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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (March 29, 2017)
24 Wednesday, March 29, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Obituaries Emil John Leason Georgia (Edgington) Gallagher January 11, 1931 — March 15, 2017 March 22, 1922 — March 18, 2017 John was 86 years old. Born to Vince and Tillie (Michalski) Leason on January 11, 1931, the 12th of 13 children, in Benton County, Minnesota. After farming in Minnesota, John joined the Marines in 1951 and fought in Korea earning a National Defense Service Medal, a Korean Service Medal, and a United Nations Service Medal. After an honorable discharge in 1953 John met Gertrude Clara Fussy on a bus while going home on leave and they married in 1955 in Morrill, Minnesota. They settled in Tigard, Oregon, where they raised two daughters. John started his construc- tion business, U.S. Tank & Construction. Co. Inc., an industrial steel construc- tion fabrication and erection business based in Tualatin, in 1960, fabricating and installing a variety of proj- ects in lumber and pulp mills, as well as water tank storage for municipalities in a majority of the 50 states and Canada. John and Gertrude bought their beloved Pine Ridge Ranch in Sisters in 1970, a cattle and hay ranch, which he had for 42 years. John also earned a private pilot’s license and even had a designated airport on the ranch (Pine Ridge Ranch Airport), so he could land his tail-dragger air- plane called a Maule Lunar Rocket. Georgia (Edgington) Gallagher, a long-time resi- dent of Sisters, passed away on March 18. She was 95. Georgia was born March 22, 1922 on the family ranch south of Sisters to Ellis and Ellen Edgington. She attended school in Sisters and graduated from Sisters High School in 1940. She attended Oregon State University, graduating with a degree in dietetics in 1944. She was Sisters Rodeo queen in 1944, and Grand Marshal of the rodeo in 2006. In 1946, she married Vince Gallagher of Bayonne, New Jersey. They had three children, Norah, Dennis, and Vince. She and Vince (senior) lived in Redmond for a few years, then moved to Salem in 1953, then back to Sisters in 1973. She and Vince spent many summer weekends with their children camping and fishing in the high lakes of Central Oregon. Vince passed away in 1981. While in Salem, and while raising her family, she worked for Hillcrest School for Girls, and Oregon State Hospital as a dietitian and as an independent dietary con- sultant. After moving back to Sisters, she volunteered with the Sisters ambulance as an EMT for 19 years, was on the Sisters Planning Commission for a time, and was an active member of the Sisters Garden Club. John was also a proud member of the Elks and Knights of Columbus. John loved family, nature, hunt- ing, and always looked for- ward to his next project. He was preceded in death by his wife, Gertrude Clara Fussy, and all of his eight brothers and sisters. He is survived by his two daughters: Catherine (Bill) Behan of Frisco, Texas and Victoria Leason of Redmond. Six grandchil- dren: Joshua, Tory, Johnny, Beau, Cody and Nicole. Five great-grandchildren: Madeline Gertrude, Clara Lynn, William Leon, Emil Loyle and Maisie Kay. His favorite charity was St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. The family also wishes to express their grati- tude to Visiting Angels and Hospice of Redmond. Funeral mass will be held April 1, at 1 p.m. at St. Edward the Martyr Roman Catholic Church in Sisters. John’s fifth great-grand- daughter Maisie will be baptized immediately after service. Sisters Oregon G u i d e Sells Sisters! Just ask Sue... “Advertising in Th e Nug- get and the Sisters Or- egon Guide works! Th e She was Deschutes Pioneer Association Queen in 2008. Georgia attended First Presbyterian Church in Bend. She was a life-long Presbyterian. She lived her last three years at Aspen Ridge Retirement Home in Bend. She is survived by her daughter Norah Roberts of Sisters; sons Dennis of Bend, Vince and his wife Karen Henderson of Salem, and Dennis’s sons Andy Gallagher of Prineville and Chris Gallagher of Bend. Her family will miss her. Georgia loved being out- of-doors. She loved wild- flowers, mountain lakes, exploring and spend- ing time with friends and family. Services will be held on Saturday, April 1, at First Presbyterian Church, 230 NE 9th St. in Bend at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Brightfocus Foundation (macular degeneration research) or The Deschutes Land Trust (Whychus Creek restoration), or a charity of your choice. Obituaries Policy: The Nugget Newspaper does not charge a fee to publish obituaries. Obituaries may be up to 400 words and include one photo. Obituaries outside these guidelines are handled by The Nugget Newspaper advertising department. Obituary submissions must be received by noon on Monday. Obituaries may be submitted to The Nugget by email or hand delivery to our office located at 442 E. Main Ave., Sisters. ‘Gotta Have It’ promo- tion in the Sisters Or- egon Guide resulted in many customers coming into Mackenzie Creek Mercantile to request and buy the item I high- lighted, Redneck Wine Glass. In addition, using the local newspaper to let customers and tour- ists know that we carry Columbia, a highly val- ued line of clothing and shoes, is of great benefi t to my business. Th e Nug- get is simply a wealth of information to locals and visitors alike, along with Th e Nugget’s Sis- ters Oregon Guide. I have found both to be the ideal way for me to promote my business.” — Sue Leek, Proprietor, Mackenzie Creek Mercantile Advertising in Th e Sisters Oregon Guide and Th e Nugget works! Call Karen at 541-549-9941
