A6
Hood River News, Wednesday, May 13, 2015
O bituaries
Paid notices
William ‘Bill’
Bassham
William “Bill” Bassham,
80, of Vacaville, Calif.,
peacefully went to be with
his Lord and Savior, Satur-
day morning, May 2, 2015.
His wife Anita and his
youngest son, Scotty B.,
were at his
side.
Bill was
born March
25, 1935, in
Santa Ana,
Calif. He was
the youngest
of five chil-
dren born to
Ver non and
L u c i l l e
(Lambert)
Bassham
(both
de-
ceased).
While most
Bill Bassham of his youth
was spent
growing up in the Southern
Califor nia area, he also
spent time in Utah as well.
He played football, basket-
ball, and ran track while in
school. His early work years
were spent at Universal
Sign Company in San Fran-
cisco before working at
Kaiser Steel in Napa, Calif.
In 1954 Bill met the love of
his life, Anita Sue Miller.
On April 9, 1955, they eloped
to Reno, Nev., with life-long
friends JoAnne and Tom
Percy. Last month marked
t h e i r 6 0 t h a n n ive r s a r y.
They made their first home
in Vallejo, Calif., and nine
months after they got mar-
ried their first son, Keith
Allen, was born. Two years
later, a daughter, Terri Sue,
was born followed by their
youngest son, Brian Scott.
Bill moved the family to
Napa, Calif., in the summer
of 1965 and he settled into a
career at Mare Island Naval
Shipyard working as a nu-
clear pipe fitter and shop
planner while Anita worked
at Kaiser Hospital in Valle-
jo, Calif., and Kaiser Clinic
in Napa.
As a family they spent
summers camping at Lake
Berryessa, Clear Lake and
Whiskeytown Reservoir. He
created g reat memories
with trips to Disneyland,
Universal Studios (before it
was a theme park) and
Yosemite National Park.
Bill passed on his love for
the San Francisco Giants by
taking the family to count-
less games at Candlestick
Park where they watched
Hall of Famers Willie Mays,
Juan Marichal, and Willie
McCovey. On Sundays in the
fall the Rams, Raiders or
Forty-Niners football games
were always on the tube.
In the spring of 1965 Bill
took oldest son Keith to a
Little League tryout at Wil-
son Park in Vallejo. He later
found out that the team that
Keith was placed on had no
coaches so he volunteered
to coach the “Hotshots” and
thus began a 20-year career
coaching Little League, Fly
League, Babe Ruth and Joe
DiMaggio baseball teams.
His 1967 Napa Fly League
team, the Wasps (all the
teams had insect names),
won the South Division,
winning a three-way playoff
against the Termites and
Scorpions. They went on to
beat the Hornets (North Di-
vision winners) in a best of
three series to win the Napa
City Championship. Bill
coached All-Star teams at
each level and served on the
boards of each as well. He
had a passion for kids and
was a father figure to more
than just his own children.
While living in Napa, Bill
and Anita’s kids were all ac-
tive in baseball, softball,
track,
football,
and
wrestling, and if Bill wasn’t
coaching they were hauling
their kids and somebody
else’s kids to a game or a
practice. When the kids
were in high school Bill and
Anita very rarely missed a
Vintage Crusher game and
were active in the original
Vintage Booster Club. Bill
even painted the original
Vintage Crusher sign that
s t o o d ove r t h e Vi n t a g e
dressing room at Memorial
Stadium for many years.
Bill started riding off-
road motorcycles in 1967
and loved to spend week-
ends riding with family and
friends. A lifelong motor-
sports enthusiast, he would
take his kids and their
friends to watch the drag
races in Fremont, Calif.,
and motocross races in Liv-
ermore. When his brother
Paul raced hardtops on the
dirt track in Vallejo, Bill
would always bring his sons
to watch their uncle speed
around the quarter mile.
The Indy 500 was a family
event for all of his brothers
and nephews as they
watched on closed-circuit
TV in Oakland during the
‘60s before it became tele-
vised on the networks.
After retiring from Mare
Island in 1990 Bill and Anita
moved to Rancho Tehema,
Calif., where they “settled”
for six years. Getting the
urge to travel more and
spend time with their oldest
son and his family they
moved to Hood River, Ore.,
where Bill worked at the
Historic Columbia Gorge
Hotel. Bill also helped out
during Friday night football
games as a spotter for the
a n n o u n c e r.
During
wrestling season he helped
out as a timer and score-
board operator and worked
many district, state, and re-
gional tour naments. He
also thoroughly enjoyed fol-
lowing the athletic exploits
of his g randchildren
whether he was on the side-
lines, in the stands or read-
ing about it in the papers. In
every venue that he worked
or visited, he developed
great and lasting friend-
ships with the officials, the
game or tournament staff
and with the athletes as
well.
In 2000 Bill and Anita
purchased a fifth-wheeler
and started 12 years of trav-
el to Yuma, Ariz., in the
fall/winter and Troutdale,
Ore., in spring/summer.
T h e y a l s o t r ave l e d t o
Salmon, Idaho, to visit
daughter Terri and her fam-
ily and spent time in Wash-
ington, Idaho, Utah, Ari-
zona and Nevada. Bill had
to give up his motorcycle in
order to travel so he took up
the challenge from his sons
Death Notices
Steve
Grebien-Samkow
Steve Grebien-Samkow, 89,
passed away on May 9, 2015,
at his home in Hood River,
Ore., surrounded by his
loved ones. Steve was born
Sept. 23, 1925.
Arrangements are under
the direction of Anderson’s
Tribute Center (Funerals •
Receptions • Cremations),
1401 Belmont Ave., Hood
River, OR 97031; 541-386-1000.
Please visit andersonstrib-
utecenter.com to leave a note
of condolence for family.
Louise Leininger
Louise G. Leininger, 96, a
longtime Mosier, Ore., resi-
dent, died May 9, 2015, in
Hood River, Ore.
A funeral service will be
held Sunday, May 17, at 2 p.m.
at Spencer, Libby and Powell
Funeral Home, 1100 Kelly
Ave., The Dalles, OR 97058;
541-296-3234.
Private interment will be
at the I.O.O.F. Mausoleum.
and finally started playing
the game of golf. Not only
did he start playing but he
also became a rabid fan and
was an ardent supporter of
any event that Phil Mickel-
son played in. Bill particu-
larly enjoyed the time with
family and friends on the
golf course and enjoyed
helping his grandchildren
learn the game. While in
Yuma and Troutdale they
developed many wonderful
relationships and left be-
hind a host of great friends.
Bill and Anita moved
back to Northern Califor-
nia in April 2014 to be closer
to Bill’s brother Paul and
Anita’s sister MaryLee and
h e r b r o t h e r D e Way n e.
Again new friends, a new
church, new Bible studies,
and connections with old
friends in Napa and Vallejo
made for busy days until
Bill’s health began to de-
cline this past March. In the
weeks before his death he
was able to meet with many
old friends and close rela-
tives, recant old stories,
laugh, cry, and watch the
Giants sweep the Dodgers
on TV. When he left us he
was at peace with a life
well-lived and friends and
family well-loved.
He was preceded in death
by his parents; stepfather
Shorty Lambert; stepmoth-
er Marge Bassham; brother
Bob Bassham; sisters
Jeanie Wickard and Katie
Colan; and grandson Lucas
Williams.
B i l l ’s w a r m g r i n a n d
sometimes cranky de-
meanor will be missed by a
host of folks. He leaves be-
hind his soulmate and chief
referee of 60 years, Anita;
c h i l d r e n : Ke i t h ( a n d
C h av a l l a ) B a s s h a m , o f
Hood River, Ore., Terri (and
Kurt) Williams, of Salmon,
Idaho, Brian Scott (and An-
abela) Bassham, of Con-
cord, Calif.; brother Paul
(and Sharon) Bassham, of
Clearlake, Calif.; grandchil-
dren Levi (and Ashley)
C l o u d , o f N ap a , C a l i f. ,
Jamie (and George) Polley,
of Santa Rosa, Calif., Bo
(and Denae) Wilson, of Nor-
folk, Va., Nicole Williams,
of Salmon, Idaho, Makenzie
Bassham, of Hood River,
Ore., Garret Williams, of
Boise, Idaho; and three
great-grandchildren: Levi
Cloud Jr., Shelby Polley, and
Riley Wilson.
Please join his family for
a Celebration of Bill’s Life
service, which has been
scheduled for 1 p.m. Satur-
day, May 16, at Crosswalk
Community Church, 2590
1st St., Napa, CA 94558.
Arrangements are under
the direction of Tulocay
Cemetery Funeral Home
and Crematory, 411 Coomb-
sville Road, Napa, Calif. We
ask that you wear any and
all San Francisco Giant ap-
parel and ask you to light a
candle for Dad at tulo-
caycemetery.org.
Leda
Prinzing
L e d a
Prinzing, 76,
passed away
T u e s d a y,
May 5, 2015,
at her home
in
Hood
R ive r, O r e.
Leda
was
b o r n Ju n e
25, 1938, in
Palouse,
Wash., to Au-
Leda Prinzing g u s t e a n d
Mary (Arrasmith) Lavoie.
Leda had seven siblings.
Her parents were fruit pick-
ers and farmers. She was
mar ried for 51 years to
S t a n l e y P r i n z i n g , wh o
worked for Union Pacific
Railroad. They lived in
Hood River and then Wasco,
Ore., for many years.
Leda g raduated high
school then worked as a
dishwasher and waitress,
and then as a seamstress for
Jantzen Sportswear. Later
she worked for Char ter
Cable Company, and as a
catering director. Some of
her hobbies included ce-
ramics, painting, and play-
ing Nintendo games. She
was also a member of River
of Life Assembly of God in
Hood River. Leda had a
great sense of humor and
will be dearly missed.
Leda had four children:
D e bb i e, o f H o o d R ive r,
Jeanette of The Dalles,
Ore., Melissa who passed
away in 2012, and a son who
passed away in 1989. She
was also preceded in death
by her husband, Stanley.
A memorial service with
reception following will be
held for Leda at 3 p.m. Sat-
urday, May 16, at Ander-
son’s Tribute Center. Inter-
ment will follow at Moun-
tain View Cemetery, 1235
Tucker Road, Hood River.
Arrangements are under
the direction of Anderson’s
Tribute Center (Funerals •
Receptions • Cremations),
1401 Belmont Ave., Hood
River, OR 97031; 541-386-
1000. Please visit anderson-
stributecenter.com to leave
a note of condolence for
family.
Susan Hurliman
“Don’t be afraid to cry. It
will free your mind of sor-
rowful thoughts.” Proverbs
Susan “Susie” Hurliman
(Swing) died
peacefully
with all her
ch i l d re n at
her side on
the morning
o f M ay 1 ,
2015,
in
Tillamook,
Ore., at the
age of 73.
Bor n on
Aug. 22, 1941,
i n Ya k i m a ,
Wa s h . ,
to
Louis W. and
Priscilla
Susan
Swing, Susie
Hurliman
attended
school
in
Por tland and g raduated
f r o m Wa s h i n g t o n H i g h
School. After high school
she moved to California for
a few years. Then she re-
tur ned home to Ore gon
where she met and married
David Hurliman and settled
on the Oregon coast. In
1971, Susie and Dave pur-
chased a farm in Parkdale,
Ore., to become orchardists
and raise their family.
A dedicated mother, Susie
raised her four children
while managing the farm
and working in the local
fruit-packing facilities to
help make ends meet. She
loved the outdoors and
could often be found at the
lake with a limit of trout, or
in the woods with a bucket
full of huckleberries. What
Susie enjoyed most was
spending time with family
and friends, whether hav-
ing picnics at the lake, cele-
brating birthdays and holi-
days, or just getting togeth-
er for a game of cards. She
was always laughing, jok-
ing, and hugging.
Susie is survived by her
four children: Dave Hurli-
man and his wife, Vickie, of
Alberton, Mont., Jennie
Meyers, of The Dalles, Kim-
berly Falconer and her hus-
band, Troy, of Corbett, and
Joseph Hurliman and his
wife, Katherine, of Port-
land; her brother Louis
“Bump” Swing; 10 grand-
children and eight great-
grandchildren.
She is preceded in death
by her husband, David, and
her brother Joseph.
Susie will be buried at
Rose City Cemetery on May
29 at 2 p.m. All are welcome
to attend Susie’s Celebra-
tion of Life at 2 p.m. on May
30 at the Kiawanda Commu-
nity Center in Pacific City,
Ore. In lieu of flowers,
please send donations to the
Kiawanda Community Cen-
ter or a charity of the
donor’s choice.
The family would like to
thank the staf f at the
Tillamook County General
Hospital for showing com-
passion and grace while
caring for Susie and her
children during this diffi-
cult time. In addition, they
would like to express their
gratitude for all the support
from aunts, uncles, and
friends who loved their
mother.
When you are sorrowful
look again in your heart,
and you shall see that in
truth you are weeping for
that which has been your
delight. ~Khalil Gibran
Emil Decker Jr.
Emil Geralda Decker Jr.,
76, passed
away May 7,
2015, in Min-
e r a l We l l s,
Te x a s. H e
was
bor n
Nov. 18, 1938,
in Seymour,
Te x a s, t h e
son of Emil Emil Decker Jr.
G. S r. a n d
Faye Fultz Decker. He was a
veteran of the U.S. Army
and a member of the Amer-
ican Legion.
Graveside services will
be 10 a.m. Saturday, May 16,
at Memory Gardens Ceme-
tery.
Emil is survived by his
daughter Karla and her hus-
b a n d , Ro n F r a n s e n , o f
D a l l e s p o r t , Wa s h . ; s o n
Jerry Decker and his fi-
ancé, Stephanie, of Brent-
wood, Calif.; and Gene and
his wife, Sandra, of Odell,
Ore., Marilyn Willey, of
Dallesport, Wash.; grand-
son Bryan Kelly, Wilming-
ton, N.C., Brandon Decker,
of Brentwood, Calif.; and
granddaughter Chelsea
Scarborough, of The Dalles,
Ore.; two great-granddaugh-
ters: Chloe and Quinn
Kelly; brothers T homas
Decker, of Grand Prairie,
Texas, and Calvin and his
wife, Martha, of Weather-
ford, Texas; and sister Ema-
gene Vincent, of Lubbock,
Te x a s ; a n d d e a r f r i e n d
Frances Brown, of Kansas
City, Kansas. Emil is also
survived by seven nephews
and six nieces.
He was preceded in death
by his parents; his wife,
Susan; his sister/brother in
law, Mildred and David
Wi l l i a m s ; a n d n e p h ew s
Mark Vincent and Lloyd
Myrtle White
Richard “Rich” Carrol
Cannon passed away May 9,
2015, at his home in Hood
River, Ore., with family by
his side.
Services are pending with
arrangements under the di-
rection of Anderson’s Trib-
ute Center (Funerals • Recep-
tions • Cremations), 1401 Bel-
mont Ave., Hood River, OR
97031; 541-386-1000. Please
visit andersonstributecen-
ter.com to leave a note of con-
dolence for family.
Myrtle Marie White, 95,
passed away on Tuesday,
April 28, 2015, at Hawks
Ridge Assisted Living in
Hood River, Ore. Myrtle was
born Sept. 16, 1919, in Speers
Ferry, Va., to Zachariah F.
and Amanda Dills.
A funeral with reception
following will be held for
Myr tle at 1:30 p.m. on
Wednesday, May 13, at An-
derson’s Tribute Center. Fol-
lowing the reception, inter-
ment will be at Mountain
View Cemetery, 1235 Tucker
Road, Hood River.
Myrtle’s family would like
memorial donations to be
given to Providence Hospice
of the Gorge, 1630 Woods
Court, Hood River, Oregon
97031.
Arrangements are under
the direction of Anderson’s
Tribute Center (Funerals •
Receptions • Cremations),
1401 Belmont Ave., Hood
River, OR 97031; 541-386-1000.
Please visit andersonstrib-
utecenter.com to leave a note
of condolence for family.
Julia Scherf
Julia G. Stearns Scherf
died Friday, May 8, 2015, at
12 a.m. She
was
bor n
Nov. 12, 1917,
in Homedale,
I d a h o, t h e
second child
of six girls of
C h a rl e s A .
Stief
and
Hazel
E.
Sample.
Julia trav-
eled
to
L o n g v i e w,
Wa s h . ,
in
1922-23 in a
c o v e r e d
wagon from Julia Scherf
I d a h o. S h e
later traveled the U.S.A.
from coast to coast, also vis-
iting Alaska and Hawaii.
She loved traveling, gar-
dening, sewing, deep-sea
fishing from Alaska to Mex-
ico, and moose hunting and
fishing in Canada. Above
all she loved family gather-
ings. Some of her most
memorable outings were
spent camping out Labor
Day weekends with her
church family.
Julia was always busy,
working at various times
packing fruit; as owner and
cook at restaurant in Neal
Creek; as owner (with hus-
band Roy) of Stearns Log-
ging Company, Hood River;
as waitress at the Y-Inn in
Hood River; as owner (with
s i s t e r H a z e l ) o f C row n
Photo Studio in Longview,
Wash.; as filbert orchard
owner (with husband Lynn)
in Oregon City; and in an
apple orchard in Hood River
to name a few.
She always came back to
Hood River, her favorite
place.
Julia was preceded in
death by her parents; all her
sisters; her first husband,
Roy Stearns; second hus-
band, Lynn Scherf; stepson,
Jim Stear ns; and step-
daughter, Margaret Dye.
Within 16 days her sister
Gladys (90) passed, followed
by Hazel (92). Julia (97), was
the last living sibling by
two days.
Julia is survived by her
son Richard A. Stearns and
his wife Roberta; stepson
Ed Stearns; stepdaughter
Dorothy Brown; four grand-
children; 10 great-grand-
children; and five great-
great-grandchildren.
Services for Julia are
planned for 11 a.m. Satur-
day, May 16, at the Hood
R ive r C h u r c h o f t h e
Nazarene, 2168 Belmont
Ave., with her entombment
to follow at Idlewilde Mau-
soleum, 980 Tucker Road,
Hood River.
Arrangements are under
the direction of Anderson’s
Tribute Center (Funerals •
Receptions • Cremations),
1401 Belmont Ave., Hood
River, OR 97031; 541-386-
1000. Please visit anderson-
stributecenter.com to leave
a note of condolence for
family.
See OBITS, Page A9
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Richard ‘Rich’
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Arrangements are under
the direction of Baum-Car-
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Home, P.O. Box 398, Mineral
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