2A | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2018 | SIUSLAW NEWS
T HE R ECORD
OBITUARIES
B R A N S ON — M i c h e a l
“Mike” Ray Branson, 75,
passed away Dec. 8, 2018 in
Mesa, Ariz.
He was born in Carthage,
Mo., Feb. 24, 1943, to Loren
and Maxine Branson.
Mike married Betty June
Whittenburg on May 1,
1959, in Miami, Okla.
His be-
loved wife
Betty pre-
ceded him
in death
on Feb. 23,
2012,
in
Florence.
He mar-
Michael
ried
his
Branson
second
wife, Glen-
da Frazier Hart, on Sept. 8,
2013, in Florence.
Mike was a very proud
Teamster and retired from
the construction industry
in California. He moved to
Florence in 1998 and had
been a resident of Green-
trees Village for 20 years.
Recently, he was enjoying
life traveling between Flor-
ence and Mesa, Ariz., and
spending the Spring in Kona
and Honolulu, Hawaii.
Mike enjoyed everything
vehicle related from racing
cars in his early years, being
an auto mechanic, watch-
ing every NASCAR series
he could and buying classic
cars to restore and show at
car events.
He is survived by his sec-
ond wife, Glenda; his son
Mark “Billy William” and
wife Beth; his son Daniel
“Danny Ray”; his daughter
Nanci “Sissy” and husband
David; and his daughter Ra-
chel “Diane” and husband
Mel; 12 grandchildren, 6
great-grandchildren and his
beloved dachshund Maggie
Mae.
He was a loving son, hus-
band, father, grandfather
and great-grandfather. He
was the best friend to all
who knew him and was al-
ways willing to help friends
in need. He will be greatly
missed by all.
Mike’s family is respect-
ing his wishes for a private
family memorial. In lieu
of flowers, the family asks
that donations in his name
be made to the Dachshund
Rescue of North American
at www.drna.org.
PRICE—Elwin Lee Price
was born to Elmer and Al-
ice (Holmes) Price in Lan-
glois, Ore., on Oct. 20, 1932.
He had three siblings: Lois,
Mary Jo and Lake, all of
whom preceeded him in
death. Most of his young
years were spent in the
Reedsport area.
In 1951, he graduat-
ed from Reedsport High
School, where he played
football.
Elwin
served
in
the
U. S . M a -
r i n e
C o r p s
f r o m
1 9 5 2 -
Elwin Price
1955, in-
cluding 14 months in Japan
during the Korean Conflict
— he was sailing for Korea
when the Armistice was
reached, and was therefore
diverted to Japan.
He became proficient at
operating two types of ma-
chine gun but luckily didn’t
have to use any in combat.
He also participated in an
atomic test in Nevada.
He attended Evangelical
College, where he studied
psychology and occupied
his spare time shooting
baskets with John Ashcroft,
who later became Governor
of Missouri, a U.S. Senator
and U.S. Attorney General.
After returning to Reed-
sport, Elwin worked in
logging, including at In-
ternational Paper Compa-
ny, followed by 22 years or
more employed by the U.S.
Forest Service from which
he retired in 1993.
His only marriage was in
1969, when he wed Donna
Graves Rountree, who sur-
vives him. They have lived
in Florence for 45 years.
Other survivors include
stepson Bryan Rountree and
his wife, Cindy; step-grand-
son Brandon Rountree; two
nephews: Dr. Richard Fro-
man and Craig Froman and
their families; brother-in-
law and sister-in-law Larry
and Ada Graves and their
son, Todd Graves; and nu-
merous cousins.
Elwin's interests includ-
ed religion, philosophy,
psychology, reading, chess,
emailing, family gatherings
and country music, plus
having coffee with good
friends while discussing
politics, religion, world af-
fairs, etc.
On Nov. 28, God called
Elwin to his Heavenly home.
Per his wishes, no service is
scheduled. Burial of cre-
mains is planned for later at
Reedsport Masonic Ceme-
tary.
It is suggested that any
donations in Elwin’s honor
be made to the American
Heart Association or Amer-
ican Kidney Fund.
Annual health enrollment deadline is this Saturday
SALEM — Saturday, Dec.
15, is the last day to get 2019
health insurance during
open enrollment.
Oregonians who do not get
coverage through their job
or another program should
visit OregonHealthCare.gov
to get started. Missing the
deadline could mean going
a year without health insur-
ance.
“Even the healthiest among
us can face an unexpected in-
jury or illness, along with the
expensive medical bills that
follow,” said Cameron Smith,
director of the Oregon De-
partment of Consumer and
Business Services. “Health
insurance reduces those
costs for you, so your financ-
es can recover as fast as your
body does.”
Coverage costs less when
you get financial assistance,
and thousands of Orego-
nians qualify for it. Last year,
more than 70 percent of peo-
ple who enrolled in plans
through HealthCare.gov got
help paying their premium.
This year, families of four
making about $100,000 a
year or less, and individuals
making about $48,000 or
less, may be eligible.
“If you already have cover-
age for 2019, tell your family
or friends about the dead-
line,” said Chiqui Flowers,
administrator of the Ore-
gon Health Insurance Mar-
ketplace. “Everyone knows
someone who either does
not have insurance, or is
paying too much for their
plan. We suggest they visit
OregonHealthCare.gov by
Dec. 15.”
At www.OregonHealth-
Care.gov, users answer a few
Oregon-specific questions to
get to the right application
for them. They also can use
a directory on the site to find
a licensed insurance agent or vices (DCBS).
certified community group
to help them with their en-
rollment.
Anyone with questions
about enrolling can call the
Oregon Health Insurance
Marketplace at 855-268-
3767 (toll-free).
The marketplace is a di-
vision of the Oregon De-
partment of Consumer and
Business Services and the
state-level partner to Health-
Care.gov.
After the Dec. 15 dead-
line, people will be able to
buy 2019 coverage only in
special circumstances, like
when they get married or
lose job-related coverage.
The Oregon Health In-
surance Marketplace helps
Oregonians get coverage and
financial assistance through
HealthCare.gov. It is a divi-
sion of the Department of
Consumer and Business Ser-
here
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We invite
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• Wednesday, 7 p.m. - Family Connections
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n
u
F
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e
Wint
at the Bistro
We want to thank you...
For letting the Best Western
Pier Point Inn and Bay View
Bistro be a part of your lives!
For dinner
reservations
call
541-590-3000
Located in the Best Western Pier Point Inn
85625 Highway 101, Florence
PRESENTING SPONSOR: SEA LION CAVES
Eleven Bands!
Three Days of Food & Fun!
Winter Music Festival
2019
Florence, Oregon
Discount Tickets Available until October 15th
FRAA Winter Arts Festival
Jam Sessions ~ Pie Sale
Good Food ~ Libations
Performer Merchandise
JANUARY 25, 26, 27, 2019
Art & Jean Koning/ Terrace Homes • Elks Lodge #1858
Le Bouchon Wine Bar & Kitchen • Oregon Pacific Bank
1451 Spruce St.
541-997-8202
375 9th St, Florence, OR 97439 • (541) 997-6111
WinterMusicFestival.org
WMFFlorence@gmail.com
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715 Quince St., Florence, Oregon