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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 6, 2016)
Polk County News Polk County Itemizer-Observer • January 6, 2016 13A OBITUARIES Carolyn Overstreet Heath March 7, 1944 – Dec. 16, 2015 Carolyn Overstreet Heath, 71, died Dec. 16 in Salem. There will be a drop-in memorial gathering from 3 to 7 p.m. on Jan. 16 at An- nette’s Restaurant, 1311 Edgewater St. NW, in West Salem. James ‘Jim’ Francis Feehan May 6, 1933 – Dec. 28, 2015 James, “Jim” Francis Fee- han, 82, of Grand Ronde, died Dec. 28 in McMinnville as a result of Alzheimer’s dis- ease. He was born in Dublin, Ireland. At the age of 20, Jim trav- eled by boat to America w i t h dreams of eventually reaching Alaska. Instead he fell in love with Oregon and settled in Port- land where he worked for the railroad until being drafted into the Army. After the service, he began his 40-year career at the Oregonian newspaper. He became an American citizen on St. Patrick’s Day in 1960. While working at the Ore- gonian, Jim met co-worker Barbara McKnight at a Port- land Buckaroos hockey match. It i s l o s t t o h i s t o r y whether the Buckaroos won that night; however Jim had a victory when Barbara agreed to accompany him to another hockey game. They were married in Portland on April 23, 1970. W h i l e Ji m l ove d h i s adopted home in the states, he also prioritized maintain- ing connection with his Irish family, traveling home to Ireland regularly. After retiring, Jim and Barbara traveled throughout the West and Hawaii. As he had throughout his life, he continued to priori- tize his time with family. Jim will be remembered as a lov- ing, humorous, life-loving, and epic story teller. Survivors include his lov- ing wife, Barbara; daughters, Kathleen and Bernadette; three grandsons; and ex- tended family. Funeral Mass is Wednes- day (today) at 10:30 a.m. at St. Michael’s Church in Grand Ronde followed by in- terment at the Grand Ronde cemetery. A fellowship meal will be served at the Tribal Elder’s Center. Contributions are sug- gested to the Oregon Chap- ter of the Alzheimer’s Associ- ation. Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center handled arrange- ments. To send an online tribute: www.dallastribute.com. Gary L. King Dec. 14, 1949 – Nov. 23, 2015 Gary L. King, 65, of Burns died Nov. 23 in Burns. He was born in Dallas to Ivan and Betty King. Gary graduated from Cen- tral High School in 1968 and was named to the Central Sports Hall of Fame. He had lived his entire life in Oregon. He was preceded in death by his father, Ivan King. Survivors include his mother, Betty King; brother, Dan King; children, Lacy, Brady, Jason and Jennifer; and a large extended family. Memorial service will be held in the spring. Gary Lee Wilson Aug. 30, 1950 – Dec. 15, 2015 Celebration of life for Gary Lee Wilson is Friday at 2 p.m. at Partnerships in Community Living in Mon- mouth. Farnstrom Mortuary in Independence handled arrangements. To send an online tribute: www.FarnstromMortuary. com. Mike Mattern Sept. 27, 1951 – Dec. 30, 2015 Mike Mattern, 64, of Dal- las died Dec. 30. He was born in McMin- nville to John and Helen Mattern. He grew up with his siblings in McMin- nville in the same house his father still lives in. In high school, he played football and went to state in gymnastics. He also played the clar- inet and saxophone and went to Mt. Hood Commu- nity College to study music and play in the jazz band. He wanted to become a music teacher. He met and married Terry. After five years they adopted Sarah and later Mandy. He started working at McMin- nville Water and Light and continued for 30 years. They divorced and he married Roselle in 1995. Mike embraced Roselle’s five children and he com- muted to the Water and Light from Dallas until 2004 when he retired. He took a job at Perrydale Water Association in 2010 where he worked until his death. Mike was very active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he served diligently and self- lessly in bishoprics, Sunday schools and young men’s or- ganizations. He and Roselle loved tak- ing trips to the coast, eastern Oregon and Mike recently bought a canoe so Roselle could go fishing and “out- fish” with him on the lake. He was a beloved Papa to his grandchildren. He often had a baby in his arms, a toddler hanging on his leg or little girl coloring beside him. He was a wise and kind friend who could make any- one smile. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Dixie Hazel- ton; and mother, Helen Mat- tern. Survivors include his wife, Roselle Mattern; children, Sarah Ogsaen, Mandy Mat- tern, Danae Winder, Teresa Crossley, Jared Brown, and Amanda Brown; father, John Mattern; sisters, Penny Piper, Kathy Hopton; broth- er, Scott Mattern; and 23 grandchildren. Service was Tuesday at The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints in Dal- las. Interment followed at Mt. Olive Cemetery in Hills- boro. Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center handled arrange- ments. To send an online tribute: www.dallastribute.com. Esther E. Olsen Classen Feb. 10, 1923 – Jan. 1, 2016 Esther E. Olsen Classen, 92, of Dallas died Friday. She was born in Ya n k t o n , S.D. Esther married her child- h o o d s w e e t - heart, Verlyn Olsen, and they had three children, who married and blessed them with six beautiful grandchil- dren; 11 great-grandchil- dren; and six great-great- grandchildren. Esther’s family was one of the most important things in her life and she loved spending time with them. She loved the word of God and to sing hymns and songs of praise to her beloved Savior. Memorial service is Jan. 16 at 1:30 p.m. at South Salem Church of The Nazarene, 1661 Boone Road SE, Salem. Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center handled arrange- ments. To send an online tribute: www.dallastribute.com. Wilma Louise Tolley Rogers Aug. 3, 1923 – Dec. 19, 2015 Wi l m a L o u i s e To l l e y Rogers, 92, of Neotsu, for- merly of Dallas, died Dec. 19 in Neotsu. She was born in Omaha, Ill., to Martin Tolley and Bessie Glover Tolley. She grew up in southern Illinois and entered college at Southern Illinois Univer- sity in 1941. During World War II, Wilma was offered a job as a journalist for The Panta- graph newspaper in Bloom- ington, Ill. Her journalism career led her to Pueblo, Colo., in 1951, where she met and married her hus- band, Howard A. Rogers. The family lived in Col- orado and California before a career in the Christmas tree growing industry led them to Olympia, Wash., in 1966. Wilma started a career as a teacher and librarian at St. M i c h a e l ’s E l e m e n t a r y School. She continued her educa- tion at Pacific Lutheran Uni- versity in Tacoma, Wash., at- taining a Bachelor of Arts in Education and a Master of Arts in Library Science. The couple relocated to Dallas in 1980, where Wilma worked in the library at Chemeketa Community College until retiring in 1988. In Dallas, she was a mem- ber of St. Thomas Episcopal Church and helped establish the Delbert Hunter Arbore- tum and Botanical Garden. Wilma made a final move to Neotsu in 2004. She was ac- tive in St. James Episcopal Church in Lincoln City. Wilma will be remem- bered for her lifetime love of reading and gardening. She is preceded in death by her husband, Howard A. Rogers and daughter, Melin- da Cowdery. Survivors include her daughters, Julie Peters of Salem and Emily Rogers of Neotsu; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchil- dren. Contributions are sug- gested to the St. James Santi- ago School, P.O. Box 789, Lincoln City, OR 97367. Obituary Information Obituary information must be submitted by 4 p.m. on the Monday before publication to be included in the newspaper. Most funeral homes handle obituary information. Howev- er, information can also be submitted directly by family members. Photos will be published in black and white. The Itemizer- Observer uses a flag logo in the obituaries of those who served in the U.S. armed forces. Obituaries — like all infor- mation submitted to the news department — are subject to editing for style, content and length. Information can be brought or mailed to the Itemizer-Ob- server , 147 SE Court St., Dallas, OR 97338, or emailed to ionews@polkio.com. Two Polk gardeners honored Trees: Demand is high, supply low Jiricek, Walton recognized for years of Extension service Itemizer-Observer staf report C O R VA L L I S — Tw o dozen Oregonians from around the state received the year’s highest honors from Oregon State Univer- sity’s Extension Association at a banquet Dec. 9 at the CH2M Hill Alumni Center in Corvallis. “Our volunteers are the backbone of Extension,” said Deborah Maddy, asso- ciate provost for University Outreach and Engagement, in a press release. “They bring so much talent and skills to the organization, including that most pre- cious commodity — their time. We want to honor the dedication of individuals and businesses that have significant impacts on our educational programs.” Three other Extension suppor ters were hon- ored by Epsilon Sigma Phi, a national organiza- tion of Extension profes- sionals. OSUEA Cooperator Awards Volunteers with less than 10 years of service from Polk County: John Jiricek, Polk County: A skilled culinary expert, Jiricek became a Master Food Preserver two years ago and has used his ex- pertise to answer questions a n d g i ve g u i d a n c e a t farmer’s markets and other venues. He also represents the county’s Family and Com- munity Health program on the Polk Extension Citizen Advisory Network. His many connections in the community have bene- fited Extension with an in- creased network of sup- porters. Five other volunteers from throughout Oregon were honored with this award. Volunteers with more than 10 years of service in Polk County: John Walton, Polk Coun- ty: Walton and his family have been involved in 4-H and Extension agriculture programs for more than 50 years. Walton, who is livestock nutrition specialist at Wilco stores in McMinnville, has served on the Polk County Livestock Association Board of Directors, currently as president. Under his leadership, the association’s auction profits have grown to more than $200,000. Walton has supported 4- H educational programs in Polk and Yamhill counties. Walton was one of six volunteers to receive this recognition. The Extension also rec- ognized businesses or or- ganizations, and friends of Extension at its annual ban- quet. Created in 1911, the Ore- gon State University Exten- sion Service provides the public with easy-to-under- s t a n d , re s e a rc h - b a s e d knowledge through work- shops, hotlines, about 900 publications, online assis- tance, videos, and faculty in each of Oregon’s 36 coun- ties. It adapts the research for practical, local uses by farm- ers, ranchers, foresters, fam- ilies, gardeners, youths, sen- iors and coastal residents. Its programs include 4-H and Master Gardeners. Continued from Page 1A As an industry, Christmas trees were in demand. “There was an oversupply for a number of years,” Norby said. “We seemed to have worked through that oversupply, with some peo- ple getting cautious about re- planting.” Christmas trees grow on about an eight-year cycle, so Norby said to expect a couple more years of even shorter supply. “Prices are probably going to go up,” he said. “The thing we’re going to have to resist is pushing our prices up too far and pushing people from natural to artificial trees.” EMILY MENTZER/Itemizer-Observer With the season over, tree farmers will start replanting. Joyful Sound Hearing 312 Main Street • Dallas • Hearing Testing • Hearing Aids • Service Call today for your FREE Consultation Mark Sturtevant 503-623-0290 Personally involved and invested in the Dallas community Welcoming new patients. Most insurance health plans accepted. Also a Moda preferred provider. 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