4A • August 19, 2016 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com
SignalViewpoints
On the Oregon road
to sunny California
Bring back the
moustaches of
days gone by
S
I
ummer vacation is something of an anomaly when
you live in a vacation town. You are working in the
community when everyone else is coming here for
fun. It is a real-life Bizarro world and if you follow
the logic, when you are on vacation, you should go
someplace where everybody else is working.
But that wouldn’t be very much fun.
So that’s why we took a vacation to other places where
people go to vacation.
Traveling with a dog — Lucy the min-pin — (I’m not
sure which one is
more stressful or
diffi cult, traveling
SEEN FROM SEASIDE
with a dog or a child)
R.J. MARX
adds another layer.
One hotel we stayed
at made us sign a
$300 wee-wee clause.
When you’re a dog owner you’ll sign anything.
First stop was Eugene, where we ate braised lamb and
pita sandwiches at Albee’s NY Gyros and walked Lucy for
hours before she emptied her bladder.
We lunched in Grants Pass, with its “caveman” motif (I
still don’t know what that’s about) and main street banner
reading “It’s the Climate,” hung in 1920, conceived and paid
for by local road contractor John Hampshire.
We fi rst visited Ashland in 1991 when it was a sleepy lit-
tle village. It’s changed — today it is a mini-metropolis fi lled
with beautiful homes, streets, stores, scenery, along with
high fi re risk and heat. No, we didn’t see a show. We worked
to train Lucy to be a cafe dog, and she performed admirably,
cozying under our feet as we sipped Americanos and read
The Ashland Tidings.
In Oregon you learn that if you’re going to travel I-5 to
Cali, do it in the early morning or late afternoon when the
heat moderates.
Oregonians warned us: “Vacationing to the state of Cal-
ifornia is known to cause cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm.” But hey, there is life after Tom McCall.
While we thought we might wilt along I-5 through Weed,
Redding and Chico for Highway 20 to Mendocino.
Mendocino is a Sunset Magazine destination known far
and wide for its sturdy headlands, swirling ocean waters
and Andrew Wyeth homes. A getaway from urban life? Not
always. When we were last there it was 1991 and the tiny
city was fi lled with fi lm trucks as Hollywood types lensed
the Julia Roberts fi lm “Forever Young.”
A quarter-century later, we didn’t see any fi lm trucks but
every restaurant and cafe was packed, reservations manda-
tory. A cabin for rent in the center of town was the perfect
place to bivouac, as Lucy enjoyed a private courtyard and we
soaked in the hot tub.
Lucy was our goodwill ambassador wherever we went,
though we kept a close hold on her leash as we strolled those
daunting and dangerous cliffs with swirling waters hundreds
of feet below, creating a dizzying Hitchcockian whirpool
missing only the Bernard Herrmann score.
Mendocino is a portrait of a vacation town, replete with
an international clientele, including two visitors from our old
stomping grounds of New York City. They seemed baffl ed
we had no itinerary — theirs was a winery visit, a garden
tour and every potter along the coast.
We had been warned about the long distances from
California to Oregon along Highway 101, but it was some-
thing we had to experience. We spent a tiring but glorious
was truly sorry to learn of the death of Dr. Warren
Lovell on July 15. I had heard this news from a fami-
ly member two days before the obituary was printed.
I had always hoped to meet Warren in person because
he was so helpful to me in our telephone conversations
about my hus-
band Jim when
he was so sick.
SCENE & HEARD
Jim and Warren
CLAIRE
LOVELL
were cousins.
Regrettably, the
paper came out
after my chance
to at least say goodbye.
In taking my usual walk around the neighborhood,
I decided to fi nd out how many steps it entailed. It
wasn’t easy, using my hand and fi ngers to tick off the
numbers. I got up to about 1,500 when someone on the
route stopped to talk and I lost the place. Anyway, it was
certainly not 10,000 — a popular goal. I imagine it’s
about 1,600. A pedometer would help, and whatever the
distance, I need to keep at it.
With all the politicking we’re being subjected to,
I’ve been surprised at the many leaders who continue to
speak about our government as a democracy. We don’t
have a democracy. It’s called a Constitutional Repub-
lic! I should stop watching television. It irritates me so
much. Sometimes, even and especially our animadver-
tive candidates.
For Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day — I forgot
which — a special friend brought me a white azalea.
That’s always been a favorite fl ower of mine because
of the pretty old song “When the White Azaleas Start
Blooming;” and that’s the only line I know. My daugh-
ter, who owns the green thumb in our family, planted it
for me and it was nicely thriving. Imagine my dismay
when I looked out the window on Saturday and instead
of a husky green plant, there remained a hole where
someone or something had removed it. Do raccoons
like azaleas? That is the second one I’ve lost. There
was another given to me as a memento of my sister Alta
Mae’s funeral and it died, too. I considered the new one
a replacement. It’s most distressing. Whether one is fi ve
years old or 95, as the case may be, life’s small pleasures
are very important.
I think the “bald is beautiful” line came from chemo-
therapy, but I am getting tired of deliberate Daddy War-
bucks heads among so many men. Hair is fair, so there.
I like well-trimmed hair and do not like grungy beards.
How about a neatly trimmed moustache á la Clark Gable
or Ronald Coleman? OK, so I may be an anachronism.
Holladay Drive is really lookin’ good. It shouldn’t be
long now. I would have liked to see some dates in the
cement but everything can’t be perfect. When the barri-
ers are gone, life will be so beautiful! Thanks, guys.
R.J. MARX/SEASIDE SIGNAL
Sculpture in Grants Pass celebrates Oregon tradition.
day trundling up the coast, bypassing Eureka, Crescent City
and Trinidad as we headed north. Bandon, Coos Bay, Pacifi c
City, Bay City — all went by faster than you can say “beach
bill.”
By end of day we pulled in to the Best Western and
signed our promises to keep Lucy well behaved or else. Flor-
ence is a wonderful small city with boats and bars and a bay.
We dined at the spectacular Bay Depot — we were advised
to make reservations months ago, and we did — and returned
back to the hotel to either watch the tail end of the Demo-
cratic convention or The Real Housewives of Melbourne,
I’m not sure which.
My takeaway was a perspective on where we live — the
South County, Seaside, Cannon Beach and Gearhart.
On my return, standing in a long line at the Pacifi c Way, I
didn’t think, “I wish this line would hurry up, grrr, c’mon.”
Instead I waited patiently. Another peculiar local experience
I’ve come to enjoy: stopping the car in the middle of the road
and chatting with pedestrians through the window. I think
they call that “tarrying.” My wife considered it the ultimate
victory when I returned to Gearhart and accidentally left my
cellphone at home.
I understand why some people would go on vacation
when all the others come to town. And maybe it does
make sense to go into the city when it’s a hot weekend and
everybody else is at the beach. You might be able to elbow
some of those out-of-towners in Portland off the line at
some of the city’s trendier restaurants. You might be able to
have a quiet night without fi recrackers, surreys and surging
crowds.
With volleyball here and Hood to Coast around the cor-
ner, we’ll just blend in with a nod and a wink. We’re getting
our summer vacation right were we live, Fido by our side.
Laugh Line
An irritated wife said to her indolent husband, “If
it weren’t for my money, that Rolex on your wrist
wouldn’t be here.” She further added, “If it weren’t for
my money, this comfortable, expensive chair you’re
sitting in wouldn’t be here.” And then the coup de grace,
“If it weren’t for my money, that Mercedes in the drive-
way wouldn’t be here.”
“Madame,” he told her, “if it weren’t for your money,
I wouldn’t be here!” (Courtesy of John Hagee.)
OBITUARIES
Nancy Lee DeVey
John C. ‘Jack’ Reierson
Oct. 13, 1937 — July 18, 2016
Sept. 18, 1935 — Aug. 13, 2016
Nancy Lee DeVey was
delivered to the angels in the
same manner in which she was
born: surrounded by love. Nan-
cy was born Oct. 13, 1937, to
William and Mabel Brooks in
Allegan, Michigan. She grew
up in Michigan, and attended
Otsego High School, where she
enjoyed acting and excelled in
theater.
After graduation, Nancy be-
came a licensed cosmetologist.
She and her fi rst husband, Dick
Walter, owned and operated
The Hair Loft, a popular beauty
salon in Plainwell, Michigan.
When her marriage ended she
moved to Cannon Beach, Ore-
gon, to start a new life with her
two young sons, Brent and Da-
rin. As a single mother, Nancy
worked hard and also earned
her associate’s degree. While
working at the Cannon Beach
Conference Center, she met
William DeVey, and they were
married in 1978.
Nancy was a gifted artist
who always strove to improve
her skills. She enjoyed learning
from others, and shared what
she knew about art and painting
freely, earning her many friends
in the art world. She especially
loved the art classes taught by
Barbara Evers. She eventually
opened Color by You, a paint-
your-own-pottery and coffee
shop in Cannon Beach.
Nancy Lee DeVey
As seen in her art, Nancy
saw beauty in everything, and
did her best to be beautiful in-
side, as well as out. She was a
very kind, patient, caring, gen-
erous and selfl ess person. Nan-
cy loved peace and tranquility,
allowing others around her
to talk for hours and not say a
thing. She was also very loyal to
everyone; others knew that she
would keep their confi dence,
and that she would not engage
in gossip. She disliked manip-
ulation and condescending be-
havior from others.
She loved the Oregon rain as
much as a beautiful sunny day,
and loved her coastal walks on
the beach when there was fog.
Nancy loved animals of all
kinds, but her favorite sound
was hearing the birds singing
while she was out walking. As
PUBLISHER
EDITOR
David F. Pero
R.J. Marx
much as she cared for nature,
Nancy cared for those around
her as well; she contributed and
volunteered with many several
organizations, and often helped
to care for the less-fortunate. As
she had a strong faith in Jesus
Christ, she would often turn to
passages in her Bible — or as
she named it, her “Jesus Call-
ing” book — when she was
seeking perspective.
Nancy courageously battled
stage IV cancer since October
2013, but on the night of July
18, 2016, Jesus came with an-
gels and took Nancy’s pain and
suffering away. Her faith made
her new again, and took her to
a place where pain and sickness
don’t exist. Her son, Darin, was
with her, holding and kissing
her hand when she passed from
this realm.
All who knew Nancy will
deeply miss her kind, loving and
peaceful nature. She is survived
by her husband, Bill DeVey;
and two sons, Brent Walter and
Darin Walter, and his partner
Michael Morse. She is also sur-
vived by stepdaughter Annette
King, and her daughter Anika.
Nancy was preceded in death
by her parents, as well as her
sister Carlene Arndt. In addition
to her family, Nancy leaves be-
hind many, many friends, much
beautiful art, and memories of a
warm smile and open heart.
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John C. “Jack” Reierson
died peacefully in his home
on Aug. 13, 2016, in Warren-
ton, Oregon, at the age of 80.
A longtime resident of the
Nehalem Valley, Jack was
born on Sept. 18, 1935, in Port-
land, Oregon, to his parents,
Fay (Raymond) and Lawrence
Reierson of Elsie. He grew up
on the family’s homestead on
Humbug Creek near Camp 18,
graduating from Jewell High
School in 1954.
In 1956, he married Hele-
na Hanthorn. The Reiersons
settled in the Jewell area, rais-
ing four children. Jack was a
timber faller for more than
40 years, working for several
logging operations and own-
ing his business, Reierson
Contract Cutting Inc.
Jack enjoyed the outdoors,
and was an avid hunter and
fi sherman. He also enjoyed
sports, coaching Babe Ruth
League, cheering for his
grandchildren at their various
sporting events, and attend-
ing many baseball games.
Jack was a voracious reader
and family historian. Over the
years, Jack traveled to many
places, including Mexico,
New Zealand, and Norway.
He and Helena enjoyed
many road trips, visiting na-
tional parks and extended
family. They also attended
John Reierson
and hosted family reunions,
including the annual Reierson
Camp-Outs located through-
out Oregon. Jack and Helena
celebrated their 50th wedding
anniversary in 2006.
Jack is survived by his son
and daughter-in- law, Len-
ny and Vickie Reierson of
Medford, Oregon; his daugh-
ters and sons-in- law, Teri
and Lee Banta of Astoria,
Oregon, and Tami and Don
Doyle of Clatskanie, Oregon;
his brother, Lawrence Reier-
son of Monterey, California;
10 grandchildren, Erin, Sean,
Jodi and Casey Doyle, Jake,
Josh, Cole and Chance
Banta, and Bobbi and Sarah
Reierson; and one great-grand-
daughter, McKinsey McDon-
ald. He is preceded in death
by his wife, Helena; his son,
Seaside Signal
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1555 N. Roosevelt,
Seaside, OR 97138.
503-738-5561
seasidesignal.com
The Seaside Signal welcomes letters to the
editor. The deadline is noon Monday prior to
publication. Letters must be 400 words or less
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that submissions be limited to one letter per
month. Send to 1555 N. Roosevelt Drive,
Seaside, OR 97138, drop them off at 1555 N.
Roosevelt Drive or fax to 503-738-9285.
Or email rmarx@seasidesignal.com
John; and his sisters, Lena
Metzler, Nellie Ober, Millie
Storie and Ruby Kliever.
A rosary service will be held
on Aug. 20, 2016, at Our Lady
of Victory Catholic Church in
Seaside, Oregon, at 10 a.m.,
with a funeral service at 10:30
a.m. A graveside burial will be
held at 1 p.m., following the
funeral, at the Elsie Cemetery.
A reception will then be held
after the graveyard service at
Camp 18, around 2 p.m. The
public is welcome.
In lieu of fl owers, please
make donations to Jewell
School Scholarships.
Hughes-Ransom Mortu-
ary & Crematory in Seaside is
in charge of the arrangements.
Visit www.hughes-ransom.
com to share memories and
sign the guest book.
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