SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2015
OBITUARIES
HIGHT—Elaine C. Hight,
92, of Florence, passed away
Aug.
27,
2015.
Elaine
was born
Nov.
6,
1922,
in
M i l a n ,
Tenn., and
had lived in
Flor-
Elaine Hight the
ence area
for many years after moving
here from Sun City, Ariz.
Survivors include her son,
Richard Hight; two grandsons,
Josh and Bruce Hight; and
three
great-grandchildren:
Jason, Belle and Kyle Hight.
At her request, private inter-
ment was held at the Sunland
Memorial Park in Sun City,
Ariz., next to her husband,
Richard D. Hight, who preced-
ed her in death.
Burns’s Riverside Chapel
Florence Funeral Home was in
charge of arrangements.
BRAVENEC—Doris Mae
Bravenec, 88, of Florence,
passed
away Sept.
1, 2015, at
Spruce
Point Me-
mory Care.
Doris
was born
July
15,
1927, to
Doris
Cecil Haag
Bravenec
a
n
d
Charlcie Beason.
She moved to Florence from
Dayton, Texas, 14 years ago.
She was married to
John Bravenec, who pre-
ceded her in death.
Doris worked in the food
service industry for many
years. She lived most of her life
in California. She also lived in
Oklahoma and Texas. She first
came to Florence to be the
caretaker of her daughter
Georgia’s home and loved
Oregon so much she stayed.
She enjoyed her trips up the
river, visits to Randy’s
Riverview Market for break-
fast, and spending time with
Georgia.
She loved to travel. Even
though her memory was failing
she would ask her daughter,
“When are we going to see
Burl Angelo?”
Her last few years she lived
in Spruce Point Memory Care,
where she received great care
by the staff. She enjoyed her
weekly dinners and jaunts with
Georgia.
She will be missed.
Doris is survived by her chil-
dren: Georgia A. Medeiros
Sabourin and husband Virgil,
Joetta A. Medeiros Vienna,
Angelo K. Ornellas Simmons
and wife Mary; grandchildren:
Ashley Stone, Amber Stone,
Shawn Medeiros and Danielle
Vienna; great-grandchildren:
Jaden Medeiros and Sebastian
Medeiros; a brother, Burl Haag
and wife Pat; nieces: Betty
Jean Haag, Patty Haag
Osterhout and husband Kevin;
and a nephew, Craig Haag.
She was preceded in death
by her parents; and sisters
Patricia Haag Wilson and Mary
Belle Haag Hensley.
A celebration of her life will
be held in Laughlin, Nev.
Police give ‘all clear’ as
Siuslaw schools lock down
At 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept.
10, the Florence Police
Department (FPD) emergency
dispatch received a call
regarding an individual on
Oak Street suspected of carry-
ing a weapon.
At that point, the Siuslaw
School District schools went
into lockdown.
FPD Officer Ken Larson
responded to the call and
made contact with the individ-
ual on Oak Street in front of
Siuslaw Middle School.
Larson discovered that the
suspected weapon was an air-
soft handgun.
Larson
then
cleared
the scene at 11:13 a.m. and
the schools were taken off
lockdown after that point.
The individual was advised
not to use airsoft guns in the
vicinity of the schools.
For further questions, con-
tact FPD Lieutenant John
Pitcher at 541-997-3515.
Visit us online: www.TheSiuslawNews.com
Donations in Doris’ name
can be made to the Florence
Hospice.
WHITLOCK —Leland
Whitlock, 84, Airman Third
Class in the U.S. Air Force and
formerly of Florence, passed
away Sept. 4, 2015, in his
home in Lincoln City, Ore.
Arrangements are being
entrusted to Pacific View
Memorial Chapel of Lincoln
City.
FIELDER—William “Bill”
Fielder, 81, passed away Sept.
5, 2015.
He and
his wife of
61 years,
Audrey,
retired to
Florence in
1997.
B i l l
loved fish-
Bill Fielder
ing and gar-
dening and was an expert at
both. Their lovely lakefront
home reflected their love of
gardening and Bill could often
be seen fishing from their deck.
Bill was a long-time STEP
volunteer and enjoyed teaching
fishing to local groups.
He is survived by his loving
wife, Audrey; brother Duane
Fielder; sister Sylvia Jennings;
two daughters: Lynne Johnson
and Cyndi Fielder-Vanderburg;
and three grandchildren: Jesse
Fritz, Erin Fritz and Ian
Sossaman. They will miss him
very much.
He was preceded in death by
his
daughter,
Laurey
Sossaman.
Bill requested no services to
be held, but contributions in his
IMPOUNDMENT
12775
A female Maltese mix
#12775 has been impounded
at the Florence Area Humane
Society. Call 541-997-4277,
stop by the shelter at 2840
Rhododendron Drive or visit
florencehumane.org to claim.
memory can be made to
Florence STEP, PO Box 1322,
Florence, OR, 97439.
Burns’s Riverside Chapel
Florence Funeral Home is in
charge of arrangements.
DAV seeks drivers
The Disabled American
Veterans is in need of volun-
teer drivers who are willing to
drive veterans in the DAV van
on day trips to Portland for
medical appointments.
Anyone interested in con-
tributing time as a DAV van
driver should call Jim Swant at
541-997-3695 or Tom Zahara
at 541-997-1123 for more
information.
Gary Dean
Van Riper
August 12, 1955
~
August 27, 2015
Gary Dean Van Riper, 60, of Veneta, passed away on August 27, 2015 at Sacred Heart Riverbend
Hospital. Born on August 12, 1955 in Portland, Oregon to Sanborn Wellington Camp and Betty
Louise Martin. In his early years he attended schools in the Portland Metro area and Graduated
from Gresham High school in 1973 where he was involved in sports, music and theater.
In 1972 he met Colette Renee Gressel and married August 1, 1975 in Portland, OR (Divorced
2005.) Two children born to this union were, Son, Ryan Lee/ wife Jenifer, of Columbia City and
Daughter, Caitlin Renee/ husband Scott of Eugene, OR.
While attending Portland State University, Gary began a career in Law Enforcement working
as a Sheriff Intern for Multnomah County. He then graduated from Oregon Police Academy
in February, 1978 and served the Eugene Police Department until 1990 as a member of the Patrol/
Motorcycle Division and the SWAT Team. He received many letters and commendations, but the
most treasured was the Distinguished Service Medal received in February 1989.    
He entered the retail industry in 1992 and opened “Buc’s Ten Forward”, later
renamed “StarQuarters” – It was a well-loved Science Fiction/Star Trek retail store in the Oakway
& Gateway Malls.
In 1998  he received his Private Investigator License and opened “Van Riper Investigations”
working notable cases over several years.  His attention to detail and thoroughness won him great
respect.
In 2007, Gary volunteered as a Divorce Care Facilitator where he met and fell in love his wife,
Debbie Siewert, also a Facilitator.  Th ey were married on March 9, 2008 in Mapleton, Oregon. Th ey
spent their short yet happy time together camping, cycling, and watching Duck games and NASCAR
races. Th ey also enjoyed gaming together, attending church and spoiling their 9 ½ grandchildren.
Gary leaves behind his wife, Debbie; his mother, Betty Phelps/ husband Del of Florence and 3
brothers, Bruce Temple/wife Sue o f Ocean Park WA, David Ryker of Portland and James Van Riper
of Eagle Creek; as well as Debbie’s two sons: Kris Siewert/wife Amy of Junction City and Nic Siewert/
wife Mindy of Portland.
Gary (known as “Papa”), is most proud of all his grandchildren: Kaley, Hailey, Ashlyn, Claire,
Gracie, Addison, Audrey, Mason, Roland, and baby Siewert.
We will celebrate Gary’s 60 years of life on Saturday, September 19 at 6pm at Willamalane Adult
Activity Center on 215 West C Street in Springfi eld. Th e celebration includes Gary’s favorite things:
Oregon Duck Football, Papa’s Pizza and Pepsi.
In lieu of fl owers, we request donations in Gary’s name to the following organizations:
http://campagapeoregon.com/give/ (summer camp for children of incarcerated parents) http://
www.nationalcops.org/support.asp (supports families of Police Offi cers killed in the line of duty)
R e ne w
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Siuslaw News
September is Disaster
Preparedness Month
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se or re ent property
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vestm
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beat!
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In partnership
with the West
Lane Emergency
Operations Group,
Each week we will
select one new or
renewing subscriber
to win one of four
disaster preparedness
starter kits!
Basic Plan – $18 every 10-weeks (20 issues)
Annual Plan - $71 -52 weeks (104 issues)
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1) Call 541-997-3441
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