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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (March 16, 2018)
PAGE A6, KEIZERTIMES, MARCH 16, 2018 obituaries Joseph Walter Riley Maxwell February 15, 1933 – February 26, 2018 Joseph Maxwell died at home, surrounded by family, after a brief illness. He was 85. Maxwell was born in Boone County, Indiana, to Claude and Doris Riley. The fam- ily moved to California when he was 3 years old. On the way, a high fever led him into deaf- J. Maxwell ness. At the age of 6, he attended California State School for the Deaf in Berkeley where he graduated in 1954. He went to Gallau- det College, now University, in Washington, D.C. and gradu- ated in 1959 with a degree in Physical Education. He joined a fraternity Kappa Gamma and participated in many sports, such as football and track. He earned a silver medal in the high jump at the 1957 Deaf Olympics held in Milan, Italy. He also met his wife, Sal- ly, a fellow U.S. athlete, at the games. He started working at Kansas School for the Deaf as woodworking teacher and coached football as well as track for six years. In 1965, the couple moved to Falmouth, Maine, where Deaf School was on the island. He taught wood- working and coached soccer and track from 1965 to 1978. While in Maine, the couple’s children, Janet and Don, were born. Maxwell built two hous- es in his time in Maine, one in Yarmouth and other was in Cumber- land Center. Joseph and Sally moved to Oregon in 1978 where Joe taught physi- cal education until 1992. He then transitioned to teaching health, math and driving edu- cation. He retired in 1994, after 35 years of teaching. Maxwell was preceded in death by his grandfather, his mother, father, stepfather, older brother, Claude, older sister, Juanita, sister, Carol, and son, Gary Lance. He is survived by his wife; his son, Don (Elize); his daughter, Janet; one grand- daughter, Amanda; brother, Mel (Arlene); three sisters, Barbara, Rosie (Ken), Ellen; and many nephews, nieces and cousins. According to his wishes, no services are scheduled, but a Celebration of Life will is slated for April 7 at the Oregon School for the Deaf cafeteria in Salem from 1 to 4 p.m. In lieu of fl owers, the dona- tions are requested for: Offi ce of Development, Gallaudet University, 800 Florida Ave NE, Washington, D.C. 20002 in the name of Joseph W.R. Maxwell. and Oregon Association of the Deaf, P.O. Box 8054, Salem, Oregon 97303. Earmarked for any Deaf Oregonian, that has goals to go to the Deaf Olym- pics in the name of Joseph W. R. Maxwell. Judith Ann Roberts May 31, 1942 – March 9, 2018 Judith Ann Roberts, a longtime resident of Avamere Court in Keizer passed away on Friday, March 9, 2018. Roberts was born on May 31, 1942, in Charles Town, West Vir- ginia. She moved to New Or- leans, Louisi- ana, in 1961 and moved to Portland, Oregon, in 1977. Her husband, James Thomas Roberts, Sr., pre- ceded her in death. She is survived by two daughters, Brenda Lee and Kim Lee, and two sons, Vernon Lee and Richard Lee, as well as three grandchildren – John Henry, Kriston Renee and Joshua David Gutierrez – and four great-grandchildren. Perry gets glowing review at board meeting By HERB SWETT Of the Keizertimes Christy Perry, superinten- dent of Salem-Keizer Public Schools, again received high marks from the School Board. The board Tuesday offi cially approved its annual evaluation of her performance. Director Kathy Goss commented, “The whole process has reminded how lucky we are to have Su- perintendent Perry.” The board also held the fi rst reading of a proposal for tax exemption concurrence with Salem and Marion County to allow tax exemptions for low- income housing owned by non-profi t organizations. A challenge to legislation al- lowing the exemptions resulted in a moratorium that started in 2012. Some cities and counties in Oregon have adopted ordi- nances to allow the exemptions, but concurrence is required from taxing jurisdictions equal- ing 51 percent of the tax base. In other business, the board approved Curriculum Associ- ates’ Ready Mathematics for the Common Core as the dis- trict’s new elementary math- ematics instructional materials. The vote came after Kelly Car- lisle, assistant superintendent, showed charts that revealed higher district performance in math at the high school and middle school levels than the state as a whole but the reverse for district elementary schools. However, he and Gabriela Are- nas, a math teacher at High- land Elementary School, told of progress elementary schools were making in math. Paul Kyllo, board chairper- son, noted that $5.2 million crossword would be needed for the math materials. Perry said she hoped to fi nd a way to make room for them in the 2018-19 budget. The budget committee will hold its organizational meeting Tuesday. Two grants, both from the Oregon Department of Edu- cation, were accepted by the board. One, amounting to $6.986,458, covers special edu- cation matters, mostly staffi ng. A $337,999 grant will be used for improvement of staff quality. Speakers from the audience included Cortney Clendening of Keizer, elementary director of the Salem-Keizer Education Association and a Clear Lake Elementary School teacher, who said that meetings she must attend on student needs were taking away time to help students develop skills. The board proclaimed April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Personnel actions approved by the board included the fol- lowing in the McNary High School attendance area. • A licensed action for Ja- vier Martin-Vinas as a fi rst-year probation part-time teacher at McNary. • Resignations of Melissa Anderson from Kennedy El- ementary School; Jason Arthur and Mary Anna Vera, Weddle Elementary School; Justin Lin- demann, McNary; and Amy Torrance, Cummings Elemen- tary School. • Retirements of Gary Bu- len and Kathleen Roberson, McNary; Mary Alice Kruger, Kennedy; and Jill Matiskainen, Gubser Elementary School. GRIFFIN: ‘Dirty hands give me a sense of accomplishment’ (Continued from Page A3) to calls the department must also inspect all of the city’s catch basins during the sum- mer. A catch basin is usually a grated reservoir that prevents leaves and other matter from entering the sewer. This inspection helps Grif- fi n create a list of repairs to the system that will take place dur- ing the fall and winter seasons. Summer is often when street maintenance and repairs take place. This work begins with evaluating roads and street con- ditions, determining what type of work is needed and then cre- ating a work schedule. Weather conditions can have quite an impact on the depart- ment’s schedule. An incoming storm can mean making sure all necessary equipment is ready to go; vehicles have been fueled up, chainsaws need to be sharp, the vacuum truck needs to be empty and ready to use. Then there are all the other things that need to be attended to during any given day: re- viewing work orders and work logs, meetings, identifying as well as planning and schedul- ing of upcoming stormwater maintenance, coordinating with other supervisors, answering crew fi eld issues and fi elding emergency calls for immediate action. And while all of these things are important, clean drinking water is at the top of the list. “We provide and ensure safe clean drinking water through a properly maintained water sys- tem,” Griffi n said. It’s enough to make him run out of breath as he runs down the list of what his job entails, but then he smiles, this is part of what he likes about public works, no two days are ever the same. He’s a problem solver and takes great pleasure in a job well done. He’s quick to smile, somewhat soft spoken and shy, and his desire to do the best he can for everyone who counts on him is wholehearted and genuine. At home, Griffi n keeps busy. He enjoys doing yard work, or- ganizing his garage, keeping his truck clean and gardening. He has a fondness for growing the ingredients for salsa. “Generally getting my hands dirty gives me a sense of ac- complishment and keeps me calm, cool and collected,” he said. Though his daughters have graduated from high school and are making their own way in the world the family remains tight-knit. “While our girls maintain busy lives after high school we still enjoy the occasional fam- ily dinner and partaking in our favorite TV shows,” he said. “During the summers our fam- ily’s home away from home is the Metolius River Area where we enjoy camping, hiking and relaxing.” “My eldest daughter is mar- ried now and will be graduat- ing from Marylhurst Univer- sity this spring. She owns her own photography business. My youngest daughter recently graduated from high school, and currently works at the Keizer Courthouse. Her cur- rent plans are to adventure and experience life to the fullest.” He beams with pride at their accomplishments and glances at the mementoes scattered about his offi ce as he talks about his girls. While they are off pur- suing their dreams, he and his wife are enjoying simple plea- sures and quiet moments to- gether. They walk at Keizer Rapids Park, grab a coffee to- gether, ride their bikes or help out the neighbors. Rotary collecting food The Keizer Rotary Club has joined forces with Salem-area Rotary Clubs to hold its annual March food drive. If you want to contribute shelf-stable, unexpired food, you can do so at these sites: McNary High School, Keizer Fire Station, Keizer Veterinary Clinic, Oregon State Credit Union, Home Fire Stove, Lo- ren’s Sanitation, Boucher Jew- elers, Willamette Valley Bank, Willamette Lutheran Home, and HomeSmart Realty.