A5
THE ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2021
OBITUARIES
Sterling John Ficken
Donald Duane Schock
Astoria
Nov. 1, 1949 — Feb. 27, 2021
Yuma, Arizona
April 1, 1940 — Oct. 4, 2020
Sterling John Ficken, 71, passed away Board member for many years, and was a
Feb. 27, 2021, at his home in Astoria.
current member and past president of the
Born Nov. 1, 1949, to John Nicho- Clatsop County Livestock Association.
las Ficken and Angela Elaine
He was a cheerleader for the
(McGovern) Ficken, he was the
youth in the community. His pas-
oldest of fi ve siblings. He mar-
sion was coaching Little League
ried Dawn Colleen Headley in
and Babe Ruth baseball teams,
1976 in Astoria.
including being the “Commish.”
Sterling
attended
Lewis
He could always be found at
and Clark Consolidated Grade
Astoria High School basketball
School and Astoria High School,
games, and as part of the Chain
graduating in 1968. In 1970, he
Gang at football games.
received an associate’s degree
Well known for his trading
from the Clatsop Community
abilities, he always had seafood,
Sterling Ficken
College agriculture program.
apples or asparagus to share with
Sterling held many jobs
friends and family. Sterling was
during his youth, caddying at the golf blessed by many friendships, including
course, milking cows, logging and cutting the Lewis & Clark gang, golfi ng buddies,
and wrapping meat at Zero Zone Locker. Scandinavian Benevolent Society, din-
He was a shareholder at the Astoria Ply- ner group, party group and the Big O. He
wood Mill before its closure.
didn’t know a stranger.
Working for Ag-Bag , his travels took
Always there to offer his support and
him across farmland throughout the west- encouragement to his children, Sterling
ern states. Talking to potential customers was the best “Poppa” to his grandchil-
was right up his alley! He worked at the dren, taking an active interest in all their
rock pit for Warrenton Fibre/Nygaard Log- activities, making sure the kids always had
ging, and was employed for over 20 years, an ice cream and a little “jingle” in their
refusing to retire!
pockets.
Sterling and his brother, Jack, started
Sterling is survived by his wife, Dawn;
the Ficken Brothers Hog Farm, raising daughter, Heather Ficken-Sovince (Ben)
both commercial and show pigs to help and grandchildren, Callahan and Clay-
and support the area youth. It was at this ton; son, Jason Ficken, and grandchildren,
time he affectionately became known as Hunter, Alice and Fiona; siblings, Molly
“Boss Hog.”
(Leonard) Brown, Mindy (Ron) Sloper,
4-H and Future Farmers of America Tracy Gray and Jack (Teresa) Ficken; sis-
were the cornerstones of his youth, offer- ters-in-law, Sandra (Chuck) Kienholz and
ing him many opportunities for travel and Roxanne Headley; cousin, Mike Roby; and
education, but most of all, fun! He was the numerous nieces and nephews.
fi rst Clatsop County chapter president.
A celebration of life will be held at a
Some of his best memories were of later date. Memorial contributions may be
summers spent with friends at the county made to Astoria High School athletics, the
and state fairs. His involvement with the local Clatsop County 4-H scholarship fund
fair continued as an adult. Serving as an or the Astoria FFA chapter.
auction ring-man he hustled the bids with
Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary is in
his iconic “yeeeeeeup” and his cane to get charge of the arrangements. Please sign
the best price possible for the kids.
our online guest book at caldwellsmortu-
He served as a Clatsop County Fair ary.com
Donald Duane Schock passed away see his stamp.
He was active member of the Jaycees,
peacefully in his sleep on Oct. 4, 2020, with
his loving wife, Carol, by his side at their Astoria ABATE motorcycle club and, in
2016, received the honor of being
home in Yuma, Arizona.
an active member of the American
Born April 1, 1940, to Henry
Legion for 50 continuous years.
and Edna Schock, he graduated
He enjoyed spending time with
from high school in Colorado
children by being a part of the Start
Springs, Colorado, then attended
Making a Reader Today and Lunch
college in Pueblo, Colorado,
Buddy programs for the Astoria
studying refrigeration.
School District. He helped con-
He was instrumental in the
struct a BMX course in Alderbrook
concrete construction of the U.S.
Park, coordinated the ABATE toy
Air Force Academy in Colorado
drive for several years and coached
Springs. He was drafted into the
Donald Schock
T-ball.
Army National Guard and served
He always encouraged the kids
until released.
He moved to Astoria in 1965 to work on to give it their best, and treated the kids to
the Astoria Bridge with his father, Henry. ice cream after every game; every kid on the
While in Astoria, he met and married Dor- team was a winner.
Halloween was his favorite time of year.
othy (Sharon) Whitsberger and her two
daughters, Julie Niemi and Pam Marez, Kids would fl ock from all over Astoria
in 1968. They had one son, Donald Doyle (some from Seaside) to receive a king size
Snickers bar.
Schock. They later divorced.
He spent his spare time making wooden
Don then met, and eventually married,
Carol Sutcliffe and her two girls, Gina toys for kids, especially large wooden rock-
ing horses, one of which adorned the recep-
Govea and Janelle Norton, in April 1981.
After losing his father, Don owned and tion area of Dr. Gary Pedersen’s dental prac-
operated the Triangle Tavern for many tice in Astoria.
Don is survived by his wife, Carol; his
years. He enjoyed hosting pinochle and crib-
bage tournaments, and delighted in serving daughters, Gina Govea (Leo), Janelle Nor-
the military members who stopped by while ton (Grant), Julie Niemi (John) and Pam
visiting the area for the Astoria Regatta or Marez; his younger brother, Edward Schock;
his grandchildren, Daniel Green (Holly),
heading to the Portland Rose Festival.
Don owned and operated D&D Concrete Kari Rochester (Garette), James Green (Eri-
for 40 years. His work can be found through- cia), Zackry Norton, Shoshanna McCleary,
Christopher Barnett and Allen Barnett; and
out multiple counties in Oregon.
Some of his work includes the foundations several great-grandchildren, Hunter and
of many well-known places: Hauke’s Sen- Harper Green, Beckett and Claire Roches-
try Market (now Safeway), Astoria Build- ter and Mercedes, Bentley, Aston and Iyah
ers Supply, Stephanie’s Cabin (formerly The Green.
He is preceded in death by his father,
Dutch Cup), McDonald’s and Burger King,
the tall retaining wall located behind Dairy Henry Schock; his mother, Edna Schock;
Queen, the concrete framing of the “Wel- and his son, Donald Schock. His older sister,
come to Astoria” sign on the east end of Lois Hedges, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma,
town, Jeffers Gardens Mini Storage, his own passed away shortly after Don’s passing.
Due to COVID-19, a celebration of life
house and many other sidewalks, driveways,
retaining walls, foundations, patios and var- will be held at a future date. An announce-
ious other projects around town. If you look ment will be made when a date and location
down while walking around town, you may are determined.
Ronald Dale Elmes
OBITUARY POLICY
Seaside
July 14, 1937 — Feb. 24, 2021
Ronald Dale Elmes, 83, of Seaside, member of the Elks Lodge and a U.S.
passed away peacefully on Feb. 24, 2021, Jaycee.
surrounded by his family.
Throughout his life he thrived on spend-
A man of fortitude, determi-
ing time outdoors, and spent
nation, kindness, humor, love,
many years in c entral Oregon,
strength and character, he cher-
where he enjoyed the high des-
ished his family and friends,
ert lifestyle of shooting, hunting,
and was quick with a joke and a
golfi ng and canoeing with friends
friendly handshake.
and his beloved dogs.
An avid outdoorsman, his
Ron would say his favorite
love of nature took him on many
career move was serving as a g olf
camping, hunting and fi shing
c ourse m arshal at Eagle Crest
adventures, most often in c entral
Resort, where, on June 16, 2002,
Oregon. He also loved the game
Ron used his six-iron to record a
Ronald Elmes
of golf, especially alongside his
hole-in-one at the par-three fi rst
son, Matt, and grandson, Riley.
hole (146 yards).
Born July 14, 1937, to Orvetta and Ron-
Most recently, he returned to the small
ald Elmes in Eugene, Ron graduated from coastal town of Seaside, where he always
Lake Oswego High School and attended felt most at home. Ron loved people,
Principia College in Elsah, Illinois.
laughed easily and was a constant presence
He served four years at Shaw Air Force on local golf courses.
Base in Sumter, South Carolina, and later
Ron is survived by his three children,
returned to Oregon in 1963 to begin a Lisa (Doug Marunde), Tracy (Christo-
25-year career with U.S. Bank. He appreci- pher Boese) and Matt (Maribeth) Elmes;
ated being able to help people with banking and six grandchildren, Tyler, Trevor, Scott
solutions, giving them a way to improve and Devon Marunde and Riley and Libby
their lives.
Elmes. Ron loved his family, in whom he
He devoted himself to community ser- took great pride. He lived fully, embracing
vice as a member of the Rotary Founda- all that his beautiful state of Oregon had
tion, where he served as secretary, vice to offer.
president and president during his years
A private memorial service will be held
of service, and was awarded a Paul Harris for family and friends.
Fellow medallion. He was also an active
Share a memory at HughesRansom.com
OREGON CAPITAL
INSIDER
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For more information, call 503-325-3211, ext. 257.
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SEVENDAY FORECAST FOR ASTORIA
TODAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
REGIONAL FORECAST
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
Seattle
52 33
Areas of low
clouds
52 34
55 42
Mostly sunny
50 38
High clouds
48 36
49 38
Clouds and sun;
Mostly cloudy
chilly
Rain
50 41
Rain possible
Aberdeen
Olympia
52/31
52/34
Wenatchee
Tacoma
Moses
Lake
53/28
ALMANAC
UNDER THE SKY
TODAY'S TIDES
Astoria through Tuesday
Tonight’s Sky: Before sunrise,
conjunction of the waning gib-
bous moon and Jupiter.
Astoria / Port Docks
Temperatures
High/low ................................ 50/39
Normal high/low .................. 53/38
Record high .................. 73 in 1934
Record low .................... 27 in 1969
Precipitation
Tuesday ................................... 0.16”
Month to date ........................ 1.68”
Normal month to date ......... 2.28”
Year to date .......................... 29.60”
Normal year to date ........... 19.67”
Forecasts and graphics provided by
AccuWeather, Inc. ©2021
Time
High (ft.) Time Low (ft.)
12:10 a.m. 7.6 5:55 a.m. 2.3
11:41 a.m. 8.3 6:36 p.m. -0.4
Cape Disappointment
11:21 a.m. 8.4 5:14 a.m. 2.8
none
5:51 p.m. -0.2
Source: Jim Todd, OMSI
Hammond
SUN AND MOON
Sunrise today .................. 6:36 a.m.
Sunset tonight ............... 6:16 p.m.
Moonrise today .............. 6:23 a.m.
Moonset today .............. 4:31 p.m.
New
First
Full
Last
12:05 a.m. 7.7 5:32 a.m. 2.4
11:32 a.m. 8.6 6:05 p.m. -0.5
Warrenton
12:05 a.m. 8.0 5:39 a.m. 2.5
11:36 a.m. 8.7 6:20 p.m. -0.3
Knappa
12:47 a.m. 7.8 6:56 a.m. 2.0
12:18 p.m. 8.5 7:37 p.m. -0.3
Depoe Bay
Mar 13 Mar 21 Mar 28 Apr 4
10:36 a.m. 8.5 4:43 a.m. 2.8
11:45 p.m. 7.8 5:18 p.m. -0.3
City
Atlanta
Boston
Chicago
Dallas
Denver
Honolulu
Houston
Los Angeles
Miami
New York City
Phoenix
San Francisco
Wash., DC
Fri.
Hi/Lo/W
74/52/pc
67/51/pc
60/36/r
78/64/c
46/28/c
81/69/sh
80/66/pc
56/43/t
78/68/sh
68/55/pc
64/50/pc
58/45/pc
75/58/pc
78/55/c
61/33/pc
55/32/pc
77/62/c
40/28/c
81/68/sh
81/66/pc
60/45/pc
79/68/pc
66/35/pc
61/46/pc
63/46/pc
70/43/sh
Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy,
c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms,
r-rain, sf-snow fl urries, sn-snow, i-ice.
54/31
Hermiston
The Dalles 59/28
Enterprise
Pendleton 45/22
55/30
59/30
La Grande
50/22
56/30
NATIONAL CITIES
Today
Hi/Lo/W
48/28
Kennewick Walla Walla
54/33 Lewiston
61/26
56/27
Salem
Pullman
56/26
Longview
52/33 Portland
58/33
49/26
Yakima 59/28
53/28
Astoria
Spokane
54/29
Corvallis
56/30
Albany
55/29
John Day
Eugene
Bend
56/31
51/25
49/23
Ontario
56/28
Caldwell
Burns
49/20
57/26
Medford
57/32
Klamath Falls
49/20
City
Baker City
Brookings
Ilwaco
Newberg
Newport
Today
Hi/Lo/W
50/23/s
55/38/s
51/36/c
58/28/pc
49/34/pc
Fri.
Hi/Lo/W
52/25/s
56/40/s
50/36/s
59/30/s
51/35/s
City
North Bend
Roseburg
Seaside
Springfi eld
Vancouver
Today
Hi/Lo/W
52/37/s
58/32/pc
52/33/c
56/30/pc
58/30/pc
Fri.
Hi/Lo/W
54/37/s
61/33/s
53/34/s
60/33/s
59/32/s