the 1930s.
Among his hobbies were fishing, motor repair, gardening, crabbing and cooking. He was a member of Sunnydale Grange and St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, both in Drain.
A memorial service was to be held at a later date. Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel & Crematorium was in charge of arrangements.
Henry W. Monroe
1910-2002
Henry W. Monroe of Cottage Grove, an area resident for 75 years, died May 31, 2002, of age-related causes. He was 92.
He was born May 11, 1910, in Huntington Mill, Pa., to Grant and Florence Laubaugh Monroe.
He married Ilene Wall in Roseburg on Nov. 30, 1939. He began working at Bohemia Mill in 1937, worked there for nearly four decades as a lumber grader, and retired in 1975.
Mr. Monroe's hobbies included hunting, fishing, gardening, bowling, building and hiking.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years; two daughters, Annette Ballinger of Coos Bay and Joan Perkins of Cottage Grove; three sons, Darrell Monroe of Medford, Jerry Monroe of West Richland, Wash., and Reese Nagel of Tigard; a sister, Catherine Jennings of Bend; 22 grandchildren; and 17 great-great-grandchildren. Six brothers and three sisters preceded him in death.
No services were planned. Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel & Crematorium was in charge of arrangements. Memorial contributions are suggested to Cottage Grove Operation Independence or the Salvation Army.
Lois Opal Gatchell
1916-2002
Lois Opal Gatchell, a resident of the Smith River area near Drain, died Friday, Oct. 11, 2002, of age related illness. She was 86.
Mrs. Gatchell was born Oct. 5, 1916, near Comstock, Wash., to George Washington and Edith (Moore) Gates. She moved with her family to Oregon when she was 5.
She married Frank Gatchell on June 9, 1940, and the couple lived in various Oregon communities before moving to the Drain area 37 years ago.
She was the last of the Smith River "brush-picker" ladies, and she enjoyed music, singing, parties and picnics, mushroom hunting, baking, hunting and fishing, driving her vintage Volkswagen Beetle, reading, ceramics and her cats.
She is survived by her children and children-in-law, Jerry and Martha Gatchell of Smith River, Terry and Diana Gatchell of Cottage Grove and Dale and Linda Pillsbury of Wren; grandchildren Lance, Kemet, Matthew, Chanya and Earl; and great-grandchildren Tyson, James, Anthony and Hope.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Gatchell, in 1977.
Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel and Crematorium was in charge of arrangements.
At Mrs. Gatchell's request, no services were held; however, contributions in her honor can be made to The Nature Conservancy, 4245 Fairfax Drive Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203.
Joe Roberts
1920-2002
Joseph William Roberts of Cottage Grove died Dec. 8 of a heart attack. He was 82.
Mr. Roberts was born in Albany to Joseph and Gertrude Roberts May 12, 1920. The family moved to the Redmond area and then to the Medford area, where he graduated from Medford High School.
After completing a four-year stint in the Merchant Marines during World War II, he moved to Southern California, where he completed college.
Forty years later he retired as supervisor of the wastewater department in Torrance, Calif.
With his wife, Lorraine Roberts, he moved to the Cottage Grove area in 1981, leaving in 1984 and returning again in August 2000. He was a member of the Bohemia Sunrisers Kiwanis club and did volunteer work for the South Lane Family Relief Nursery. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and gardening, and was a member of the Living Enrichment Center in Wilsonville.
He is survived by two daughters, Sandi Roberts of Washington and Cathy Hudson of Portland; three sons, Patrick and Michael of California and Jim Bandy of Eugene; two stepchildren, Richard Eriksen and Elizabeth Clark, both of Cottage Grove; 11 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Buell Chapel in Springfield was in charge of arrangements. Donations can be made to the American Heart Association.
