2 Summer 2025 Applegater
OBITUARY
Richard Lee Goodnough
June 1, 1948 - April 20, 2025
Richard Lee
Goodnough was born to
Howard Miller (Mickey)
and Thelma Cleo
Goodnough on June
1, 1948, in Lakeview,
Oregon. Raised in
Lakeview, he graduated
from high school as part
of the class of 1966. He
worked in the family
business, Rose Cleaners,
and after high school, went on to begin a
short career with the United States Forest
Service (USFS). In 1968, he married
the love of his life, Thelma Lenore Flick
(Goodnough), whom he had met at school
in Lakeview, and together they moved
to Ashland, Oregon, to attend college at
Southern Oregon College (now Southern
Oregon University). They bought property
in the Applegate in 1973, where they
continued to build a life together, building
two homes and raising a son, David
“Cody” Goodnough.
Richard worked for USFS, Oregon
State Forestry, and as a potter. He
eventually began working as a self-
employed contractor and handyman, and
he made a living working primarily for
customers in the Applegate Valley. As a
local carpenter and handyman, Richard
touched many lives and worked on many
houses here in the Applegate. He may have
used his skills as a carpenter, electrician, or
plumber to assist you with any number
of projects in which you sought his
services, or he may have assisted you in
an emergency situation.
He was one of the
founding members of the
Applegate Valley Rural
Fire Protection District
#9, which took over fire
protection duties from
the local Lions Club
in 1980. He served in
various ranks within the
fire district, including
Firefighter, Captain, and
Battalion Chief. He was also certified as an
Emergency Medical Technician and served
multiple terms as an elected member of
the Board of Directors. In total, he served
with the fire district for 34 years.
Richard passed away on Sunday, April
20, 2025. He was preceded in death by
his parents and his brothers, Howard
and Orvelle. He is survived by his wife,
Thelma; his baby sister, Thelma Cox (yes
that is correct; his mother, sister, and wife
were all named Thelma); his son Cody;
his grandchildren; and numerous nieces
and nephews.
The family would like to thank all
those who have reached out with words
of condolence and support. We’ve always
believed, and now we’re assured, that he
touched many lives in a positive way, and
for that we are grateful.
A celebration of life will be held at
10:30 am Saturday, June 14, at Cantrall
Bucley Park Group A. Please consider
bringing your own lawn chairs.
Thelma and Cody Goodnough
cgoodnough@gmail.com
A loss in the community
I lost a dear friend of 50 years and
Applegate residents lost another of our
finest people with Richard Goodnough’s
passing this past April.
We met in 1974 while working at
Star Ranger Station, and we were perhaps
unlikely friends—he having resisted the
draft and I having returned recently from
Vietnam. But we became very close, and
we worked in the woods together, cutting
firewood and poles in the off-season.
Genealogy shows that in Virginia in the
1770s, the “Goodenough” and “Typton”
families intermarried, and I’ve always felt
that Richard was truly “my brother.”
When my wife, Janis, and I were
trying to purchase property near them
in 1977, Richard and Thelma offered us
half ownership of their property, along
with half the milking duties that come
with a fresh Jersey cow and everything
that trickles down from that—calves, pigs,
turkeys, and chickens. Some of the best
years of my life were spent living there
with them.
We also worked together in construction,
along with others, as Billy Mountain
Builders Cooperative. Later, Richard
and Chris Bratt formed a construction
company named Cottage Green.
Richard touched the lives of many
people over the years. Personally, I’m
going to miss our 30-year tradition of
weekly pool games that assured we’d
stay connected.
Paul Tipton • ptipton4u2c@gmail.com
■ FIRE DISTRICT
Continued from page 1
you need is the heart to help, the time to
train, and the willingness to be there when
your neighbors need you most.
Applegate Fire District provides
everything you need to get started:
training, gear, support, and a clear
path toward becoming a firefighter or
emergency responder. We also have roles
for those who want to assist behind the
scenes—driving water tenders, supporting
wildland crews, or providing rehab and
logistics at fire scenes. There’s a role for
everyone who’s ready to step forward.
Volunteering is more than answering
alarms. It’s about presence. It’s about
knowing that your contribution helps keep
your neighborhood protected. It’s about
ensuring that when something goes wrong,
help is already nearby—not coming from
a station on the other side of the valley.
Over the years, we’ve had generations
of families serve in our ranks—parents,
children, siblings. That tradition of service
has helped shape who we are, and we hope
to see it continue. Whether you’re just
starting out, have recently retired, or are
somewhere in between, this could be your
moment to carry the torch.
When people talk about the Applegate
Fire District, they speak with respect and
gratitude—not just for the service we
provide, but for the heart we bring to
every call. We’re honored to be part of
such a caring community, and we’re always
looking for others who feel that same sense
of purpose and pride.
We invite you to visit a station, meet
our crews, and explore how you might fit
in. It could be one of the most rewarding
decisions you ever make.
For more information or to apply, visit
applegatefd.com or call 541-899-1050.
We’ll guide you every step of the way.
Chris Wolfard, Fire Chief
Applegate Fire District
cwolfard@applegatefd.com
Food, wine, music, and
more at Troon Vineyard
BY DIANA COOGLE
No w h e r e e l s e i n t h e
Applegate on June 7 can you
find such an afternoon of
good food, wine, inspiration,
knowledge, and fun as at Troon
Vineyard. Join us there for
the Siskiyou Crest Coalition’s
2025 fundraiser.
Here’s the scoop
What: An afternoon and
evening of tours, speakers,
music, delicious food, and
great wine.
Where: Troon Vineyard, 1475
Kubli Road.
W h e n : S a t u r d a y, J u n e
7, 1-7 pm.
Who: You!
Why: For all this:
• Weed identification workshop with
the Pollinator Project of the Rogue
Valley at 1 pm.
• Butterfly walk with Linda Kappen, the
Applegater’s butterfly columnist (see
page 13 ) at 2:30 pm.
• Inspirational nature talk by biologist
and writer Pepper Trail, winner of the
Southern Oregon Land Conservancy’s
2 0 2 4 C o n s e r va t i o n Aw a rd
at 3 pm.
• Tour of Troon, the only Demeter
Biodynamic and Regenerative Organic
Certified winery and farm in Oregon,
led by Garett Long, Troon’s Director of
Agriculture at 3:30 pm.
• Tour of the native plant garden by
garden architect Suzie Savoie at 4 pm.
• Music by country blues and folk
musician Scott Knickerbocker,
starting at 5 pm.
• Artisan pizza dinner by Chef Carl, of
Wilder Cooking, with salad, dessert,
and a complimentary glass of Troon’s
wine at 5 pm.
Kangaroo Mountain as seen from a flight
over the Siskiyou Crest with Ecoflight.
Photo: Frank Lospalluto.
• Words of inspiration and delight by
Siskiyou botanist Kristi Mergenthaler
and others during dinner.
• Music, socializing, another glass
of wine (but not complimentary),
another stroll through the garden,
contemplation of the mountains, and
talk of plants, hikes, and Siskiyou
adventures with friends and botanical
experts until 7 pm.
The best reason: To support the work
of the Siskiyou Crest Coalition, which
endeavors to find permanent protections
for the public lands of the Siskiyou Crest,
not only because of the world-significant
botanical diversity and the wildlife that
lives in the Siskiyous, but for the viewshed
and watershed that are so important to
Troon, other vineyards, and, indeed, to all
of us who live in the Applegate.
How: Tickets are available for $50 at
siskiyoucrestcoalition.org/fundraiser/.
You can also buy tickets at https://www.
eventbrite.com/e/siskiyou-crest-coalition-
fundraiser-at-troon-vineyard-tickets-
1343175206199?aff=oddtdtcreator.
See you at Troon on June 7!
Diana Coogle • dicoog@gmail.com
Three Rivers Community
Orchestra Spring Concert
BY COLLEEN KIRKLAND
The Three Rivers Community
Orchestra (TRCO) will hold our Spring
Concert on Sunday, June 1, at 3 pm at
the Grants Pass Performing Arts Center,
located at Grants Pass High School. We
will be under the direction of our new
conductor, Dr. Jason Heald. Dr. Heald
is the Director of Music at Umpqua
Community College and an award-
winning composer, performer, educator,
and clinician in the Pacific Northwest.
We are very excited to have him, as he is
challenging us to new heights of musical
performance. He became our conductor
in January and has already conducted our
April Concert, which included a local
piano soloist, Anna Christina Streletz, and
brought the Roseburg Concert Chorale to
sing with us. For this concert, we will be
performing Mozart’s “Exsultate, jubilate
(Motet), K. 165” with a soloist, the
Schubert “Overture in D,” Sibelius’s “Valse
Triste,” Borodin’s “Polovtsian Dances,” and
Heald’s own composition “Three Dances.”
Our musicians are all from the local
area and love classical music. We meet
on Thursday nights from 6:30-8:30
pm at North Middle School in Grants
Pass and are looking for musicians of
orchestral instruments who are passionate
about sharing music with others. Our
concerts are all free, though donations are
welcome. If you have questions, feel free
to contact me.
Colleen Kirkland, Vice President
Three Rivers Community Orchestra
dekirklands@gmail.com
541-476-0860
Coming Soon:
Rat Route 238
Paragliding Event!
On June 8-13, watch paragliders land daily at local businesses in the Applegate Valley
during this week-long event! Spectators are invited to enjoy the show, take in the views,
and explore local flavors and goods. Landings will take place each afternoon between
2-5 pm at featured venues, including LongSword Vineyard, KingFisher Lavender
Farm, and Red Lily Vineyards.