Polk County News
6A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • December 2, 2015
NEWS IN BRIEF
Grants help ACAC pay for programs
INDEPENDENCE — The Ash Creek Arts Center was awarded two
grants in October from two organizations.
The Fred W. Fields Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation
has granted $1,500 for general operating support through the
foundation’s Small Arts and Culture Grants program. The Umpqua
Bank Charitable Foundation granted $2,500 for ACAC’s Art Cart
program through its Community Giving Program.
The nonproit’s new portable art cart helps it maintain a variety
of art supplies for use in indoor and outdoor art experiences, and
makes the supplies easy for teachers to transport and use.
ACAC will begin paying professional teachers who present its
free classes and workshops. These grants also will help pay for
ACAC’s monthly Second Saturday Family Art Class series.
Polk deputies arrest burglary suspect
WEST SALEM — The man police had been looking for in con-
nection to burglary in Polk County was arrested Saturday.
The Polk County Sherif’s Oice received a tip early Saturday
that the suspect, Stewart Douglas Reagan, 44, was at a home on
Spring Valley Road in West Salem. Polk deputies and oicers with
Salem Police Department found Reagan there and arrested him
on unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, possession of a stolen ve-
hicle, felony driving while suspended and possession of metham-
phetamine.
Reagan was also charged with irst-degree burglary, irst-degree
theft, irst-degree criminal mischief, second-degree criminal mis-
chief and a second charge of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
Reagan was taken to the Polk County Jail, where he is being
held on $115,000 bail.
OBITUARIES
Samuel ‘Sam’
James Cates
May 10, 1977 – Nov. 13, 2015
Memorial gathering for
Samuel “Sam” James Cates,
38, of Lincoln City, formerly
of Pedee, is Saturday at 1:30
p.m. at the Pedee Women’s
Club Clubhouse.
Dallas Mortuary Tribute
Center handled arrange-
ments.
To send an online tribute:
www.dallastribute.com.
Leslie ‘Les’ Oehler
May 30, 1946 – Nov. 19, 2015
Memorial service for
Leslie “Les” Oehler, 69, of
Dallas is Wednesday (today)
at 10 a.m. at Dallas Mortuary
Tribute Center. Interment
will be at Willamette Nation-
al Cemetery in Portland.
To send an online tribute:
www.dallastribute.com.
Katherine
Gerig Bliven
Aug. 30, 1921 – Nov. 27, 2015
Katherine “Kay” Bliven,
94, of Dallas died Friday.
She was born to
Nicholaus and Olga Gerig in
Salem.
Kay graduated from Fruit-
land Elementary School and
Salem High School.
She married Arthur Bliven
in Memphis, Tenn., on June
5, 1943, while he was serving
in the Navy during World
War II.
Salem
412 Lancaster Drive NE
Salem, OR 97301
(503) 581-6265
After his discharge from
the military, they moved to
Dallas. There they farmed
until his retirement. Kay
worked at Agripac Cannery
for 26 years.
Kay was a member of
Grace Community Church
in Dallas.
S h e
resided at
the Dallas
Retirement
Village As-
sisted Liv-
ing.
She was
preceded in death by her
husband, Arthur Bliven and
eight siblings.
Survivors include her sis-
ter, Sarah (Joe) Ditchen of
Salem; son, Larry (Gerrie)
Bliven of Dallas; daughter,
Betty (Stan) Welty of Mon-
mouth; three grandchildren;
and six great-grandchildren.
Me m o r i a l s e r v i c e i s
Wednesday (today) at 2 p.m.
at the Dallas Retirement Vil-
lage Chapel.
Contributions are suggest-
ed to Grace Community
Church Youth Mission Fund,
Willamette Valley Hospice or
Salem Union Gospel Mission.
Dallas Mortuary Tribute
Center handled arrange-
ments.
To send an online tribute:
www.dallastribute.com.
Annabelle C.
‘Peachie’ Hamm
July 12, 1939 – Nov. 24, 2015
Annabelle C. “Peachie”
Hamm, 76, of Grand Ronde
died Nov. 24 in Grand
Ronde.
Viewing is Wednesday
(today) from 2 to 7 p.m., at
Dallas Mortuary Tribute
Center.
G ra v e s i d e s e r v i c e i s
Thursday at 11 a.m. at the
Grand Ronde Tribal Ceme-
tery, with a meal to follow in
the community center.
Contributions are sug-
gested to the Chachalu Mu-
seum and Cultural Center or
Father Taffy Foundation.
To send an online tribute:
www.dallastribute.com.
Crystal Elaine
Knox
July 26, 1925 – Nov. 18, 2015
Crystal Elaine Knox, 90, of
Keizer died Nov. 18.
She was born in Walla
Walla, Wash., to James and
Jesse Wayland.
Crystal graduated from
Pasco High School in Pasco,
Wash. She attended North-
west Christian College in
Eugene for
two years,
where she
met her fu-
ture hus-
b a n d
Charles V.
K n o x .
Crystal
married Charles on Dec. 23,
1947, in Pasco.
Crystal supported
Charles, who was a pastor in
churches at Falls City,
Lebanon, Colfax, Heppner,
Dallas and McMinnville.
Crystal worked at JC Penney
in Salem and later in the of-
fice at Salem First Christian
Church. She then worked in
Dallas at Bank of Willamette
Valley.
She continued working in
banking in McMinnville and
retired from Commercial
Bank in Salem in the mort-
gage and loan department.
Crystal enjoyed playing
the organ and piano. She en-
joyed teaching piano lessons
while in Heppner. She also
enjoyed sewing and can-
ning.
She was preceded in
death by her husband of 66
years, Charles Knox on
March 14, 2014; sons, Chuck
Knox on July 20, 2012; and
Baby Boy Knox in 1953.
Survivors include her
daughter, Charlaine Knox;
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three grandchildren; and
two great-grandchildren.
Service is Tuesday at 1
p.m. at Dallas Mortuary
Tribute Center. Private inter-
ment will be at Dallas Ceme-
tery.
Contributions are sug-
gested to Willamette Valley
Hospice in care of Dallas
Mortuary Tribute Center,
which handled arrange-
ments. To send an online
tribute: www.dallastribute.
com.
Paul Kenneth
Erickson
April 20, 1974 – Nov. 7, 2015
Paul Kenneth Erickson,
41, of Vancouver, Wash., for-
merly of Dallas, died Nov. 7
in Vancouver as a result of a
pedestrian and motor vehi-
cle accident.
He was born in Dallas to
Melvin and Judy Erickson.
Paul grew up in Dallas
and attended Dallas schools.
Paul was a caregiver for his
mother. He
lived in
Spokane
for one
year and
had been
in Vancou-
ver the last
five years.
He was a member of the
Lyle Rope Busters, and was
talented with a jump rope
and competed in exhibitions
and was gifted in gymnas-
tics. His nieces and nephews
always loved it when Uncle
Paul would baby-sit them.
He was preceded in death
by his mother, Judy and
brother, James Southwick.
Survivors include his fa-
ther, Melvin of Dallas; sister,
Tonya Wallis of Dallas;
brothers, Gordon Southwick
of Dallas and Todd South-
wick of Aloha; and extended
family.
Celebration of Paul’s life
along with a potluck is Sat-
urday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the
Social Hall, 204 SW Walnut
St. in Dallas. Private inter-
ment will be at Dallas Ceme-
tery.
Dallas Mortuary Tribute
Center handled arrange-
ments.
To send an online tribute:
www.dallastribute.com.
Antonia Anne
(Tulou) Murray
Aug. 4, 1947 – Nov. 26, 2015
Antonia Anne ( Tulou)
Murray, 68, of Independ-
ence, died Thursday.
She was born in Geneva,
Switzerland, to Pierre and
Dorothy Tulou. Tonia’s early
years were spent in post-war
Europe.
Both her parents were
physicians, which required
Tonia to help care for her
younger siblings throughout
her childhood years after
coming to the United States.
As a young adult, Tonia
achieved recognition by
being inducted as a member
of Phi Beta Kappa, an aca-
demic honor society at the
University of North Carolina.
She enjoyed a life filled
with learning, a gift she and
her husband passed on to
their children.
Those close to Tonia knew
she dedicated her life to up-
hold principles of traditional
hospitality, community, and
good will. In all she did she
enjoyed a life infused with
curiosity and attuned to the
Divine.
She loved reading and ad-
venture, and wove both into
a life filled with magic and
wonder.
As a culinary expert, she
inspired many.
As a wife, Tonia was de-
voted to her husband, Mar-
shall and the rich spiritual
journey they built together.
Throughout the nearly 47
years of marriage, she and
Marshall were the best of
friends.
She was preceded in
death by her son, Evan.
Survivors include her hus-
band, three brothers, two
sisters, one daughter, two
sons, 10 grandchildren, and
extended family.
Service was Tuesday at
the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints in Mon-
mouth.
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Joann Harland ~ Carolyn Joann Owen
Joann, 86, passed away Nov. 18 in Dallas, OR. She was born to Joe
and Edna Owen of Crow. After attending college OCE (now OSU) she
married Bill Harland in 1952. Joann was involved in many activities in
the community. She played Mary in the Rickreall Christmas Pageant,
volunteered at the Polk County Fair and the Polk County Museum
where the family has a display of Native American artifacts found on
the family farm which is now part of the Basket Slough National
Wildlife Refuge. The couple farmed for over 40 years in Polk County,
enjoyed several years living in Pacific City, then moved back to Dallas.
While living at the coast Joann enjoyed spending time on the beach
with her grandkids and salmon fishing, which she was an expert at
‘catching’. There is a famous photo displayed in several Dallas house-
holds where Joann out fished a rugged group of young dory fishermen.
Divining or ‘water witching’ was one of Joann’s true talents. Another
hobby which eventually became a business was antiquing. She ran an-
tique shops, conducted estate appraisals and traveled statewide display-
ing her acquisitions at shows. Her love of antiques was portrayed in
their house on Fir Villa Rd. as Joann assisted the builder to accommo-
date her family heirlooms. The split level home was designed to capture
valley views to the east and western sunsets.
Joann was an amazing cook; she enjoyed throwing fabulous dinners
for reunions and holiday celebrations. There was always an extra plate
setting for farmhands or anyone that stopped by at mealtime, they were
at all times welcomed.
Joann’s husband Bill preceded her in death in 2006. Her remaining
family includes; son Ron Harland, granddaughter Andrea (Harland)
Rose, grandson Mathew Harland, and daughter Sue (Harland) Irick.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Polk County Museum or
the Alzheimer’s Foundation in care of Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center.
A private interment will be at the Dallas Cemetery. To send an online
tribute go to: www.dallastribute.com.
Farnstrom Mortuary in
Independence handled
arrangements. To send an
online tribute: www.Farn-
stromMortuary.com.
Denice Otha Scott
Sept. 29, 1962 – Nov. 24, 2015
Denice Otha Scott, 53, of
Independence died Nov. 24
in Independence.
She was born in Palo Alto,
Calif., to Wayne and JoAnn
(Sharp) Downs.
She married Andy Scott in
Independence. She and
Andy were
owners of
Andy’s Café
in Inde-
pendence,
where she
had lived
for
40
years.
She was known to all as a
spirited, caring individual,
full of love and a zest for life.
She loved travel, gardening
and karaoke.
She was preceded in
death by her daughter, Whit-
ney and grandson, Bret
Brouse III.
Survivors include her hus-
band, Andy ; son, Bret
Brouse Jr.; stepdaughters,
Katie Wilgus and Emily Mc-
Comb; brothers, Mike and
Mark; and four grandchil-
dren.
Service is Dec. 13 at 2 p.m.
at Green Villa Barn in Inde-
pendence.
Barbara Joy
McGowan
Aug. 26, 1934 – Nov. 26, 2015
Barbara Joy McGowan, 81,
of Salem died on Thursday.
Graveside service is Sun-
day at 11 a.m. at Hilltop
Cemetery in Independence.
Farnstrom Mortuary in
Independence handled
arrangements. To send an
online tribute: www.Farn-
stromMortuary.com.
Cathryn Margaret
Glenn Wilson
Aug. 4, 1927 – Nov. 22, 2015
Service for Cathryn Wil-
son, 88, of Dallas is Monday
at 2 p.m. at Dallas Retire-
ment Village Chapel.
Dallas Mortuary Tribute
Center handled arrange-
ments.
To send an online tribute:
www.dallastribute.com.
Obituary information
See the Itemizer-Ob-
server website,
www.polkio.com.