2B
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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2021
Palisades
Continued from Page 1B
a leaf between my fingers releases a
pungent perfume of pine oil, lemon and
musk. The aromatic oils in sagebrush
leaves render them unpalatable to many
animals during the growing season.
When winter arrives the chemical con-
tent decreases, making them a protein-
rich food source for mule deer during the
most stressful time of year.
Surprisingly, winter browsing also
benefits the sagebrush plants them-
selves. As the deer prune the branches,
the aboveground portion of the bush be-
comes smaller. The roots below remain
undisturbed and continue to take up
enough moisture and nutrients from the
soil to nourish a full-sized bush. The re-
sult is a springtime burst of expanded
growth as newly formed shoots and
buds receive extra water. Plant and ani-
mal benefit each other so both can sur-
vive.
I pass the gnarled, twisty trunk of an
older sagebrush next to the trail. A con-
torted trunk and spreading branches
will hold snow like a living snow fence,
Miller
Continued from Page 1B
demic, hopefully not too-distant future:
Lots of meet-and-greets with friends
and strangers on long walks, probably
masked; less at first, then no crossing
the street to avoid human interactions.
But unlike Harry, appreciating just
how special normal feels.
Because that qualifier still hangs over
everything.
“If I’m still around.”
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APPEAL TRIBUNE
releasing the meltwater slowly as tem-
peratures rise in spring. This natural
drip system irrigates grasses and forbs
that sprout on the wind-protected side
of the sagebrush.
Continuing down the trail, I hike un-
der a lone juniper tree and count four
American Robins gorging themselves
on juniper berries. I watch the nearest
robin deftly pluck a silver-blue berry
(actually a modified cone) with its beak,
toss back its head and swallow the
pulpy orb whole.
Soon, I retrace my steps through the
fossiliferous rubble at the base of the
palisades. Above me, an unseen Canyon
Wren delivers a repeated one-note buz-
zy call from one of the elevated clefts. As
it hides between the striated towers
formed from an ancient tropical past, it
teases me with a winter call that drifts
above the sagebrush-covered hillside.
The sound seems to reverberate from
the primordial rocks themselves, as if to
remind me that nothing in nature lasts
forever.
Bobbie Snead is a local naturalist
and nature educator. She can be reached
at naturalist.column@gmail.com
Juniper berries seen in the Clarno Palisades in eastern Oregon.
BOBBIE SNEAD / SPECIAL TO THE STATESMAN JOURNAL
I can dig it
After the past week’s column about
2021 clam tides, I got an email from a
reader in Northern California who’s
planning a visit to the Beaver State in
April.
“I’ve never been clamming and would
like to know if I could hire a Charter or
Guide service…”
I’ll write back to you personally with
more information.
Nobody I’ve talked to knows about
any clam guides or clamming charters,
although I have participated in free
classes and clinics in the past, and hope
to do so in the future..
But for the shovel-ready wannabes
and never-beens, it’s easy-peasy to be a
self-starter.
And once you get to your destination,
anyone with a shovel or rake in-hand
usually is more than willing to show you
the ropes.
The Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife is an excellent online informa-
tion source, its Crabbing & Clamming
pages at Crabbing & Clamming | Oregon
Department of Fish & Wildlife
(myodfw.com)
The home page has links to tide ta-
bles and purchasing shellfish permits
(good for both clams and crabs), and
there also is a link to “Where to bay clam
in Oregon” features maps of bays with
hot spots as well as which clams you will
find there.
Quote of the week: Another corona
casualty: My just-expired 2020 salmon/
steelhead/halibut/sturgeon tag. Spot-
less as a toddler’s heart.
Contact Henry Miller at HenryMil-
lerSJ@gmail.com
Obituaries
Jamea B. French
SILVERTON - Jamea B. French, age 77, died on Dec
2 at her home in Silverton. Jamea died peacefully
with her loving husband of 55 years by her side.
She lost her 5 year battle with dementia.
Jamea was born June 3, 1943 in Portland Oregon
to James F. and Harriet B. Turner. She grew up in
Corvallis where she was part of an experimental
group of gifted and talented students. After high
school, she entered Oregon State University and
obtained a bachelors degree in General Science. In
1965 she married Larry R. French and then worked
at the university for several years before moving to
Madison, Wisconsin where her husband entered a Doctoral program. Jamea
again worked at the University, starting at the bottom and rising quickly
to the position of Departmental Secretary, a position she also held at OSU.
Jamea’s husband completed his degree and was offered a position at the
University of Wisconsin. The couple bought a house, and had a son, Bryson
James French. In addition to the rigors of motherhood, Jamea continued
her interest in the natural world by taking classes to become a guide at a
local natural area. Jamea and her husband began to miss the natural beauty
and geographic diversity of their native state. Finally after more than a ten
year absence, the couple returned to Oregon to raise their son and pursue
new careers.
Jamea had strong ties to the Silverton area. She was the granddaughter
of Dr. R. E. Kleinsorge who started in a horse and buggy and practiced in
Silverton for 60 years. Jamea had been visiting Silverton and the Kleinsorge
house for most of her life, but in1981 her family moved into the house and
began to build a new life.
Jamea was quick to smile at strangers and made friends easily. She expanded
her circle with people from all walks of life. All were of equal importance.
Jamea loved to walk outdoors and was frequently observed on city streets
and nearby country roads walking briskly and chatting to walking partners.
Dogs along her walk routes anticipated her visits.
Jamea loved to travel to places of great natural beauty and visited most
of the national parks on the west coast. Jamea and her husband were avid
birdwatchers and annual spring visits to birding hotspots all over the USA
and Canada yielded a lifetime North American bird list of over 500 species.
Jamea had strong interest in the art and history of Native American popu-
lations. She visited cultural and historic sites as well as museums all over the
West. She visited and studied most of the ancient ruins and cliff dwellings
of the desert Southwest.
Jamea’s favorite destination was Hawaii. More than a dozen trips were
made to observe the rapidly declining populations of native forest birds
on all of the islands, volcanic eruptions on the Big Island, rock art of the
ancient Hawaiians, reef fish, and just to bask in the natural beauty of the
islands. Jamea loved good food and drink. An important part of every trip
and adventure was searching for the best restaurant and brewpub in the
area. Sharing good food and drink with family and friends was an import-
ant part of her life.
For the first 72 years of her life, Jamea lived the American dream. Intelli-
gence hard work, perseverance, and thrift were rewarded with a loving fam-
ily, a multitude of friends, a comfortable lifestyle and personal fulfillment.
However the part where “they lived happily ever after” was cut far, far too
short. We will miss her.
Jamea is survived by her husband, Larry French of Silverton, son Bryson J.
French (Jamie) of Sisters, Grandchildren Cody James French and Makenzie
Marie French of Sisters, sister Elizabeth Parkins (Ron), of Carmel Valley, CA,
and brother in law Guy French (Beverly) of Healdsburg, CA. A celebration
of Jamea’s life will be held post pandemic. Please RSVP Larry French to
insure an invitation. Memorial contributions can be sent to Silverton Area
Community Aid (SACA).
Alice Harriette Sichley
MT. ANGEL - Alice Sichley 94, of Mt. Angel, left
her family & home on Jan 2, 2021. Into the loving
hands of God; His plan for her life eternal is com-
plete. She was born on Oct 6, 1926 to Severin and
Nellie Lyonais in Williston, North Dakota. She was
the 4th Of 5 children.
Alice grew up on a farm in Williston with a love
and appreciation for life & Gods’ creation. There, at
age 6 and Annette age 7, they walked with big sister
Helen age 14, a half mile to a one room school house.
In the mid 1930’s during the depression, the family
lost their farm. Life was hard with winter blizzards,
summer droughts and dust storms. Nothing grew
and swarms of grass hoppers ate anything that
was left. There was no electricity or plumbing and
they walked daily to their well to get water. Her
family then moved to her uncle’s farm in Fairview,
Montana and worked there until her father found
other work.
Having little to almost nothing, she never com-
plained and found happiness with her family in the
simplest of things. The family moved again leasing
a farm near Dor, Montana and going to a 3 room
school house there. Again, after several moves in
that area, her family moved to Portland, Oregon in the early 1940’s where
jobs were plentiful during the war. She & her sister Annette finished school
and graduated from Madeline Catholic High in June 1945. As teenage girls
they found life in the city fun and exciting with many opportunities. She
also worked part time jobs Montgomery Ward’s mail order department and
at Fred Meyers as cashier. During the war gas was rationed, She enjoyed
having to ride the street cars everywhere instead.
Soon after graduating Alice went to a Convent in Everett, Washington to
study to be a nun but then had a different calling and came home a year
later. She then got a job working as a file clerk for Dunn & Bradstreet.
Alice met her husband Carl (Dean) Sichley in Dec. 1944, they became
friends. Sometime after returning home from Everett Dean came to see her
and soon afterwards they began to date. They enjoyed music, dancing and
skating. She and her sister Annette both became engaged so both couples
decided on a double wedding and Married on Jan 24,1948 in Kalispel, Mon-
tana. The happy couples returned to Portland and began families.
Alice became a wife, then a full time loving mother with the birth of 9
children. They remained in Portland raising the family, but had been looking
to move south and out of the city. She was widowed at (40) In January of
1967, Dean (44) husband of 19 years died in a fatal accident. She moved
the family to Mt. Angel later that year with the help of her parents and her
strong but simple faith in God, always looking to the example of the Virgin
Mary. Her parents soon moved here also and assisted her with raising our
family. The youngest child was over a year old.
Later in life when the family was grown, she was a caregiver to families
with elderly in need. She worked in the infirmary for the Benedictine Sisters.
She also worked as a care aid for the mentally challenged home in Mt. Angel.
She volunteered visiting the sick and those with no family at the Benedictine
Nursing Center and would bring music to share with them. Also, she was a
member of St. Mary’s Parish since 1967.
Alice’s always loved seeing her grandchildren, 76 in all.
She enjoyed gardening, especially her flowers. She loved music and liked
to dance. Her sister Annette shared that love and they would go to the Ok-
toberfest every year for Polka music and dance.
Mom was loved dearly and will be missed by us all until our final days in
eternity. She named each one of us after a saint to help us with life’s journey.
In her quiet example and simple ways she had great influence in all our lives.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl (Dean) Sichley; son,
Vincent Sichley; 4 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild; parents, Severin &
Nellie Lyonais; sisters, Annette Murphy, Helen Barnhart; brothers John Lyo-
nais, Johnny Lyonais. She is survived by daughters: Therese Kalberer(Tony)
Molalla; Bernadette Hamberger(Lance) Mt. Angel; Anna McClung(Rick)
Yachats; Helen Fetsch(Rick) Scotts Mills; sons: Tony Sichley(Chris) Mt.
Angel; Joe Sichley(Debi) Silverton; Mike Sichley(Roxanne) Portland; Pat
Sichley Mt. Angel; 25 grandchildren, 44 great grandchildren and 2 great-
great grandchildren.
Viewing will be from Noon to 6:00 pm Tuesday Jan 12 & Wednesday Jan
13, Unger Chapel: 190 Railroad Ave, Mt. Angel, OR.
A Rosary at 7:00 pm Jan 14, 2021 at St. Mary Church
A Funeral Mass at 11:00am, Jan 15, 2021, St. Mary Church (Fr Ralph Recker,
OSB will officiate) Mass livestreamed www.stmarymtangel.org
Arrangements by: Unger Funeral Chapel-Mt. Angel