BAGE A2, KEIZERTIMES, DECEMBER 21, 2018
KeizerCommunity
KEIZERTIMES.COM
Museum volunteers spread
history of Keizer and more
By LYNDON A. ZAITZ
Of the Keizertimes
The Keizer communi-
ty offers many opportunities
for volunteerism. There are
non-profi t organizations that
serve a specifi c clientele, there
are commissions and task
forces with city government.
There are countless opportu-
nities for the public to give of
their time with our schools,
from elementary to high.
One of the more unique
volunteer opportunities is at
the Keizer Heritage Museum
at the Keizer Cultural Center,
housed in the original Keizer
School built in 1916 and that
now sits on the Keizer Civic
Center campus on Chemawa
Road NE.
The museum is the repos-
itory for Keizer’s history, dat-
ing back to the mid-1800s.
There are permanent exhibits
that are joined by temporary
exhibits as well as a research
center. The research center is
named for one the museum’s
longest serving volunteers
and supporter—Evelyn Mel-
son Franz. Though Franz has
stepped away from any day-
to-day operations, she visits
often.
One of the current volun-
teers serves as a museum host
two days each month. Ray
Gordene Lane has been vol-
unteering at the museum for
so long she doesn’t remember
when she started.
Lane, a retired kindergar-
ten teacher and school librar-
ian, has been a Keizer resident
since the early 2000s. She has
Tuning in
Christmas
Residents of Willa-
mette Lutheran Retire-
ment Community cel-
ebrated Christmas early
with a concert by David
Rogers (pictured at left) a
classical Spanish guitarist
Thursday, Dec. 13.
obituaries
KEIZERTIMES/Lyndon A. Zaitz
Ray Gordene Lane has been volunteering at the Keizer Heritage Museum so long that it’s getting
diffi cult to recall exactly when she started.
a history of volunteering from
a tour guide at a Eugene mu-
seum and as policy chairper-
son for the Keizer/Salem Area
Seniors.
“Answer questions from
visitors,” said Lane when
asked what she does as a vol-
unteer. Interacting with mu-
seum visitors is one of the
attractions (and benefi ts) for
her as a host. “I meet lots of
interesting people,” she added.
When she began volun-
teering at the museum she
knew very little about Keiz-
er and its history. By poring
over the exhibits, reading the
books about Keizer, Lane has
learned about the man the city
was named for (Thomas Dove
Keizur) as well as Charles Mc-
Nary (U.S. Senator) who lived
in a house where McNary
Golf Club now sits.
“I always recommend
volunteering,” she said. “It is
not a hard job (as a host at
the museum)—it’s only hard
when people don’t come in.”
The Keizer Heritage Mu-
seum, operated by the Keiz-
er Heritage Foundation, is
seeking to open the museum
more hours and is recruiting
volunteer hosts for two to
three hour shifts. Currently
the museum’s hours are 2-4
p.m. Tuesday and Thursday
and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sat-
urday. A volunteer can take as
few or as many shifts as they
like.
Each volunteer is given
a thorough tour of the mu-
seum, its exhibits and its re-
search center. As host, a vol-
unteer’s toughest job is to
persuade visitors to sign in
the visitors book. Gordene
Lane has found her niche as
a volunteer and makes the
museum her home for four
hours each month.
$
5
Submit an obituary through our website at keizertimes.com
or send an email to: editor@keizertimes.com
William “Bill” James Kincaid
Sept. 27, 1929 – Dec. 10, 2018
The family is holding ser-
vices on January 21, 2019 in
the chapel of St.Paul’s Epis-
copal Church, 1444 Liberty
St. SE, Salem, OR at 1 p.m.
Services are in the care of
Keizer Funeral Chapel www.
keizerchapel.com. In lieu of
fl owers, the family asks that
contributions be made in
Chinese & American
SPECIALS EVERY DAY!
Tuesday
Chicken Lo Mein
OPEN
9am–2:30pm
Christmas
Day
Sunday
-
Chicken
Fried Steak
Home of Ringo’s Famous Burgers
TO-GO ORDERS, CALL 503.390.1015
4170 River Rd N, Keizer
NO MSG
December 22-23 in Salem
OREGON STATE FAIRGROUNDS
2330 17th St NE • I-5 Exit #256 • Sat: 9a-5p, Sun: 10a-3p • $7 • Free parking
Great Gift Ideas for the Outdoor Enthusiast on Your List
or Give Yourself the Gift You Really Want!
For entire schedule go to Collectorswest.com
Bill’s name to Helping Hands
of Salem, P.O. Box 3363, Sa-
lem, OR 97302