2A | WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2020 | SIUSLAW NEWS
On The Record
OBITUARIES
TO M P K I N S — E d i t h
“Deedie” Tompkins joined
her husband, Neil Tomp-
kins, in heaven on July 22,
2020.
Born in Elma, Wash., on
March 10, 1930, Deedie
lived to be
90 years old.
She moved
to Florence,
Ore.,
in
1952 with
her husband
and daugh-
Edith
ter.
Tompkins
She start-
ed her own
business, Deedie’s Alter-
ations, in 1953. She created
some very unique things,
including a new Rhodo-
dendron Queen’s robe, an
outfit for a stuffed grizzly
bear used in a political
campaign, and custom
fishing boat cushions.
Before there was a Flor-
ence Food Share, Deedie
took her utility trailer to a
local grocery store, picked
up donated produce and
offered it to people in need
in the community.
Neil and Deedie also
offered their travel trailer
to the police department,
which referred homeless
people needing a place to
spend the night. Deedie
hosted Home Extension
meetings and was a mem-
ber of the Women’s Mis-
sionary Council, as well as
the TOPS Club.
She was also a member
of the choir at Siuslaw Val-
ley Christian Center, now
known as Crossroad As-
sembly of God. Her family
attended many meetings of
the Siuslaw Pioneer Asso-
ciation. They also hosted
Rotary exchange students.
Deedie enjoyed per-
forming in school plays
when in high school. As
an adult, she was an avid
swimmer and loved going
to yard sales. People would
give her their lists and she
would happily hunt for
those desired items.
Deedie and Neil used to
go camping and enjoyed
Sunday afternoon drives,
picnics and barbecues. She
had a very dry sense of
humor and her gifts were
sometimes an unexpected
surprise.
Deedie was preceded in
death by her husband, Neil;
and her parents, Harold
Speer and Edith Dingman.
She is survived by daugh-
ter, Sharee Luce; son Lorin
Tompkins; God-daughter
Valerie Whitney; grand-
children: Erin Luce, Bren-
nan Luce, Levi Tompkins,
Laurie Tompkins, Rose-
mary Whitney, Levi Whit-
ney, Olivia Blesse; and
great-grandchildren Evan
Rousseau, Hadessa Whit-
ney and Sariese Whitney.
Neil and Deedie were
“Mom” and “Dad” to many
throughout the years.
Deedie was cremated by
Burns Riverside Chapel.
Close family will observe a
private service at the cem-
etery. Due to COVID-19
restrictions, no public
memorial service will take
place at this time.
However, a memorial
Facebook group has been
set up. To be added to the
group, or to view the Me-
morial online, please con-
tact a family member on
Facebook or email erin
luce@gmail.com.
In lieu of flowers, do-
nations may be made to
Gideons International.
CLINTON—On Tues-
day, July 28, 2020, Jack R.
Clinton Jr., loving father,
husband and friend passed
away peace-
fully in his
home.
Jack was
born Sept.
29, 1952, in
Glendale,
Calif.,
to
Jack Clinton Jack
and
DeNora
(Ness) Clinton. Jack grew
up in the hills of Glendale
to later go and serve in the
U.S. Marine Corps. during
the Vietnam War.
Upon returning from
war, he married his wife
Diane, gaining three won-
derful stepchildren and
went on to have three more
children.
In 2003, Jack left South-
ern California for the
beautiful Oregon coast.
Jack was known for his
contagious laugh, funny
punchlines, kind heart and
friendly smile. Wherever
he went, he always found
new people to become a
new, fast friend. He had
love for Oregon’s beautiful
nature and ran a successful
landscaping business with
his son, where he could
enjoy all of the beautiful
greenery Oregon has to
offer.
Jack had various jobs
during his life that brought
him numerous experiences
and opportunities to meet
many different people.
He enjoyed sharing all
of those stories and lessons
with those who surround-
ed him.
He is survived by his
wife, Diane; six children:
Lynn (Aaron), Charla
(Bill), Ammon, Jack (Mo-
nique), Arne (Amanda)
and Kendyll (Andrew); 14
grandchildren and numer-
ous cousins throughout the
U.S. and Norway.
Public services to be de-
NOVELLI’S
termined following the end
of the COVID-19 pandem-
ic.
BECKNER —Becky
Beckner, 91, passed away
at her residence in Flor-
ence, Ore., on Monday July
20, 2020.
Becky was born April
5, 1929, in Council Bluffs,
Iowa, to Theodore Roos-
evelt Beck-
ner
and
Marie Lil-
lian (Ruby)
Beckner.
She was
born pri-
or to the
Becky
arrival of
Beckner her
twin
sister, Es-
ther Oleson. Becky was
raised in Council Bluffs,
attended Thomas Jefferson
High School, graduating in
1946, and continued her
education at The Universi-
ty of Omaha.
On April 7, 1949 she
married Theodore (Ted)
James Kochel. Becky and
Ted soon began a family
in Southern California and
welcomed three children
in five years beginning in
1952.
Becky returned to col-
lege and began her career
as a California licensed
Clinical Laboratory Scien-
tist, not retiring from her
profession until she was 78
years old.
The predominant thread
that binds the stories and
memories of Becky is her
love of family and friends,
her generousity and her
faith. The blocks of her
quilt are now completed
revealing her beautiful life
for others to reflect upon,
cherish and uplift their
spirits.
Becky passed away unex-
pectedly in her apartment,
at Tanglewood, where she
resided for the past eight
years.
Becky was preceded in
death by her sister, Maxine
Thornburg; twin sister, Es-
ther Oleson; and brother,
Harold Beckner.
She is survived by her
children: Roger Kochel
(Serena) Denise Stahl
(Gregg) and Laura Per-
on (Tom); grandchildren:
Jesse Kochel (Audra), Ter-
ra Wade (Steve), Kendra
Kochel (Kyle), Spencer
Kochel (Madison), Robert
Muma (Katie) and Natalie
Peron (Matt).
In addition, Becky is sur-
vived by eight great-grand-
children
and
three
great-great-grandchildren.
There is no Celebration
of Life planned at this time
due to COVID-19. When
arrangements are finalized
her ashes will be interred
at the Memorial Garden at
New Life Lutheran Church.
SAUNDERS—Wilma
(Billie) Saunders, 89, died
on July 29, 2020, after a
short illness.
A 23-year resident of
Florence, Billie was born
in Joplin, Mo., but grew up
in Salem. After many years
in Southern California, she
and her husband, Joe (who
passed in 2014 after 50
years of marriage), moved
to Florence in 1997.
She was active in Ladies
of the Elk, the Episcopal
Church and the bowling
league.
She is survived by her
two children, Diane and
Laura; her two grandsons,
Alex and Geoffrey; as well
as her stepchildren: Tami
and Geoff and their chil-
dren.
Her family was the most
important thing in the
world to her and she will be
remembered for her kind-
ness and loving nature.
CRAB & SEAFOOD
WE ARE OPEN!
IN MEMORY OUR PARENTS
WE ARE SERVING OUR MOM’S AWARD WINNING CRAB CHOWDER!
WE ALSO HAVE FRESH CRAB.
SUN, MON AND THUR 11-6 , FRI & SAT, 11-7
CLOSED TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY
541-639-7689 • 100 HARBOR STREET, BOAT SLIP A13
GATES ARE UNLOCKED
We invite
you to
join us.
We will be live streaming from
Facebook at 10am Sunday mornings.
Corner of 10th & Maple St. • 541-997-3533
florencecrossroadeg.org
email: office@florencecrossroadeg.org
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HEARING
ING
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nce
Scott C. Anderson, Au.D.
Steven G. Anderson, Au.D.
FLORENCE • 1901 Hwy 101, Ste A
HearingAssociatesofFlorence.com
V ISIT US ONLINE :
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Saturday, August 29, 2020
At Florence Golf Links
Florence, Oregon
Sponsored by
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Ron and Penny Merritt, July 30, 1960
Ron and Penny Mer-
ritt were married July 30,
1960, in Stockton, Calif.
The couple celebrated
their 60th wedding anni-
versary this year.
They have three sons (all
boys) and 10 grandkids.
They owned Kitchen Klut-
ter in downtown Florence
from 1987 to 1993 before
selling it to Penny’s sister,
Marteen Wick.
Ron Merritt owned the
old Sand Ranch from 1987
to 1991 (now Sand Master
Park). Ron coached high
school football and base-
ball at Siuslaw and Maple-
ton high schools.
For more informaƟon call 541-997-2816