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SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2016
OBITUARIES
earliest family beginnings
in
the
North
Bend
area
to
1 8 9 2 ,
w h e n
his mater-
nal grand-
pa, Wittick,
and
his
f a m i l y
came to the
U n i t e d Donald Laskey
States from
Gamlakarleby, Finland, to tow
logs for Simpson Lumber
Company — the founder of
North Bend.
In 1936, Don’s father, Herb
Laskey, owned a logging com-
pany. They had a steam donkey
and felled the trees by hand.
Tragedy struck Don’s family
that year when his dad was
killed in a logging accident.
Don was without a father at
age 3.
Don went to school at
Kentuck Inlet Country School,
from first through eighth grade.
He then attended North Bend
High School, where he gradu-
ated in the class of 1951. He
walked several miles to school
in North Bend every day, often
hitching a ride home from
school on a Coos County dump
truck, which was driven by
Sam Main.
Don ran on the track team
for North Bend and also played
football briefly, before he was
required to quit sports and
work for his family in the log-
ging industry as a whistle punk
on a steam donkey.
Don was always proud that
he “knew what it is to be poor”
and managed to improve his lot
in life through hard work, long
hours and plenty of ambition.
In April 1953, Don was
drafted into the U.S. Army and
served during the Korean War,
stationed in Berlin, Germany.
Don was lucky enough to
meet up with his best friend
from Kentuck Inlet, Dick
Russell, in Berlin, and the two
were able to serve their country
together until 1955.
Once he returned home to
North Bend, Don went to work
for
Coos
Bay
Supply
Company. He started there
sweeping floors, unloading
boxcars of railroad spikes by
hand, and he worked his way
up to a field salesman, selling
logging rigging in his time
there.
In 1957, Don met his future
wife, Jo (Shepherd) Laskey, in
Reedsport, when he found her
stuck in the mud alongside the
road in her dad’s jeep and
pulled her out. They enjoyed
58 years of marriage together,
building their business, raising
their only son and taking
advantage of the great outdoors
in Oregon.
In 1959, Don went into busi-
ness with his lifelong business
partner, Dennis Clifton, by pur-
chasing a small loader. The two
started a construction business,
Laskey-Clifton Corporation,
which remains today, now
operated by second and third
generation Laskeys.
Don was very proud of his
company and the projects that
it constructed. He and Dennis
provided employment for
local families for many years.
Don enjoyed a semi-retire-
ment and loved fishing, espe-
cially at Wickiup Reservoir in
central Oregon. There, he
caught one of the largest
German Brown trout on record
in Oregon. He enjoyed all
manner of outdoor recreation,
including camping, fishing,
hunting and crabbing. He also
enjoyed meeting new people,
Darleen and John Anthony
and talking to them about their
lives.
Don did not know a
stranger.
He was from the old school
and valued a hard day’s work.
He will be remembered for his
funny laugh, which some say
sounded like an old engine try-
ing to start.
Don is survived by his wife,
Jo; his son, Don; his daughter-
in-law, Patty; his granddaugh-
ter, Megan; and his grandson,
Don (Clay).
The life lessons Don taught
will ensure that his memory
lives on, through his family.
A memorial service will be
held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday,
Jan.
30,
at
Reedsport
Community Charter School, in
the Pacific Auditorium.
This will be followed by a
gathering at the RCCS cafete-
ria adjoining, for food and
beverages. A graveside service
will then be conducted at 3
p.m., at the Reedsport
Cemetery.
The family requests that
those who knew Don and
would like to share a story
about him, either write the
story down and it will be col-
lected and read at the memori-
al, or tell the story themselves.
Services are being directed
by Dunes Memorial Chapel.
GILLETT—Walter
E.
Gillett, 78, of Florence, passed
away Jan. 23, 2016.
Burns’s Riverside Chapel
Florence Funeral Home is in
charge of arrangements.
Darleen
and
John
Anthony will be celebrating
their 50th wedding anniver-
sary Feb. 18.
John and Darleen were
married in Seattle, Wash., but
raised their family and made
monthly camping trips to the
Oregon coast.
In 1977, they moved to
Florence, where they no
longer had far to drive to
indulge their love of camping
and the Oregon coast.
John was a pharmacist at
Owl Rexall in downtown
Seattle, Peterson’s Drug in
Florence,
Reedsport
Pharmacy and then retired
from
Florence
Safeway
Pharmacy.
John and Darleen — they
are rarely ever seen without
each other — had enjoyed
working together in the phar-
Van Fans luncheon, card
party fundraiser Feb. 17
Get together with friends for
a fun day of card games and
lunch at the Van Fans fundrais-
er Wednesday, Feb. 17, at the
Florence Events Center, 715
Quince St.
The fun begins at 11:30 a.m.
Sign up for a table and choose
your game. Ticket price, with
or without card games, is $15
and includes lunch.
There will be raffle prizes.
IMPOUNDMENT
Friday at 1 p.m. at Lane Fire
Authority, 88050 Territorial
Highway, in Veneta.
Tebeau served Oregon as an
ODOT engineer for 35 years.
One of his many projects was
analyzing the drainage through
the area along Highway 126
West with the construction of
Fern Ridge Reservoir.
His hydraulic analysis was
instrumental in the building of
the Siuslaw River Bridge in
Florence.
In addition to his work at
ODOT, Tebeau was a part-time
instructor
at
Chemeketa
Community College, where he
was awarded “Teacher of the
Year” in 1970. He continued to
teach and inspire engineers
after his retirement from
ODOT.
The designation was made
under Senate Bill 5, adopted by
the 2015 Oregon Legislature.
CITY LIGHTS CINEMAS
1930 Hwy 101 • Florence, OR 97439
TIMES BELOW ARE ONLY VALID
FRIDAY, JANUARY 29 - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4
$9 Regular/$8 Senior or Student/$7.50 Matinee/$7 Child/$6.50
Member | Performing Arts $19/$15/$10
NO SURCHARGE FOR 3D – GLASSES TO KEEP $2
12987
A senior female Labrador
mix #12987 has been
impounded at the Florence
Area Humane Society.
Call 541-997-4277 or stop
by the shelter at 2840
Rhododendron Drive to
claim.
Visit FAHS on the web at
florencehumane.org.
WEATHER DATA
D ATE
H IGH
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
48
55
62
55
50
47
57
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
Rainfall
Month: 12.12”
L OW R AIN
44
41
52
46
42
40
43
1.74
0.22
0.40
0.83
0.21
0.24
0.00
Week: 3.64”
Year: 12.12”
Courtesy of Roger Cunningham
Deadlines for press
releases and news
items are Mondays and
Thursdays at noon.
pressreleases@thesiuslawnews.com
NEW: The Finest Hours (PG-13) – Tells the true story of a 1952 rescue by the Coast Guard
after a massive nor’easter strikes New England, including the SS Pendleton, an oil tanker bound for
Boston. Stars Casey Affleck, Chris Pine and Eric Bana.
Daily: 12:20, 6:20
NEW: The Finest Hours 3D – With more advanced and thrilling effects than The Perfect Storm.
Fri-Sat: 3:30, 8:30 | Sun-Thu: 3:20
NEW: Kung Fu Panda 3 (PG) – “Emotionally, dramatically and perhaps most of all visually,
this delightful trilogy capper is almost as generously proportioned as its cuddly warrior hero.” Variety
Fri: 3:30, 9:00 | Sat: 11:00am, 3:30, 9:00 | Sun – Thu: 3:30
NEW: Kung Fu Panda 3 3D (PG)
Fri: 12:30, 6:00 | Sat: 1:15, 6:10 | Sun, Mon: 12:30, 6:00 | Tue: 1:10, 7:45 | Wed, Thu: 12:30, 6:00
The Revenant - 156 min (R) – “A riveting saga of pain, grit and the brute moral relativism of
revenge... The Revenant is one of the best pictures of the year.” MovieNation
Fri: 12:10, 3:00, 5:45, 8:50 | Sat: 3:00, 5:45, 8:50 | Sun, Mon: 12:10, 3:00, 6:00
Wed: 12:10, 3:00, 6:10 | Tue, Thu: 12:10, 3:00, 6:00
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi - 144 min (R) – “…a well-photographed,
visceral action film, and a sincere and fitting tribute to those secret soldiers.” Chicago Sun-Times
Fri, Sat: 12:00, 3:10, 6:10, 9:10 | Sun, Mon, Tue: 12:00, 3:10, 6:10
Wed: 12:00, 3:10 | Thu: 12:00, 3:10, 6:10
Special Events:
Jane Eyre - 180 min – Encore of this fantastic National Theatre Live production
Sat: 11:00am – The Bronte classic brought to theatrical life with unique staging and gorgeous music
A Ballerina's Tale – True Story Tuesdays returns!
Tue: 11:00am, 5:45 – The rise of ballerina Misty Copeland and her return a devastating injury.
Bolshoi Ballet: The Lady Of The Camellias (NR) – Our 1 st Bolshoi! Join us.
Wed: 6:00 – Critics praised the Moscow production of John Neumeier’s adaptation. Music by Chopin.
WWW.CITYLIGHTSCINEMAS.COM
The Friends of Florence Van
Fans is a nonpolitical organi-
zation that sponsors this event.
All proceeds go to support
the Van Fans program, which
transports cancer patients
every weekday to Eugene and
Springfield for radiation treat-
ments.
For more information or to
sign up for card games, call
Karen Lee at 541-997-9669.
Donald Lee Laskey
Reedsport, Oregon
A memorial service for
long me Reedsport resident
and
businessman
Don
Laskey will be held at 11:30
am, Saturday, January 30,
at Reedsport Community
Charter School, in the Pacifi c
Auditorium. Don passed
away from complica ons
rela ng
to
pneumonia,
on January 15, 2016, with
family by his side. Services are being directed by Dunes
Memorial Chapel, in Reedsport. (541-271-2822) The
family requests that those who knew Don and would like
to share a story about him, either write the story down
and it will be collected and read at the memorial, or tell
the story themselves.
Portion of Highway 126 to honor ODOT engineer
William “Bill” Tebeau will
be honored for his great contri-
butions to the state of Oregon
with the designation of a por-
tion of Oregon 126 West
(Florence-Eugene Highway).
As of Friday, Jan. 29, the high-
way between Veneta and
Florence will be known as the
“William
‘Bill’
Tebeau
Memorial Highway.”
A ceremony to commemo-
rate the designation is set for
macies for many years.
They still have a home in
Florence, but recently moved
to Bothell, Wash., to be closer
to family.
They look forward to cele-
brating their anniversary this
summer in Yellowstone
National Park, where their
four children and seven grand-
children will witness them
renewing their wedding vows.
June 27, 1924 - Nov 27, 2015
All are invited to a
Remembrance Party for
ANN KOPROWICZ
“GRANDMA ANN”
Jan. 30, 2-4 p.m.
Florence Senior Center
1570 Kingwood.
All ages welcome.
Share music, stories; sweet
treat potluck.
Tea, cof ee, wine provided.
For more information:
541-997-9780
REFINANCE
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* The current Annual Percentage R ate of 2.50% applies to a fixed rate advance made under the home equity line of
credit agreement (“HELOC ”) with a maximum 15-year repayment term, 60% loan-to -value (“LT V ”) ratio and minimum
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$260-$1,300 for credit limits of $50,000. R ates and terms are available for LT V ratios up to 80%. R ates are subjec t
to change without notice. All HELOCs are subjec t to credit approval.
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
SIMINGTON —Cielia
“June” (Jenkins) Simington,
90,
of
Mapleton,
passed away
Jan 10, 2016.
She was
born Feb. 22,
1925,
in
Bellingham,
Wash.,
to
Mamie and
Cielia
J a m e s
Simington
Jenkins.
On. Feb 14, 1941, she mar-
ried Les Simington; they
shared 74 years of marriage.
June enjoyed spending time
with her family, traveling,
hunting, camping, crocheting
and crafting.
She is survived by three chil-
dren:
David
(Bonita)
Simington of Veneta, Linda
(Harold) Weston of Elmira and
Judy (Ray) Tatum of Queen
Creek, Ariz.; eight grandchil-
dren and 13 great-grandchil-
dren.
Her loving husband, Les,
preceded her in death in 2015,
and her son-in-law, Harold, in
2008.
A memorial service will be
held Saturday, Jan. 30, at 2
p.m., at Burns’s Riverside
Chapel Florence Funeral
Home, 2765 Kingwood St., in
Florence.
Everyone is welcome and
encouraged to attend.
LASKEY—Donald
Lee
Laskey, 82, of Reedsport,
recently passed away from
complications related to
pneumonia, with his family
by his side, at River Bend
Hospital, in Springfield, Ore.
Don was born on May 7,
1933, to Herb Laskey and
Ines (Wittick) Laskey, in
North Bend.
Don could trace his
50th ANNIVERSARY