John Leslie Roe, Sr. - 1925-2012
From the office of Tribal Court
John Leslie Roe, Sr., a Siletz Tribal
member, Elder and former chief judge,
passed away in mid-October 2012.
John was bom July 19, 1925, and was
raised in Southeast Portland. He dropped
out ot high school and lied about his age
to join the U.S. Marine Corps shortly after
Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7,
1941. His military service in the South
Pacific included several island invasions
and the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Upon John’s discharge from the
Marine Corps, he returned to Oregon. For
several years after his discharge, he drifted
in life without purpose or direction. A
Portland police officer convinced him to
apply to the police bureau.
John’s career with the Portland Police
Bureau from 1948 to 1973 included patrol
officer, sergeant and director of police
community relations from 1969-1970.
In 1957, Standard Insurance contacted
John, offering him a minority scholarship
and saying it would pay expenses if he
enrolled in law school. His initial response
was, “How could anyone expect a high
school dropout with only a GED to attend
or even complete law school?”
In 1957, however, John enrolled in
Northwestern School of Law and gradu
ated in 1961, ranking second in his class.
He was sworn into the Oregon State Bar
that same year.
In addition to being a police officer,
attorney and judge, John also was a very
successful businessman as the owner of
two marinas and a commercial crawfish
fisherman.
John’s sense of civic responsibilities
included serving as a municipal court
judge, mayor and port commissioner in
Ridgefield, Wash., between 1969 and 1982.
John was the chief judge of the Siletz
Tribal Court twice, serving a total of 9'/2
years from 1984 to 1999. He retired from
his position as chief judge in May 1999
because of health issues.
John was a truly gifted and unique
individual. He believed hard work and
dedication could overcome any of life’s
obstructions. He had a strong work ethic
and devotion to justice. Forthose who knew
John, their lives will forever be enriched.
Courtesy photo
John Leslie Roe, Sr.
Caroline Louise Easter, 1951-2012 -
Caroline Louise Easter, 61, of Siletz,
Ore., died Oct. 25,2012, in Corvallis, Ore.
She was bom July 1, 1951, to Walter
Jake and Esther Delores (Bell) Easter in
Toledo, Ore.
Caroline was a graduate of Spring
field Senior High School and later gradu
ated from the A Arts Beauty College. She
was a beautician for 15 years and then
worked for 12 years for the Confederated
Tribes of Siletz Indians, retiring in 2009.
She played many sports throughout
her life and enjoyed playing on her dad’s
co-ed softball team. She was a member
of the Siletz Valley School Board and
enjoyed beading, crafts, wrestling, the
Oregon Ducks, pow-wows and music,
especially Percy Sledge. But her greatest
love was that of her family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her
parents, Walter and Esther Easter; and
sister, Carlene Easter.
She is survived by her daughters,
Angeline (Mike) Orona and Jennifer
Easter; sister, Corliss Attebury; brothers,
Ralph and Calvin Easter; grandson, Louie
Orona; and numerous nieces, nephews,
great-nieces and great-nephews.
Funeral services were held at the
Siletz Tribal Community Center, with a
wake on Oct. 29 and a funeral on Oct. 30.
Interment followed at the Paul Washing
ton Cemetery in Siletz.
Affordable Burial and Cremation
handled arrangements.
Editor’s note: Sahaylee Mason drew the picture below after a fire broke out
in the apartment next door. No one was injured in the fire.
Courtesy photo
Caroline Louise Easter
Kyle Len Wallace, 1991-2012----------
How I (Sahaylee) saved the day from flre.„.
Kyle Len Wallace, 20, of Siletz, Ore.,
died Sept. 24, 2012.
I saved a house. There was a fire. My Mom was in the
living room. I smelled smoke In the shower and I got out.
"There Is a flrel" My Mom banged on the door (Sammy ft
Kelsie) and it was locked. She called 911 and the fire fighters
came.
He was bom Dec. 13,1991, to Sondra
Wallace and stepfather, Tod Oliphant, in
Newport, Ore.
He had two brothers and three sisters
whom he loved very much. Family was
very important to Kyle and he loved to
spend time with them - from holidays
and family dinners to helping Elders and
watching the babies.
Kyle lived in Siletz all of his life. He
worked at Noel’s Market, which he loved
because he got to interact with people. He
was a people person and never knew a
stranger. He met the love of his life, Taryn
Taylor, whom he asked to be his bride on
Christmas Eve.
Kyle was an adventurous spirit who
enjoyed being in the outdoors. He loved
fishing, camping trips, rafting, Run to the
Rogue and walks on the beach with his
dog, Jazzie.
He also liked “fixing things” and
enjoyed working on different projects that
he would tear apart and try to put back
together again. He loved a good deal too,
and was always trading things. Kyle was
a jokester, but he also was a very giving
person with a tender heart.
L 1
U
-,
He was preceded in death by his
uncles, Matt Williams, Rory Williams
and Mike Elkins.
Courtesy photo
Kyle Len Wallace
He is survived by his fiancé, Taryn
Taylor; mother, Sondra Wallace; step
father, Tod Oliphant; siblings, Chloie
Oliphant, Haley Oliphant, Evan Oliph
ant, Peytan Oliphant, Kayden Oliphant
and Julia Austin; grandmother Ronda
Williams; grandfather Louie Wallace;
great-grandmother Connie Williams; and
many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Services were held Oct. 28 at the
Siletz Tribal Community Center.
Affordable Burial and Cremation
handled arrangements.
December 2012
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Siletz News
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