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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (July 3, 2019)
2A | WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2019 | COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL On The Record Dale D. Ware 1953-2019 Dale D. Ware of Th orn Bay, Alaska passed away June 25, 2019. Dale graduated from Cot- tage Grove High School in 1971 and served in the United States Navy. Dale worked for Southeast Road builders and PAPAC Logging and Construction. Dale called Th orn Bay, Alas- ka home for 30 years. Dale is survived by his daughter; Jannette, Stepdaugh- ter; Brenda, Stepsons; Curt, Craig, Randy and Kenny; his brothers Dick, Jerry, Randy, Donald and several grandchil- dren. Dale was preceded in death by his brother Roger. No service is planned. John Carl Yates 1949-2019 John Carl Yates, age 69, of Springfi eld, Oregon, passed away Th ursday, June 20, 2019. He was born at Emanuel Hos- pital on December 12, 1949 in Portland, Oregon to parents Robert and Ilene (Trunnell) Yates. He married Debbie (Dix- on) Yate January 20, 1981. Th ey were married 21 years. John graduated from Sheldon High School in 1968 and worked as a custodian and h andyman for grocery stores and the DMV in Cottage Grove. He was an avid Elvis fan and model car col- lector. He loved attending car shows and show and shines. John also loved shopping for diecast cars at any local thrift stores. He enjoyed family gath- erings and traveling with the family. John was a member of the Lane Auto Modelers. He was also a member of the Special Olympics bocce team. If you ever had a question for john, he would respond, “that’s fi ne”. Johns grandson Hugh is the 6th generation on his fam- ily’s farm, where John enjoyed working in the hay fi elds and tending to the animals. He is survived by his stepfather Rob- ert Grimes; daughter Angela Yates; and Brothers Th omas “Tom” Yates, and Robert “Bob- by” Yates both of Eugene, Or- egon and a grandson Hugh. Th ere will be a private family graveside at Fir Grove Ceme- tery. Arrangements in the care of Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel, Cottage Grove, OR. Orville “Keith” Stiff 1929-2019 Orville “Keith” Stiff , a long- time resident of Cottage Grove, Oregon who resided in Spring- fi eld for the last four years, died on June 24 at the age of 90. He was born in Boise, Ada County, Idaho to Roland Ber- trand and Ellen E. Patton Stiff on 20 February 1929. He lived in the Boise, Idaho area until the family moved to Oregon in 1943. His family had deep roots in Idaho and he was proud of his maternal and paternal grandparents’ pioneering spir- it. He had fond memories of living on the Stiff Homestead in the Dry Creek area north of Boise and of spending a lot of time south of Marsing at the Patton Homestead. At an ear- ly age, his father Bert taught him how to fi sh and hunt. He helped his father pack in sup- plies for the Forest Service up to Yellow Pine, Idaho in the summer. Keith loved that area of Idaho and later in life Yellow Pine became his home away from home. He spent almost 20 years as Master of Ceremonies for the Yellow Pine Harmonica Festival and enjoyed jamming with the other musicians while playing his washtub. Keith was a natural-born storyteller and was the narrator during the last several years for Th e Blue Goose, an excursion train in Cottage Grove. He en- tertained thousands of guests with stories about historical sites along the tracks up to Culp Creek and back. He loved to reminisce about this time and aft er retiring he traveled all over the United States and Canada to ride narrow gauge and other steam excursion trains. Keith was a lumberman. His fi rst experience in a mill was before he graduated from high school, when he took a job at the Chambers Mill in Lorane to help support his family. He spent his entire working life in mills with the exception of set- ting pins in bowling alleys in Boise and Cottage Grove, and as a surveyor helper during the construction of Dorena Dam. Lumbering was natural for Keith and in the 1950s he became part-owner of Cottage Grove Lumber Company. He later worked for Leo Rickard at Rickini Lumber in Saginaw, then for Bohemia, Inc. as Yard Superintendent until he re- tired. Keith was an avid sports- man playing football and base- ball in high school, even play- ing a short time with the Drain Black Socks. It was not unusual to see him with two TV’s and a radio by his easy-chair, as he kept up with diff erent games simultaneously. He loved to bowl and was on the Master’s team in Eugene. He also served on the Eugene Men’s Bowling Association as a board mem- ber and president. He was an outdoorsman who had a pas- sion for rockhounding as well. Many family vacations were geared around the best rock hunting locations. He passed this hobby on to his children and grandchildren. On 28 August 1948, he mar- ried Evelyn “Joy” Imel in Cot- tage Grove. Th ey were married for 66 years before her passing on 19 January 2015. Keith met Joy at Lorane High School, where they both graduated in 1948. Th ey raised fi ve children: daughter, Kay (Conley) Phil- lips of Cottage Grove; daugh- ter, Rhonda (Robert Kerrison) Whetham of Fisher, ACT, Australia; son, Dan (Umi) Stiff of Tempur, Jawa Timar, Indo- nesia; daughter, Debra (Tom) Monsive of Cottage Grove; and daughter, Toni (Bruce) Bevard of Eugene. Keith is also sur- vived by 10 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandsons. He is also survived by his sister, Nita Bachelder of Springfi eld. A graveside service was held at 10:00 am on, Saturday, June 29th, at Fir Grove Cemetery in Cottage Grove. In lieu of fl ow- ers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. Arrangements are in the care of Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel in Cottage Grove. Barbara Irene (Bobbie) Michaelson Joey Deon Strebe 1924-2019 1969-2019 Barbara Irene (Bobbie) Mi- chaelson of Cottage Grove died on June 22, 2019, of complica- tions from Alzheimer’s. She was 95. She was born on Feb- ruary 12, 1924 in Holtville, CA to parents Irene (Viele) and George Hass. An important person who raised Barbara and was a father fi gure to her was Peter D. Kuiper. Barbara graduated from high school, and worked for Western Union at Ft. Lew- is, WA during WWII. Aft er- wards she was a stay-at-home mom. She enjoyed reading, playing bridge, bowling and crocheting. Barbara loved her community. She was generous in providing contributions to the OLPH Catholic Church in Cottage Grove, and the Cottage Grove Hospital. She married Clarence “Mike” E. Michaelson on March 29, 1947 in Tacoma, WA. She is survived by her daughter, Pam Duff y and hus- band, Dan, of Cottage Grove. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence E. Michaelson, and sons Steven and Kenneth. No service is planned. Arrangements are in the care of Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel in Cottage Grove. Joey Deon Strebe of Cottage Grove, OR died on June 8, 2019 at the age of 50. She was born on March 25, 1969 in Arcata, CA to parents Randy Cooper and Jeri Hunter (McCutch- eon). She attended Chemeke- ta Community College in Sa- lem, OR. She worked for U.S. Bank for more than 20 years. Joey enjoyed spending time in nature with her family, friends, and pets. She enjoyed plants, animals, and rocks. She loved to have gatherings and cam- pouts at her house. Joey mar- ried Jon Strebe on July 7, 2010 in Eugene, OR. She is survived by her parents; husband, Jon; daughters Jennett Hoch, Elissa Ivie, and Ivory Stillman, all of Springfi eld, OR; brother, Dax Cooper of Jeff erson, OR; and 5 grandchildren. A Memorial service will be held Saturday, July 13, at 2:00 pm at Smith- Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel, Cottage Grove, OR. Rose Marie Mootz, 88 1931 – 2019 Catholic Church in Cottage Grove. For over twenty five years, Rose was active in the Janice Jean Neely Altar Society, Catholic Daugh- 1927-2019 ters, the Society of the Sacred Janice Jean Neely went home to be with Jesus and her twin sister Jean Janice on June 16, 2019 at the age of 92. Jan was born along with her twin sister Jean to Myrtle and Roy Neely on February 12, 1927 in Grants Pass, Oregon. Her forebearers were pioneer settlers in the Grants Pass area. She had many cousins that she and Jean enjoyed playing games with and picking wild- fl owers. Jan graduated from Grants Pass High School in 1945 where she played on several sports teams. She graduated from the University of Ore- gon in 1949. She received her Masters Degree from the Uni- versity of Washington. Her fi rst teaching job was in Rose- burg teaching Health and P.E. In 1952 she moved to Cottage Grove where she taught Health and P.E. at Cottage Grove High School. Jan developed the girls’ sports program. Her favorite sport was tennis and her team went to state several times. She was named Teacher of the Year by the South Lane Education Association for 1971-72. She eventually went into counsel- ing and retired in 1987. Jan was inducted into the Cottage Grove High School Athlet- ics Hall of Fame on April 10, 2010. Th en in April of 2012 the Coach Neely Fitness Trail, a 2/3-mile loop trail was devel- oped and dedicated to honor her. Jan and Jean were always very close and aft er retirement they lived together in their house on the hill, traveled to It- aly, Africa, Alaska and Hawaii and hiked, camped, looked for rocks and searched for wild- fl owers. Th ey loved birds, ani- mals and all God’s creation. Th ey cared for their moth- er who continued to live in Grants Pass, taking turns driv- ing back and forth, oft en over treacherous, icy roads to honor their mother’s wish to stay in her own home. She fi nally ac- quiesced and moved to their home where she died one day short of her 100th birthday. Jan was a member at Riv- erside Community Church of God for all her years in Cot- tage Grove. Aft er retirement Jan and Jean became a force at the church. Together they developed a beautifully orga- nized Wednesday night pro- gram for children called Bible Explorers. Th e emphasis was on Bible memory work and understanding. Jan was church treasurer for several years, served on the board and main- tained an unending interest in the budget. Jan and Jean sang in the choir for many years. Jan worked in the church library and led a Sit and Be Fit exercise class in her eighties. Jan lost her beloved twin, Jean, in 2009. She moved to Magnolia Gardens in Decem- ber 2013 and enjoyed her life there very much. She was very active leading exercises oft en, playing Bingo, Skipbo and go- ing on many of the excursions. Jan loved sports all the days of her life. She always had a competitive spirit. She played badminton at 4th of July BBQs, racquet in one hand, cane in the other and hiked some of the Bohemia Mountain Trail in her 80’s. She maintained an avid interest in TV sports, es- pecially tennis and Duck foot- ball. Janice Jean Neely was an amazing woman who will be remembered and missed by many. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, July 20, 2019 at 2:00 PM at Riverside Commu- nity Church of God, Cottage Grove. Arrangements in the care of Smith-Lund-Mills Fu- neral Chapel, Cottage Grove, Oregon. Heart, and the Saint Vincent De Paul Society as well as oth- er ministries for the church. She performed many acts of mercy to help those in need. Rose was an active member of Rose Marie Mootz passed Al-Anon for many years where away peacefully at home. Rose she helped bring hope to those was born to her loving parents in despair. Charles and Marie Dvorak in Rose is survived by her South Gate, California. Rose children Pat (Julie Campbell) was the youngest of three chil- Mootz, Yelm, Washington; Me- dren. linda Denson, Springfield, Or- Rose graduated from Cal- egon; Chuck (Laurie) Mootz, ifornia State University at Cottage Grove, Oregon; Joseph Los Angeles with a degree in (Shannon) teaching. As her first teaching Grove, Oregon; Margie (Rick) assignment, Rose taught first Lawler, grade in Kettleman City, Cal- Matt (Arlene) Mootz, Canyon ifornia for mostly children of Country, migrant farm workers. (Stacie) Mootz, Cottage Grove, Mootz, Portland, California; Cottage Oregon; Mark In 1953, Rose married James Oregon; Monica (Kevin) Yoss, Thomas Mootz. Rose and Jim Cottage Grove, Oregon; Jim produced nine children in Mootz, Jr, Bentonville, Arkan- Norwalk, California before sas. Also surviving are twenty moving to Oregon in 1968. two grandchildren and thir- They settled their family on a teen great-grandchildren. Ros- forty acre ranch south of Cot- es’ sister Mildred Stock lives in tage Grove on the banks of the La Habra, California. Coast Fork of the Willamette Rose was preceded in death River where they lived for the by her parents Charles and Ma- next thirty two years before rie, husband James, her broth- moving to a home in Cottage er Gene, her son in law John, Grove. her granddaughter Skyla and All her life Rose was a nur- grandson Matthew. turing and kind teacher of The family wishes to thank young children. She taught Hospice of Sacred Heart for first grade at Blue Mountain their guidance and support. School from 1969 to 1974 Also, many thanks to all of and at London School from Rose’s caregivers for the won- 1974 to 1991. Rose loved her derful care provided for her in own children, grandchildren her last months. In lieu of flow- and ers, please consider donating to great-grandchildren. They were continually in her Saint Vincent De Paul. thoughts and prayers. She A Rosary will be held at encouraged them in all their 7pm, Friday, July 5th at Our endeavors and loved to be sur- Lady of Perpetual Help Cath- rounded by her family. olic Church in Cottage Grove. Rose loved gardening. Rose’s Funeral services will be held gardens produced much of the at 11:30am, Saturday, July 6th food for her young growing at Our Lady of Perpetual Help family. She produced many Catholic Church. Services will wonderful flower and food gar- be followed by a reception. A dens throughout her life. private burial will follow the Rose and Jim were devout reception. Arrangements made Catholics and active members by Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel. Final Arrangements Handled with Care • Cremation Options • Memorial & Funeral Planning • Monuments & Memorials • Cemetery Options • Family Owned & Operated 123 South 7th • Cottage Grove, Oregon 541.942.0185 • smithlundmills.com
