MARCH 10, 2017, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A11
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Sylvia Coomler
Lorrie Jean James
July 22, 1920 – Fbbruary 18, 2017
Sylvia
Coomler, long-
time resident of Keizer, passed
away peacefully in her sleep in
Eugene, on February 18, 2017,
of age-related causes. She was
96 years old.
Sylvia
was
born
in
Alexandria, Minnesota, on July
22, 1920, to
Joseph Tehle
and
Mary
Hruza Tehle.
She moved
from there to
Wa h p e t o n ,
N o r t h
S. Coomlbr
Dakota, then
to Woodburn,
Oregon, and then to Salem in
1933. As a child, she was a bit
of a tom boy and liked to tell
stories of playing ball with the
boys and running across the tops
of trains for fun. She was often
asked why she couldn’t be more
of a lady like her sister. She
wore this as a badge of honor
and attributed the fresh air and
physical activity to her long life.
Sylvia was in the last class to
graduate from the old Salem
High School in 1937 and then
attended Capitol Business
College. She married her fi rst
love, John K. Coomler, on
November 23, 1939. They
moved to Manbrin Gardens
in Keizer in 1946. She worked
with her husband at their
business, Coomler and Franz, a
hardware/grocery store that was
located on Cherry Avenue and
River Road in Keizer. She later
worked in accounting and as a
receptionist at the Oregon State
Forestry Department from 1959
until she retired in 1982.
In her adult years, she was a
very elegant woman who always
dressed to the nines. Sylvia en-
joyed watching many sports, but
became most animated watch-
ing the Blazers. She liked taking
long drives with her husband
and trips in their travel trailer,
often spending summers in De-
poe Bay. She loved spoiling her
grandchildren
and spending
time with her
dear friends,
her wonder-
ful neighbors,
and her lov-
ing family. For
several years after her retirement
she drove Meals on Wheels. Syl-
via kept mentally active by do-
ing crossword puzzles and by
being an avid reader, especially
of biographies, non-fi ction, and
newspapers. She kept current
on politics until the end of her
life. Sylvia loved to garden; her
yard was always a showcase that
brought her great joy.
Sylvia was an incredibly
independent woman who lived
on her terms in her own home
for 68 years until she was 94.
Although she didn’t drive often
or far, it made her smile when
at 94 her driver’s license was
renewed for 8 years, or until she
was 102.
John and Sylvia had two
children, Judy and John, Jr.
Sylvia was fi ercely devoted
to and protective of her
entire family. With help from
her children and wonderful
neighbors she lived in the home
that she loved until the last few
months of her life. Her love
for her children, grandchildren,
and great grandchildren was
complete and unconditional.
Sylvia is preceded in death by
her husband of almost 60 years,
John K. Coomler, sisters Lillian
Myers and Mildred French,
and brother Lester Tehle. She
is survived by her daughter,
Judy Boler (husband Rich);
son, John Jr.; grandchildren,
Linda, Leslie, and Dan; fi ve great
grandchildren and numerous
nieces and nephews who all
adored and respected her. She
will be dearly missed and fondly
remembered.
Thank you to the wonderful
staff at Emerald Valley Assisted
Living
and
PeaceHealth
Hospice in Eugene for all of
the care and kindness that made
Sylvia’s end of life comfortable.
In lieu of fl owers, contributions
can be made to Meals on
Wheels. Family and friends will
celebrate Sylvia’s life on March
18th at 1 p.m. at McNary Golf
Course in Keizer.
May 9, 1960 – Fbbruary 18, 2017
Lorrie was born May 9,
1960. She was suddenly called
home by our Heavenly Father
Feb. 18, 2017.
Born in Salt Lake City, Utah,
Lorrie was raised in Vancouver,
Wash. She graduated from
Evergreen High in 1978, and
went on to a very successful
career as a licensed hearing
instrument
specialist
in
Portland and Keizer and fi nally
Albany. She fi nally found her
soul-mate and loving husband,
Michael James, and they
married January 7, 2011. She
had no children of her own,
but became an instant mother
to Michael’s sons Stephen and
Christopher, and grandmother
to Jeffrey, Joshua, Larissa, Chris
Jr., Robbie, Stephen Jr., David,
Cody, and McKensi.
Lorrie and Michael both
loved to travel which included
14 cruises in Europe, the
Caribbean and many trips to
Mexico. She had a passion for
cooking and computer games,
and had just joined the Keizer
Elks Club and was learning to
line dance. She was a member
of Morning Star Church.
She will be missed by her
many special
friends as well
as her hearing
aid
patients
from
Keizer
and Albany.
She
was
preceded
L. Jambs
in death by
her
brother,
Michael,
and
mother,
Katherine. She is survived by
father Curtis Schaeffer, sisters
Sharon Green and Carolyn
Woltman, brothers Randy
and Roger, fi ve nieces, seven
nephews, six great-nephews,
and four great-nieces.
A memorial service will be
held at Morning Star Church in
Salem on Saturday, March 11 at
2 p,m, and eulogized by Pastor
Scott, who had offi ciated at her
2011 wedding to Michael.
In lieu of fl owers you may
donate to your local food bank.
Junb 4, 1925 –
Dbcbmbbr 31, 2016
A celebration of life for
Betty Corey will be held
March 11, 2017, at John Knox
Presbyterian Church 452
Cummings Lane N, Keizer
OR at 2 p.m.
Betty, a long time Keizer
resident, passed away on Dec.
31, 2016.
She is sur-
vived
by
Donna Ben-
jamin (Tom),
Steven Corey,
Patricia New-
ton (Richard);
B. Corby
grandchildren
Scott, Greg, Justin Benjamin,
Travis, Sean and Adrianne
Newton; great grandchildren
Patrick, Kevin, Dakota, Nikki
Benjamin; Joby (by marriage),
Justin Ace, Lilliana and Grady
Newton.
The family is asking any
donations be made to John
Knox Presbyterian Church.
Thbatrb Fbst bbgins March 17
The Salem Theatre Net-
work will be hosting the
Cherry Blossom Theatre
Festival, a city-wide event in
downtown Salem March 17
through 19.
The festival will feature
20 performances, fi ve work-
shops, six of Salem’s down-
town theatre venues, exclu-
sive wine and beer tasting,
and passports and prizes.
A one act competition
will feature performers from
Beaverton Civic Theater,
Gallery Theater and Pentacle
Theatre. Four area theater
companies, including Keizer
Homegrown Theater, have
performances slated. Work-
shop topics include acing au-
ditions, tools for devised per-
formances, directing actors,
nailing mass auditions and
body awareness on the stage.
A River City Rock Acad-
emy performance will close
out the weekend.
Passes for the entire week-
end are available to purchase
at salemtheaternetwork.org.
There are discount passes for
students with a special edu-
cational track, and VIP passes
for adults with wine and beer
tastings.
Prices start at $25 for stu-
dents. Basic adult passes are
$35.
We’ll
You
Get
Got
It?
Betty
Corey
It!
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