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.