Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (June 28, 2011)
16 announcements/obituaries june28 2011 Welcome to the In Memory of... World... Riplee Rowene Skillin Riplee Rowene Skillin was welcomed by proud parents Jennifer and Michael Skillin and big sister Gabby on April 23, 2011. Riplee weighed 9lbs, 2 oz. And measured 22 inches. Grandparents are Allen and Sandy Dewebber, Michael and Diana Skillin, and Shirley and Bernie Ebhardt. Great Grandparents are Dewey Dewebber, Winnie Hutchinson and Alice Bowers. In Memory of... MARVIN O. MEYER Marvin O. Meyer, 92, a longtime resident of the Vernonia community, died Friday evening, June 17, 2011 at his home. Graveside Services were held on Monday, June 27, 2011 at 2:00 P.M. at the Vernonia Memorial Cemetery, 2080 Bridge Street in Vernonia, Oregon, with the Pastor John Cahill, of the Pioneer Baptist Fellowship in Vernonia, officiating. A Flag Honor Presentation will be held under the direction of the American Port # 119 in Vernonia and the American Serving since 1953 Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral Home Third Generation Family Owned & Operated Jeffrey and Kathryn Hoyt, Gregory and Rachel Hoyt, Ross Mathews, Jane Schneider, Dan Raney, Peni Flores Attendant: Ray Pelster Jeffrey & Kathryn Hoyt 2308 Pacific Ave., Forest Grove 503-357-2161 741 Madison Ave., Vernonia 503-429-6611 E-Mail: Fuitenrosehoyt@aol.com Website: www.fuitenrosehoyt.com Serving since 1873 Forest Grove Memorial Chapel 2308 Pacific Ave., Forest Grove 503-357-3126 Serving all cemeteries for marker sales and installation Legion Washington Post #2 in Forest Grove. Marvin Oren Meyer was born February 13, 1919 at Ridgefield, WA to Otto William and Ida Hathaway Meyer. He was the third child in a family of five boys and one girl. Several moves were made by the family before they settled on a farm along Timber Road. He spoke of early childhood memories, working with his father supplying firewood to the Pleasant Hill school and harvesting cedar poles off of a forest ridge with horses. Also as a youth, he worked as a caddy at the nearby Vernonia Golf Club. He received his early education at the rural Pleasant Hill elementary school and Vernonia High School. He left high school to work in the logging industry, first working with his father. He told of many memories when he worked in the area of the Sunset Highway (Hwy 26 to the coast) before the highway was completed. Later, he worked for small private, “gypo” logging contractors. He married Irene Bergerson; they later divorced. Before entering the US Navy during WW2, he was an electrician at the Mare Island naval base in California. While at naval boot camp, he contracted scarlet fever which resulted in rheumatic fever and heart damage and a year of hospitalization. He was discharged with 100% disability. His love of the outdoors and knowledge of the logging industry led him back to the forest and to logging. He decided that working for himself was most satisfying and began to purchase equipment and timberland when possible. As the years past, he slowly regained his health. About 1962, he began growing cultivated and cultured Christmas trees as he realized a market was developing for the product; he had previously harvested natural growth Christmas trees. He was a pioneer and innovator for this new industry. People wanted a fuller, more perfect tree and it was his challenge to produce just that tree. Noble fir became the “Cadillac” of Christmas trees but its natural growth was alpine in nature. Marvin was one of the first growers to shear, and to align and shape the top of each tree. Over the years his many innovations were studied and adopted by other growers. In 1962 he was awarded the first Columbia County “Tree Farmer of the Year” award and received that award again in 1972. He was a charter member and director of the Columbia County chapter of the NW Woodlands Association which later became the Columbia County Small Woodlands Association, an affiliate of OSWA. He was very active in the offices of the TUALATIN VALLEY FUNERAL ALTERNATIVES Direct Cremation 675 Direct wurial $ 875 $ Plus Cemetery Costs Providing personalized services Caskets • Markers • Vaults • Urns www.tualatinvalleyfa.com (Hillsboro) 237 West Main St. 503-693-7965 (weaverton) New Location 12270 SW First St. • 503-641-9060 county association during those early years. Before the state-wide Outdoor School program was envisioned, Marvin and a group of forest owners, including then county agent Don Coin Walrod, held a day of learning about the forest. This annual event was conducted at Camp Wilkerson for all of the 6th grade classes in Columbia County. Every Christmas season through 2009, he hosted Head Start and private school children on his tree farm to tell them about growing trees. He illustrated tree growth with seeds and seedlings and how they grow, culminating with the cutting and baling of a tree which the group of children would take with them to decorate. In addition, a small treat or memento was offered to each child, sometimes it was their own seedling to plant. He looked forward to their eager faces each year. The majestic Sequoia and Port Orford cedar trees in the Vernonia city park and the trees lining the roadway in Anderson park were donated and planted by Marvin in the early 1960s when they were about 5-6 feet tall. He faithfully watered them to ensure that they grew. Several area homesteads and rural properties have beautiful mature trees which he either planted or provided to his friends and acquaintances. He planted many thousands of trees and experimented with numerous types of conifers. Marvin had many other interests in addition to his life-long commitment to the forest industries. He was a very competent mechanic, doing most of his own repair work on his logging and tree farming equipment and personal vehicles. He had a love for the Chevrolet automobile and owned several collector cars and trucks, showing them to anyone who was interested. He also enjoyed photography, gardening, touring with a travel trailer, clam digging, and other outdoor activities. Before arthritis invaded his knees, he enjoyed square dancing and round dancing. He has been a member of the First Christian Church of Vernonia since 1933. In 1975, he married Ellen Hanson. They constructed their home on the tree farm and operated a successful u-cut and wholesale Christmas tree business for 35 years. He is predeceased by all of his siblings. Surviving are his wife, Ellen, sons, Phillip of Aloha, Ron of Portland, and Stanley and Gary of Vernonia, and three grandsons, Justin, Nick and Michael Meyer. To sign the online guest book or to send a condolence to the family go to www.fuitenrosehoyt.com. Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral Home in Vernonia is in charge of the arrangements. JACK S. HOWARD Jack S. Howard, 70, a former resident of Portland, Oregon, late of the Beaverton community, died Sunday afternoon, February 6, 2011 at the Porthaven Care Center in Portland, Oregon. He was raised and received his education in the Vernonia community, having been a graduate of the Vernonia High School Class of 1958. Graveside Services were held on Saturday, June 25, 2011 at the Vernonia Memorial Cemetery, 2080 Bridge Street in Vernonia, Oregon, with Pastor John Cahill, of the Pioneer Baptist Fellowship, officiating. Full Military Honors will be under the direction of the American Veterans Honor Guard. The family suggests that remembrances may be contributions to the Disabled American Veterans, 8725 N.E. Sandy Blvd., Portland, Oregon 97201, in his memory. To sign the online guest book or to send a condolence to the family go to www.fuitenrosehoyt.com. Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral Home in Vernonia is in charge of the arrangements. (503)-429-6611 JESSE T. FULKERSON Jesse T. Fulkerson, 87, a resident of the Cornelius community, died Sunday, June 12, 2011, at Hillsboro Rehabilitation and Specialty Care. Jesse True Fulkerson was born March 1, 1924 in The Dalles, Oregon. Jesse was a WWII veteran survived by his long time companion Betty Everett, children Ann Marie Mott, Mary Pat Nester, Karen Embury and Bill Fulkerson, 8 grandchildren and 4 great- grandchildren. He was raised and attended school in The Dalles, graduating from The Dalles High School Class of 1942. Following high school, Jesse joined the United States Navy. He served on the USS Patterson as a Torpedoman Third Class (TM3) in the South Pacific. After his Honorable discharge, he continued serving in the Naval Reserves and National Guard until 1956. During his service in the Naval Reserves and National Guard, Jesse worked on The Dalles Dam before moving to Portland, Oregon to work at the shipyards and earn his degree in Mechanical Engineering. He worked for Morrison & Funitaki Engineering in Portland before retiring in 1976. During his retirement, Jesse owned and operated Ye Old Dingheiser Tavern in Manning, Oregon until the early 90’s. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse and Harriett Fulkerson; his wife, Mary Mildred Fulkerson; his wife, Lillie Ann (Brickell) Fulkerson; and two sisters, Barbara Ayres and Una Rogers It was very difficult for dad when our mother passed away. Fortunately he met a wonderful women, Betty to spend the rest of his life with. Betty, we would like to thank you for making our dad’s life so happy over the last 21 years. I don’t know what he would have done without you. Thank You. Tualatin Valley Funeral Alternatives-Hillsboro is in charge of the arrangements. (503) 693-7965.
