PAGE A9, KEIZERTIMES, MAY 06, 2022
Homeless man's life honored in ceremony
KEIZERTIMES STAFF
More than 20 people attended
Sunny’s celebration of life ceremony
held last Saturday, April 30, at the
Eagles Club in Keizer.
According to his brother Gary
Chorre, who attended the ceremony,
Sunny’s name was Ronald James
Chorre. Even that information was
hard to come by since his death, and
little else is currently known about
his life before he came to Keizer
more than a decade ago, but he left
an indelible impression on many
Keizer residents with his willingness
to help others and his cheerful spirit.
Sunny was close to being housed
prior to his death – plans were under-
way to find him a permanent home
before he passed, according to Beth
Grifford who emceed the ceremony.
Music was provided by Ron Smith,
who played Sunny’s favorite songs:
Hey, Tomorrow by Jim Croce and
You’ve Got a Friend, by Carole King.
Sunny’s brother provided a eulogy
to Keizertimes.
“Early on it rained on Sunny’s
parade. He stumbled and slipped on
life’s muddied path. And yet, through
the gloom of a life of constant suffer-
ing and pain, he took it to heart and
turned the tables on fate.
"After every stormy encounter
with bad luck, the clouds parted and
Sunny’s light was shining bright.
Sunny was a needy soul who spent
a hard life giving his all, and in so
doing earned a place in a commu-
nity of mutual love.
"It’s no wonder he became
Keizer’s very own Santa Claus.
We will miss you Sunny.”
of the Week
presented by
Ron Smith, who befriended Sunny last
Easter, performed two songs for guests
at the celebration of life ceremony.
Photo by LYNDON ZAITZ of the Keizertimes
court
NO LICENSE
Skylar N Thomas, $307;
NO INSURANCE
Skylar N Thomas, $265; Kenneth Paul
Gilmore, $265; Adrian H Fernandez, $307;
DRIVING WHILE SUSPENDED
Briana Marie Alvarez, $482; Santos
Bogarin Juarez, $482; Kenneth Paul
Gilmore, $482; Kelsey Marie Tedor,
$482; Alejandro Rios Alejandre, $482;
Brian Leroy Henderson, $482; Adrian H
Fernandez, $440; Joshua Andrew Salazar,
$440;
FAILURE TO OBEY TRAFFIC
CONTROL DEVICE
Aaron Elijah Lee Vollendroff, $235;
Evelena Marie Leder, $235; Danny Ray
Ford, $265;
USE OF MOBILE DEVICE
Joshua Andrew Salazar, $307;
SPEEDING
Jacquelyn Rose Holm, $165
OTHER
Robert James Hensell, $157; Devin
Harrison Chaney, $157; Adrian H
Fernandez, $115, improper display of vali-
dating stickers;
DAN KOHLER
Where and how
do you volunteer?
• Church
• Salem Hospital
• Keizer Community Dinner
• Keizer City Council
• Keizer Chamber of Commerce
• Claggett Creek Watershed Council
And several other places
obituary
Submit an obituary by sending an email to:
kt@keizertimes.com
Barb Bellin
Keizer writer and birdwatching
enthusiast Barb Bellin died in the early
morning on August 30, 2021.
Born in Corvallis, she attended
Philomath schools, graduating as
valedictorian of her high school class.
She received her bachelor’s degree in
English cum laude from Cascade College
in Portland and her master’s degree in
English Literature from the University
of Oregon. While at Cascade she was
twice chosen to appear in “Who’s Who
in American Colleges and Universities.”
After teaching high school English in
Ontario and Lebanon, she married Jerry
Bellin of Salem, moving to Keizer soon
after. She worked for 10 years at Wentzel’s
Woodcrafts in Keizer and wrote for two
local papers.
She wrote a bird column, “On the
Wing,” for the Statesman Journal and
took a turn writing the Keizertimes
feature, “Keizer Kitchen.” She also wrote
up many interviews of fellow members
at Faith Lutheran Church for the
congregational newsletter.
For over 10 years she wrote the
extensive field notes for the local
Audubon newsletter and served as
an unofficial bird information source.
An avid “birder,” she participated in
Christmas bird counts throughout
several decades. Of her many different
bird “lists,” fellow birders were especially
inspired by her record of 100 or more
birds in each county in Oregon.
BARB BELLIN
Her faith was an integral part of her
life since childhood. While still living at
home, she used part of her allowance to
support missionaries from her church.
She was an active member of each church
she joined, with a wide range of tasks and
responsibilities. As an example, at St.
Mark Lutheran church she was a member
of church council, and once covered for
the traveling pastor by giving a sermon
on prayer. At Faith Lutheran Church
she participated in several prayer vigils,
and worked on the lily-covered cross for
Easter.
Her love of music began at an early
age, and she was proficient on several
instruments, including piano, accordion,
and clarinet. She wrote a beautiful song
played at her wedding. She played piano
for worship in several churches and the
Christian Women’s Club. Participating
in several choirs throughout her life,
she also enjoyed singing with the Salem
Madrigal Singers for many years. She
and husband Jerry often enjoyed the
lively music at Dallas’s Guthrie Park on
Friday nights.
With her passion for nature,
she enjoyed hiking, camping, and
backpacking. Her other hobbies included
organic gardening and photography. She
started with a simple box camera as a
child, working with a variety of cameras
in film, before moving primarily to
digital. Her subjects ranged from family
snapshots and still life arrangements at
home to chronicling countless outdoor
excursions. Always health conscious, she
participated in a 5:30 a.m. aerobics class
for several years.
She is remembered for her zest for
life, a powerful fondness for chocolate,
and her signature color, red. Although
extremely modest about her own talents
and accomplishments, she went out
of her way to support others in any
situation. She went above and beyond
for her friends and family, always finding
new ways to enrich their lives. Her loved
ones of faith rejoice that she is in the arms
of the Lord, but find the world a drearier
place without her. She is profoundly
missed.
She is preceded in death by siblings
Jan and Gary, first cousin Joan, and dear
friend Karen. Survivors include devoted
husband Jerry, son Chris, and daughter
Angela (Jason); four grandchildren:
Misty (Dave), Jennifer, CJ (Chante),
and Olivia; six great-grandchildren:
Logan, Wyatt, Hayden, Kaitlyn, Kenzy,
and Alana; five siblings: Tam (Vern),
John (Ann) Betty, Bonnie (Allen), and
Rebecca; and dear friend Betty Ann.
An outdoor memorial service was held
on September 9. Internment has been
delayed because of pandemic protocols.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be
made to the Keizer Food Bank or the
Salem Audubon Society.
This obituary runs in our first issue of
May, in honor of her May 1 birthday.
Why do you volunteer?
The scriptures teach we should love our
neighbor as ourselves and to love one
another. One of the ways we show love for
others is to serve them, and that leads to
volunteering.
What does volunteering do for you?
I have been involved with Boy Scouts
for over 50 years, where we were taught
by serving others we learn more about
ourselves and came to understand the
great feelings generated thorough this
service.
I think most of us want our world to be
a better place. Volunteering with other
does good things and helps foster a
co-operating community.
My favorite service is helping others
when they don’t know where it came
from or who did it.
How would you get others to
volunteer in their community?
Share the joy of service. Volunteering
doesn’t cost a bunch of money, so all
can do it. I find I’m deeply rewarded
for my efforts. If there is something
you see lacking or want to make better,
ask some questions. If no one can
provide the answers you are seeking,
get involved. I look for people who
want to make our community better
and encourage them to come to an
event or two with me. Usually they
get hooked quickly. When we work
together, differences seem to disappear;
boundaries and divisions that some try
to impose are removed. When everyone
works together we all succeed.
Keizer is a very unique place. The low
tax base we enjoy, requires we all pitch
in and do things other communities pay
someone to do. This service creates
lifelong friendships and a spirit of
comradery rare in a city of nearly
40K people. We all work together
for the better good.