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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (July 8, 2017)
2 A SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, JULY 8, 2017 OBITUARIES SMITH—Myrna R. (Brandsow) Smith, 80, passed a w a y Monday, June 26, 2017. Myrna was born May 27, 1937, in The Dalles, Ore., to Raymond and Myrna Smith J. Laverna A. (Johnson) Brandsow. Myrna grew up in Vernonia. In 1952, the family moved to Reedsport, Ore., where she attended Reedsport High School and graduated in 1955. There, she met Thomas R. Smith and they were married in August of 1955. Shortly after, they moved to Oceanside, Calif., while Tom served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Returning to Oregon, they moved to the Alderwood Dairy Farm on Fiddle Creek, which was owned and operated by the Smith Family for more than 20 years. After her divorce in 1977, Myrna worked for Florence City Hall and Municipal Court. She loved her children, grand- children and great-grandchil- dren, as well as gardening — especially her roses — and playing Pinochle with the girls. Myrna is survived by her ex- husband, Tom, of Reedsport; three sons: Monty, and his wife Annie, of Eugene; Vance, and his wife Suzanne, of Florence; and Jason of Veneta; a brother, Steve, and his wife Dee Brandsow, of Alaska; seven grandchildren and nine great- grandchildren. She was preceded in death by both of her parents; her sis- ter Barbara (Brandsow) Ott; her brother Jim Brandsow; and an infant son, Benjamin. At her request, no services will be planned. Burns’s Riverside Chapel Florence Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements. HEAD—Eileen A. Head was born in Portland, Ore., on May 25, 1938. Eileen married James Head on Aug 11, 1956, in Portland. T h e y to Eileen Head moved Florence a little over 20 years ago. Eileen is preceded in death POLICE LOG Florence Police June 26 Theft from vehicle was reported on the 3100 block of Highway 101. Arrest, with warrant, was reported on the 9000 block of Greenwood Street. Fire was reported on the 4700 block of Windward Way Menacing was reported on North Chestnut Street. June 27 DUII was reported on the 1500 block of Ninth Street. Arrest, with warrant, was reported on the 1000 block of Highway 101. Theft from vehicle was reported at the 8700 block of Harbor Vista Road. Theft was reported from the 2500 block of Highway 101. Arrest, with warrant, was reported on the 900 block of Greenwood Street. Arrest, with warrant, was reported on the 100 block of Spruce Street. June 28 Dispute was reported on Glenada Ridge Road. Trespass was reported on the 700 block of Highway 101. Theft was reported on the 1500 block of Sixth Street. Accident, without injury, was reported at the Port of Siuslaw. Dispute was reported on Airport Road. June 29 Arrest, with warrant, was reported on the 1300 block of Bay Street. by her son, James Michael Head. She is survived by her husband, James Head; her son Robert E. Head; grandson Michael James Head; and her brother, Donald Robert Evans. Eileen was a den mother in the cub scouts for a little over five years. She was also active in the Oregon State Grange. She was a past president in the Rebekah Lodge of the IOOF. She was also active in her local LDS Church. Eileen’s service will be held Saturday, July 15, at 11 a.m., at the LDS Church, at the corner of Munsel Lake Road and North Fork Road. All are welcome. SEAVER—John Seaver III, a longtime resident of Florence, Ore., passed June 29, 2017 from natural caus- es only 3 weeks shy of his 95th Birthday. John was and John Seaver born raised in Eugene, Ore., and moved with his family to Swisshome, Ore. Hiss parents, John and Myrtle Seaver, II, opened a lodge for travelers on the Siuslaw River and operated it for years. John was a graduate of Mapleton High School — a class of seven, which included longtime friend Don Davidson. John and his brother Jim enlisted in the Service and served the country in World War II. When John returned home, he opened up a gas sta- tion in Brickerville, Ore., with his brother. John moved to Florence in 1950. He was a long-standing member of the Florence Elks Lodge and other organizations. John was a hard worker and his accomplishments were proof of that. He was a logger who owned and operated the Florence Laundromat on Rhododendron Drive for years. He also had his own ice-making business, man- aged his own rental properties and was a farmer and rancher — which he loved most. John was a father, a friend, a mentor, a partner and much more. He loved his children, his step-children, his grandkids, great-grandchildren and great- great-grandchildren, and was a huge joy to them as well. He loved what the coast brought him, like fresh salmon, crab, shrimp, clams and espe- cially fresh rainbow trout. He liked ranching and raised many cattle over the course of his life. John spent countless hours supporting his family and being interested in what they were doing. He will be missed very much. John is survived by his part- ner of 25 years, Mary Miner. She has been by his side and enjoyed the time they had together as well as helped him through his last years. Other survivors are his chil- dren: his son John Seaver IV, his wife Debora and daughter Linda Lutz; step-son Art Morgan and his wife Debbie; step-daughter Mary Bales and her husband Jim; great-grand- children and even a great-great- grandchild. In honor of John’s wishes, there will be no public service. Burns’s Riverside Chapel Florence Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Raymond Austin AUSTIN—Raymond Lee Austin, 84, of Florence and for- merly of Coos Bay, passed away April 21, 2017. Born in Dewey, Okla., March 27, 1933, to Martha and Herbert Austin, Ray was one of 14 children. The family came to Oregon in search of work dur- ing the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, when Ray was 3. After meeting on a blind date, Ray married the love of his life, Dollie Noah, and quickly started a family, which brought him great pride. He was an avid sports fan and followed the Marshfield Pirates, Siuslaw Vikings and especially the Oregon Ducks! In 2015, his family took him on the road trip of a lifetime when they traveled to Pasadena, Calif., to watch the Ducks beat Florida State in the Rose Bowl — the first ever NCAA College Football Playoff. Even though he only lived in the Florence area a short while, Ray made many wonderful friends there and his longtime friends and “cronies” on the South Coast were cherished deeply as well. Surrounded by his family on a beautiful spring after- noon, Ray passed peacefully. He is survived by his loving wife, Dollie; his children: Alice Burns (Jim), Dan (Elaine), Rick (Martha), Don and Deb Nicholls (Tom); his sisters: Barbara and Bernice Bishop; and a brother, Darrel. God graced Ray with a large and loving family of 24 grandchildren, 36 great- grandchildren and one great- great-grandchild. Ray was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great- grandfather, great-great- grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin and friend. A teacher, mentor and con- fidant, Ray will be greatly missed. To the best “old growth” created … we miss you but know you can now run through the woods again! A celebration of life for Ray will be held at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 12, at the Florence Church of the Nazarene, 1536 12th St. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Ray’s name to The Friends of Florence Cancer Patient Van, PO Box 598, Florence, OR 97439. Arrangements are under the care of Coos Bay Chapel, 541-267-3131. To view the full version of the obituary, friends and family are encouraged to login to www.coosbayareafunerals.com and sign the online guestbook.
