22
S MOKE S IGNALS
JULY 15, 2018
Walking On...
Jolene Kay (Phelps) Bean
Nov. 22, 1936 – July 2, 2018
Tribal Elder Jolene Kay (Phelps) Bean,
81, was born on Nov. 22, 1936, in Port-
land, Ore., to Carl Oswald and Nettie Eve
(Smith) Phelps and peacefully passed in
her sleep on Monday, July 2, 2018.
Growing up in Portland, she graduated
from Franklin High School in 1955. She
demonstrated her true and loyal school
spirit by being a member of the Franklin
High Alumni Association. Jolene earned
her associate degree from Portland
Community College. She worked for the
Department of Veterans Affairs as an administrative assistant for 20
years and remained a true patriot even after retiring in 1997.
Loving God, family and friends fi rst, she spent her time researching
family genealogy, enjoying her garden, solving puzzles, reading about
her passions, sewing, embroidery and traveling in her youth. She had
fond memories of attending concerts and meeting her favorite artists;
she gathered an extensive autograph collection throughout her life.
Jolene especially enjoyed reading fan magazines and watching classic
movies. She enthusiastically followed all things related to the British
royal family and admired Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
She adored the Portland Rose Festival and had collected all of the
lapel pins since the 1950s. She loved to elaborately decorate her home
to celebrate all holidays, especially the Christmas season. She will be
lovingly remembered for her thoughtful, independent, yet amusingly
persnickety nature.
Jolene was of Native American ancestry including Rogue River,
Paiute and Chinook as a direct descendant of Nettie Eve (Smith)
Phelps of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Andrew Jackson
Smith (CTGR) and Mary Jane (Menard) Smith (CTGR). As an enrolled
member of the Sons and Daughters of the Oregon Pioneers, she was a
descendent of pioneers who traveled the Oregon Trail arriving in 1847
and 1851 including John England Ross and Elizabeth (Ross) Hopwood.
She is survived by her sister, Jackie Brenner of Gresham; and her
children, Sandra Stone of Eagle Creek and Brian Bean (Alisa) of Hap-
py Valley. She loved being the grandmother of Anthony Stone (Tabby),
Samantha Stone, Amanda Stone, Scott Stone (Alicia), Shannon Stone
and Noah Bean, and the great-grandmother of Tayer Stone, Sianna
Stone, Liadan Stone, Lirael Stone, Sabel Stone, Avender Stone, Evelyn
Rose McElroy-Stone and Jack McElroy-Stone.
A funeral ceremony followed by the committal and memorial will be
held with a graveside service at Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery in
Portland. To fi nd updated information regarding the date and time
of the funeral services, call Lincoln Memorial Park at 503-771-1117.
Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; she will be resting be-
side her grandmother Mary Jane (Menard) Smith together in Jesus’
loving arms for all eternity.
Norris Vern Merrill
Dec. 14, 1935 – June 26, 2018
Our sweet Papa, grandpa, brother,
family member and friend went on this
fi nal journey to be with Jesus on Tuesday,
June 26, 2018. This beautiful soul en-
riched our lives. He is our family treasure
and a blessing to many.
He was born in Hood River, Ore., to Vi-
ola and Rolland Merrill on Dec. 14, 1935.
Papa grew up in Grand Ronde, Ore., and
attended Willamina High School. After
high school, he married, had two wonder-
ful children and then joined the Army on
June 25, 1958, until June 24, 1964. He
remarried on Dec. 30, 1970, Karen (Schiermeister Holmes) Merrill,
and gained two more children.
He was a hard-working man his entire life and retired from Taylor
Lumber Co. in Sheridan. Always willing to lend a hand to anybody,
he proudly served on the Veterans Special Event Board, Grand Ronde
Veterans Honor Guard, Rodeo Committee and volunteered at the
Grand Ronde Food Bank for many years. He was a member of the
Sheridan Church of the Nazarene. He has been described as a kind
and patient man, always with a smile, loving to joke around with oth-
ers, and a fantastic sense of humor. He was all this and much more.
He leaves behind his sisters, Alice Merrill and Mary Lou (Joel)
Neal of Portland; children, Laura (Mike) Kutsch and Richard (Kim)
Merrill of Dallas, Tim (Nancy) Holmes of Grand Ronde and Connie
Holmes of Sheridan; and eight grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren
and three great-great-grandchildren. We will carry this great man
forever in our hearts.
He is preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Karen Mer-
rill. A celebration of life was held Saturday, July 7, at the Sheridan
Church of the Nazarene. Pastor Kerry Lumley, a family friend, led
the remembrances.
The family expresses gratitude for those caring for him at Brook-
dale Assisted Living in Monmouth, Dallas Retirement Village Health
& Rehabilitation Center and Willamette Valley Hospice.
Dallas Mortuary Center cared for the family. To leave a message
or memory, go to www.dallastribute.com.
Gary Reibach
Feb. 18, 1944 – July 6, 2018
Tribal Elder Gary Reibach was born Feb. 18, 1944, in McMinnville,
Ore., to Barney and Minnie Reibach. He
passed away after an extended illness
on Friday, July 6, 2018, with his family
by his side at the age of 74.
He grew up in the Grand Ronde area
and graduated from Willamina High
School in 1962. That same year he mar-
ried the love of his life, Marlise Martin.
For most of his career, Gary was a
truck driver. He drove for Crown Zeller-
bach, Bill Rannow, Duke Limbaugh and
others, as well as being an operator of
his own trucks for several years.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his
loving wife, Marlise, and their three children, Ron (Anne), David
(Pam) and Trina (Timber). He was blessed with seven grandchil-
dren: Jamie, Wil (Jessamyn), Krissy (Lucas), Emily (Devon), Brooke,
Wesley (Brianna) and Hannah (Jesse). In addition, Gary has eight
great-grandchildren: Simone, Silas, Sterling, Caden, Waverly, Bren,
Kierstin and Deegan.
Grandpa Gary enjoyed bantering with his grandchildren. His
favorite comeback was “I’ll box your ears!!”
Services were held Thursday, July 12, at the Grand Ronde Tribal
Cemetery Chapel. Dallas Mortuary cared for the family. To share
online condolences, go to www.dallastribute.com.