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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (July 13, 2016)
Polk County News 6A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • July 13, 2016 OBITUARIES Ryan Michael Clarence Smith March 18, 1980 – Oct. 15, 2015 Ryan Michael Clarence Smith, 35, of Salem, died on Oct. 15, 2015, unexpectedly of natural causes while at home in Salem. Ryan was born in Salem. Ryan was a child of God and will al- ways be remem- bered for his kind heart and l o v i n g spirit. Though his life was short, he left his family and friends with a lifetime of wonderful mem- ories. Ryan attended Sprague High School in Salem and was attending Chemeketa Community College for en- gineering at the time of his death. He was awarded the President’s Club honor for his academic achievements. Ry a n w o r k e d a t t h e Statesman Journal in the distribution center and as an engineer for Stonecreek Furniture in Phoenix, Ariz. He loved the outdoors and enjoyed camping, crab- bing, and snowboarding. Ryan loved animals, espe- cially his beloved dogs Rosa and Doc. Ryan is preceded in death by his grandparents, Jack and Betty Crider, of Dallas, and Chuck and Helen Smith, of Salem. His great-grand- parents, Tom and Jesse Har- wick, of Deer Lodge, Mon- tana and Clair and Peggy Baldwin, of Dallas, and his b r o t h e r - i n - l a w, D a l e Williams, of Salem also died before he did. Ryan is survived by his parents, Karen Smith-Hud- son, of Scottsdale, Ariz, and Mike Smith, of Salem; sis- ters, Bradi Johnson, of Phoenix, Ariz., and Kelli Smith, of Portland; step-fa- ther, Tony Hudson; and ex- tended family. Celebration of life will be on Saturday at the Dallas City Park in Dallas. His final resting place will be at the Dallas Cemetery next to his grandparents. In lieu of flowers, dona- tions may be made to the Humane Society of the Willamette Valley in Oregon in Ryan’s honor. Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center handled arrange- ments. Donald Cox Sr. May 11, 1952 – July 1, 2016 Donald Cox Sr., 64, of Dal- las, died July 1 in the Salem Hospital. Dave Guzman Dec. 16, 1937 - July 7, 2016 Dave Guzman, 78, of Salem, formerly of Keizer, died on Thursday as a result of complications from a devastating brain disease, progressive supra-nuclear palsy. He is survived by his four children, Jef- fery (Julie) Guzman, of Silverton; Jene’ (Derek) Ottele, of Keizer; Brian (Robin) Guzman, of Keizer; and Jolene Guzman of West Salem, as well as 13 grandchil- dren. Dave is now reunited with his bride, Judy, who preceded him in death in 2004. Born in Salem, Dave graduated from Serra Catholic, where he played basketball, ran track and played football. He was voted “Mr. Football.” He graduated from Linfield College, where he played foot- ball and ran track. Dave also served in the Oregon National Guard, retiring with a rank of first lieutenant. He grew up on an onion farm in Lake Labish, near Brooks, and helped his father run the farm throughout childhood and beyond. Dave’s career was in insurance sales, which he did for more than 30 years. He really poured his life into the many young people he coached in track and field. Known as “Da Guz” by his athletes, at Salem Academy in Salem, then George Fox University in Newberg, and lastly at North Salem High School in Salem. He coached until his disease’s symptoms became apparent. Dave mentored and shaped young lives in a quiet, yet fully engaged way. Many of his “track kids” became life- long friends. Although never one to speak of his own accomplishments, he retired as a highly successful sprint and relay coach, coach- ing many individuals and relay teams to state championships at the high school level. At the college level, he coached nu- merous athletes to All-American distinction and to a national championship. Lastly, more than his successes as a coach, Dave excelled as a man of God. He exhibited unwavering faith -- even in times of great sorrow and physical trials -- as a faithful hus- band, who cared for his wife when she became ill, and as the greatest father a child could ask for. His unconditional love, completely selfless character, and unique humor was rare in- deed, and will be missed every day, until we see him again. A celebration of Dave’s life will take place at 11 a.m. on Sat- urday at Salem Evangelical Church, 455 Locust St NE, Salem. Arrangements are being handled by Keizer Funeral Chapel. To send an online condolence, go to www.keizerchapel.com. 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. He was born in Portland to Marvin and Romaine Hall Cox. He graduated from Pa- cific High School in Port Or- ford. His father was in the Marines, and so the family lived all along the West Coast. He married Nancy Rose Whalen on Feb. 11, 1972, in Roseburg. They cele- brated 44 years to- gether. They lived in Bandon, where Don was a part of the vol- unteer fire department from 1975 to 1980. Their family moved to Dallas in 1980. In 1989, he joined the Polk County Sheriff ’s Depart- ment Reserves. He graduat- ed from the Police Academy in Monmouth in 1996, and was hired full time as a deputy sheriff for Polk County. He was with Polk County for 25 years. Don Sr. and his son, Don Jr., started the cadet pro- gram with the sheriff’s office during the time Ray Steele was in office. Don loved to fish, hunt, and camp, was a Green Bay Pa c k e r s f a n , e n j oye d NASCAR racing and fol- lowed driver Tony Stewart. He was a Cub Scout leader, baseball and softball coach with Kids, Inc., in Dal- las. Don received two life- saving awards with the sher- iff’s department while work- ing at the Polk Jail and was named Employee of the Year. He is survived by wife, Nancy, of Dallas; daughter Terisha Mott, of Beaverton; son Don Cox Jr., of Sheridan; two grandsons; sister, Janice Blanchfield, of Winston; and brothers, Marvin Cox Jr., of Canyonville, and Jerry Cox, of Portland. Memorial service will be at 11 a.m. on July 23 in the Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center. To leave an online tribute: www.dallastribute.com. John Walter Lekkerkerker “Big John,” 65, of Mon- mouth, died on July 6 fol- lowing an accident on his farm. He was born to Walt and Nellie Lekkerkerker in Pasadena, Calif. John and Gloria were married in Paramount, Calif., in 1972. They moved to Enumclaw, Wash., in 1977, where they soon start- ed their own dairy. John and Gloria lived in Enumclaw until 1990, when they moved to their present fami- ly farm in Monmouth. He worked hard every day of his life and had a natural talent of caring for his cows, not just for production — but for his genuine love of animals. He lived his life the way that he wanted others to, with honesty and integri- ty and humor. He enjoyed watching his boys play sports and then, as they grew up, watching sports with his boys. John is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife, “Glor”; five sons; seven grandchildren; two sisters; and extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Walt and Nel- lie, and older brother Bill. Celebration of life will be held at the Lekkerkerker Dairy in Monmouth on Sat- urday at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in loving mem- ory of John Lekkerkerker to any of the three following: Infusion Church, Attn: Scott DeLeeuw, 7707 W. Felicita Ave., Escondido, CA 92025; Santiam Christian Schools, 7220 NE Arnold Ave., Adair Village, OR 97330; or Mario Pastega House, 3505 NW Samaritan Drive, Corvallis, OR 97330. Arrangements are by Farnstrom Mortuary. Mem- ories and condolences at FarnstromMortuary.com. Maria De La Luz Gaona Aug. 31, 1945 – July 5, 2016 Viewing will be Thursday from noon to 5 p.m., fol- lowed by funeral service Fri- day at 1 p.m., both at Farn- strom Mortuary. Memories and condolences at Farn- stromMortuary.com. Nov. 10, 1950 – July 6, 2016 John Walter Lekkerkerker, Donald Richard Cobine June 2, 1928 – July 7, 2016 Salem 412 Lancaster Drive NE Salem, OR 97301 (503) 581-6265 Low Cost Cremation & Burial Funerals & Memorials Simple Direct Cremation $495 Simple Direct Burial $610 Traditional Funeral $2,175 Discount priced Caskets, Urns and other Memorial items. Privately owned cremation facility. Locally owned and operated by Oregon families. www.ANewTradition.com Donald (Huff) Cobine, 88, of Independence, died on Thursday. He was born in Buena Vista to Charles and Willa Cobine. The Cobine family ances- tors arrived in the Willamette Va l l e y i n 1898 by steamboat and have been Cen- tury Farm- ers in the area ever since. Donald attended Independ- ence High School in the 1940s and enlisted with the U.S. Navy in 1944. As a teenager, he was trained to pilot the Buena Vista Ferry. This nautical ex- perience prepared him for his position as a landing craft specialist in San Diego. He was honorably dis- ~ Polk County’s ONLY Family Owned Funeral Homes ~ charged in 1945 as a World War II veteran. He then joined the U.S. Merchant Marines in 1951 and re- turned to the Independence area in 1953. In 1958, Donald married the love of his life, Dalene M. O’Harra. Donald began his career with hop bundling, logging on the Willamette River, car- pentry at Gill Coliseum and finally settled on farming in the Willamette Valley. He was an exceptional farmer raising crops of strawberries, marionberries, raspberries, bush beans, pole beans, wheat and orchards of cher- ries and Italian prunes. He farmed for more than 70 years and would still be farming today if he hadn’t fallen off of his beloved trac- tor. He enjoyed hunting, fish- ing, camping and was a true historian, traveling the Unit- ed States in his retirement years and documenting local history. Donald is preceded in death by Melody Cobine Ciotti. Survivors include wife, Dalene Cobine; children, Daniel Cobine, Cindy Cobine Dale (Rod Killen), Wilona Cobine, Marian Fitts (Robert); and eight grand- children; and five great- grandchildren. Memorial service in his honor will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. at Farnstrom Mor- tuary, with graveside servic- es at Buena Vista Cemetery and a reception to follow at the Buena Vista Community Church. To leave an online tribute: www.Farnstrom- Mortuary.com. Nina Marie Buce May 15, 1956 – June 23, 2016 Nina Marie Buce, 60, for- merly of Dallas, died on June 23 in Salem. She was born to Maria Aguilar in Edinburg, Texas. They lived in Alamo, Texas, until moving to Marion in 1962, to Jefferson in 1963, and then to Valsetz in 1967. Nina was very active in high school, earning letters in track, volleyball and bas- ketball. She was a c h e e r - leader and the Sweet- heart’s Ball Queen before graduating in 1974. She loved to throw parties and entertain friends, and she had a won- derful sense of humor, al- ways making people laugh wherever she went. She married Walter Buce Jr. in 1974. Nina worked for Boise Cascade in Valsetz as a re- ceptionist before moving to Dallas in 1980. She held var- ious jobs in retail and also worked for Adult and Family Services. She attended Merrit Davis trade school in 1982 and 1983, to become a medical assistant. Eventually, she de- cided to be a stay-at-home mom to raise her children and take care of the home. She enjoyed house proj- ects like painting and mak- ing the home warm and inviting. She also enjoyed gardening. She loved to attend her son’s wrestling meets. You would always see her sitting in the stands rooting him on all through middle school, high school and college. She enjoyed family camping trips to Detroit during the summer. Nina is preceded in death by her mother, Maria Thrift. Survived by daughter, Rachel Taylor (Ryan), of Salem; son, Jason Buce (Michelle), of West Linn; sis- ter, Carmen Grossnicklaus (Kevin), of Salem; and three grandchildren. Private family services will be held. Shirley Mae Klassen March 11, 1927 – July 3, 2016 Service are currently pending for Shirley Klassen, who died on July 3. Farn- strom Mortuary is handling arrangements. Melvin B. Lytle May 15, 1932 - July 8, 2016 Melvin B. Lytle, 84, of Dal- las, died on Friday. He was born in Kalispell, Mont., to Melvin and Ruth Lytle (Rich). Melvin found his way to the area of Dallas, where he would spend the next 60 years of his life. Melvin spent his time working at the local mill, retir- ing in 1994 f r o m Willamette Industries. Me l v i n married the love of his life, Charlene Tarter, on June 25, 1953. Brother Kenneth Lytle, sister Ruby Schupert, and granddaughter Tara Kadel died before he did. Survived by wife, Char- lene; daughter, Bev (Don) Teal; sons, Bryan Lytle, Jeff Lytle, and Darren (Tienne) Lytle; brothers, Robert Lytle and Terry Rich; seven grand- children; and 10 great- grandchildren. Viewing will be Friday at 3:30 p.m., with a celebration of life at 4:30 p.m., both at Farnstrom Mortuary. A potluck reception will follow at Independence Women’s Club. Please bring a favorite dish and memory to share. Farnstrom Mortuary is handling arrangements. To leave an online tribute: FarnstromMortuary.com. Harriett Marie Guild Wilson Sept. 8, 1928 – July 1, 2016 Harriett Marie Guild Wil- son, 87, of Dallas, died July 1 at her home. She was born in Inde- pendence to Joel Lynn and Lois L. House Guild. She grew up in Independ- ence, where she graduated from high school. In 1955, she married Thomas E. Wilson in Steven- son, Wash. They made their home in Dallas. Harriett worked for the Polk County Assessor’s office as a clerk, retiring in August of 1993. She enjoyed watercolor painting, photography, ce- ramics and counted-cross stitch needle work. She is survived by hus- band, Tom, of Dallas; daugh- ters, Jamie Wall, of Salem, and Tracy Wilson, of Dallas; and one grandson. Private inurnment will be in the Dallas Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Willamette Valley Hu- mane Society or to Willamette Valley Hospice, in care of the Dallas Mortu- ary Tribute Center, 287 SW Washington St., Dallas, OR 97338. To leave an online tribute: www.dallastribute.com.