2A | SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 2018 | SIUSLAW NEWS
T HE R ECORD
OBITUARIES
HOAGLAND—Louis Gary
Hoagland was born in Albany,
Calif., on June 9, 1939. When
he was 3, his father accepted
a position
as assayer
chemist for
the State of
Oregon and
the family
moved to
Multnomah.
Several
Louis
years
later,
Hoagland
the family
moved to
southeast Portland, where Gary
graduated from Cleveland
High School.
Gary attended Brigham
Young University, where he met
and married Loretta Bingham.
Since Gary wanted to go into
the hotel business, they soon
moved to Lansing, Mich., to
attend Michigan State Univer-
sity. Gary got a part-time job
at a local hotel and was quickly
promoted to higher positions.
After several years with ma-
jor hotel chains, he was hired
by Inter-Continental Hotels as
a Financial Director. His ter-
ritory stretched from London,
England to Dhaka, Bangladesh.
He switched to Operations and
managed
Inter-Continental
Hotels internationally.
In 1979, he was managing
the Inter-Continental Hotel in
Iran when the revolution broke
out. While most of the hotels
closed in Tehran for lack of
business, the Inter-Continental
Hotel stayed open at almost full
capacity because the interna-
tional press corps was staying
there. All the Iranian employ-
ees stayed on and, at Gary’s
command, turned fire hoses on
rioters breaking into the hotel.
Later it was learned the Ira-
nian employees stayed because,
in their words “He was an hon-
est man.”
Early in the revolution, the
American embassy was at-
tacked and the American am-
bassador captured. Gary got a
telephone call from the head of
security. He told Gary he was
hiding behind his desk as bul-
lets flew through his office win-
dows. He knew the press corps
was staying at the Inter-Conti-
nental and had contacts with
Khomeini’s people.
Gary got in touch with the re-
porters; word was sent to Kho-
meini’s people, and the Amer-
ican captives were released on
Khomeini’s orders.
This early takeover is mostly
forgotten.
Months later, the embassy
was attacked and Americans
were held as prisoners for 444
days before being released.
After leaving Tehran, Gary
was sent to Thailand to manage
the Siam Inter-Continental Ho-
tel. A few years later, he decid-
ed to leave the corporate world
and start his own business.
He purchased several lodg-
ing properties in Oregon and
another in central Utah.
Today, all the properties he
owns rank high on Trip Advi-
sor.
When living in Depoe Bay,
Ore., he was elected mayor.
There he contributed gener-
ously to Neighbors for Kids, a
highly successful after school
program.
Gary was a born leader and
served on numerous boards,
including the Oregon Restau-
rant and Lodging Association
and the Newport, Ore., hospi-
tal.
From Depoe Bay, Gary and
Loretta purchased two motels
in Florence: the River House
Inn and the Old Town Inn.
He joined Rotary in 2001 and,
through Gary’s generous con-
tributions, became a member of
the Paul Harris Society, known
for its contributions to human-
itarian causes worldwide.
Gary was involved in several
committees, and the Chamber
of Commerce of Florence.
He passed away in Lake Os-
wego, Ore., on May 23, 2018.
He is survived by his wife
Loretta; his daughters: Kel-
ly Moore and Stacy Walker;
five grandchildren and two
great-grandchildren.
A celebration of his life will
be Friday, June 8, at The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, 2705 Munsel Lake Rd.
in Florence.
The gathering of friends will
be at Driftwood Shores Pacific
Room at 2 p.m.
PEARCE—John
Kenneth
Pearce, 94, died peacefully at
home May 19, 2018, after a long
illness. John’s former daughter-
in-law, Ora-
lee Pearce,
and her sis-
ter Laverne
Sanders,
who were
a part of
his life over
the last 40 John Pearce
years, were
with
him
and John’s wife, Celia, during
the final days of his battle with
cancer.
He is survived by his wife of
73 years, Celia Pearce; his son
Christopher Pearce; grandson
Kenneth Pearce; great-grand-
son Parker Pearce; two
step-grandsons, Joe Akridge
and Robert Pearce, and their
families.
John was born in Croydon,
a suburb of London, on Feb.
10, 1924. Most of his youth was
spent in Dulwich. His father
and mother were William and
Marjorie Pearce.
At an early age, John was
interested in working with his
hands; building things and
making models from whatever
material he could find. After
school, he went to work at the
age of 15 for a company that
made telephones.
At age 18, John went into the
Royal Air Force (RAF) and was
an air gunner on the bombers
during World War II. In early
April 1944, duty took him to
the Sindh Desert of India (now
Pakistan) for 18 months.
John and Celia were mar-
ried at the Emmanuel Church
in West Dulwich, England, on
Dec. 17, 1944.
John was a master model
maker in England. The owner
of Pacific Miniatures in South-
ern California offered John
a job and relocation to Cali-
fornia. He worked for Pacific
Miniatures for 22 years. There-
after, John and Celia retired
and spent six years traveling
between the U.S. and England
until they permanently moved
to Florence in 1993.
John was a keen cyclist in his
youth. He competed in road
races and track races. He loved
to hike, walk and anything ath-
letic. Although slight in build,
he was extremely strong, which
amazed the grandchildren.
John enjoyed retirement. He
used his model making skills
to build useful and clever items
for the home. He loved animals,
RVing, good food and travel-
ing. John and Celia went on
about 15 cruises during their
retirement years.
Besides his skills and abili-
ties, John was a true gentleman.
He was kind and loving. He al-
ways offered to help family and
friends. He was warm, compas-
sionate and supportive. He was
admired and loved by those
who knew him.
Private family services are
pending. Contributions can be
made to hospice or the Flor-
ence Humane Society in his
name.
City of Florence announces release of 2017 water quality report to public
The City of Florence Water
Quality Report for 2016 is now
available.
Copies are available at
www.ci.f lorence.or.us/pub-
licworks/2017-water-quality-re-
port as a downloadable PDF. Pa-
per copies will only be mailed by
request or a copy can be picked
up at the Public Works Opera-
tions Center at 2675 Kingwood
Street.
Local doctor
to discuss
opioid crisis
Dr. Ronald Shearer will dis-
cuss the opioid crisis and its
impact on our local area, on
Friday, June 8 the City Club of
Florence at noon.
Dr. Shearer has been part
of the Peace Health Medical
Group in Florence for more
than 20 years and is able to
discuss the evolution of the
opioid crisis locally.
His presentation will in-
clude the types of drugs in-
volved, how the crisis devel-
oped, alternative therapies
and steps being taken locally
to help mitigate the problem.
He will also be able to answer
questions from those in atten-
dance.
Dr. Shearer is a graduate of
Oregon Health and Science
University Medical School
with a specialty in internal
medicine.
The presentation will be
Friday, June 8, at the Class Act
Theatre, 509 Kingwood St.
Doors will be open at 11:30
a.m. and the program will run
from noon to 1 p.m.
Early arrival is suggested.
“The City of Florence works
hard to ensure that our water
not only complies, but exceeds
state and federal drinking water
standards,” said Public Works
Director Mike Miller. “In ad-
dition, the City continues to be
recognized as an outstanding
performer by the Oregon Health
Authority, Drinking Water Ser-
vices. This report shows our ef-
forts are working.”
As a water supplier, the City
is required by the Environmen-
tal Protection Agency (EPA) to
provide an annual Consumer
Confidence Report.
Commonly known as a Wa-
ter Quality Report, it provides
water quality data from Jan. 1 to
Dec. 31, 2017.
The report also informs cus-
tomers of the location of the
City’s water sources, the City’s
source water protection pro-
grams, if there are any contam-
inants in the drinking water as
well as the water analysis under-
taken to ensure that the water
delivered is safe and of the high-
est quality.
“Florence’s dunal aquifer sys-
tem is the only one of its kind in
the State of Oregon,” said Mill-
er. “Protecting it and providing
our residents with high quality
drinking water is our top prior-
ity.”
In addition to the legally re-
quired language, the 2017 ver-
sion includes information re-
garding source water protection,
fun and informative water facts,
a chart displaying daily water
production as well as a water cy-
cle activity for kids.
The 2017 edition also provides
information regarding Fats, Oils
and Grease (FOG for short) and
how this substance can create
partial or complete blockages in
the sewer system.
To request a paper or elec-
tronic copy of the 2017 Water
Quality Report, contact Public
Works at 541-997-4106.
To download an electronic
copy visit www.ci.florence.or.us/
publicworks/2017-water-quali-
ty- report.
oliver is lost!
He is a Sheltie with white on chest, legs & tip of tail.
He was last seen Tuesday, May 22 by Foglios Trucking.
He is in urgent need of
medication and
veterinarian care.
If you see him, please call
Ted at 360-606-0415
or Lynn at 360-335-7697
reward upon return
Florence LOVES Local!
& Local Foods Marketplace
Tuesdays 3-7 pm
Bay & Kingwood
Florence Farmers Market is an initiative of the Siuslaw Vision
and is sponsored by the Florence Area Community Coalition.
OREGON COAST
Thrift Shop
Saturday & Sunday, June 2-3
11 am - 4 pm
Correction
In the page B1 photo
description “Teed Up For A
Facelift” in the May 26 edi-
tion of Siuslaw News, OB
Sports was incorrectly identi-
fied as the new owner of
Florence
Golf
Links
(Previously Sandpines Golf
Links).
OB Sports manages prop-
erty; new owners are APIC,
based out of San Francisco
with Wilson Chen overseeing
Florence Golf Links.
Siuslaw News regrets the
error.
furniture, clothing, household items,
containers, books and more!!!!
1193 Bay St., Old Town Florence
Senior discounts / Free estimates