Page 18
The INDEPENDENT, May 2, 2012
Obituary
MAUREEN “IRISH” BRUERS
Maureen “Irish” Bruers, 81,
Vernonia, died April 18, 2012. A
memorial mass was held April
28 at St. Mary Catholic Church,
followed by a private family
graveside service.
Mrs. Bruers was born Janu-
ary 7, 1931, in Worthington,
Minnesota, to John “Jack”
Michael and Mildred Mae
(Smith) Ryan. When she was
five years old her mother died in
a car accident. When her father
remarried, her step-mother
changed her name from Colleen
to Maureen. She was raised in
Rapid City, South Dakota, and
Newberg. She graduated from
St. Mary’s of the Valley in 1948
and was the class salutatorian.
She attended the University of
Portland for one year in their
nursing program, then went to
General Beadle State Teachers
College in S. Dak. where she
earned an associate degree.
"A Trusted Name in Funeral Service"
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Peni Flores
Third Generation
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Jeffrey & Kathryn Hoyt,
Gregory & Rachel Hoyt,
Ross Mathews, Dan Raney,
Samantha Humphrey,
Peni Flores.
Attendant: Ray Pelster
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E-mail: Fuitenrosehoyt@aol.com
To sign the online guest book or send
a condolence to the family, go to:
www.fuitenrosehoyt.com
She graduated with a BA in ed-
ucation from Mankato State
Teachers College. She taught in
Jackson, Minn., and for the U.S.
Air Force.
In 1962, she married Don
Bruers. They made their home
in California, then Idaho, before
moving to Vernonia in 1975.
They owned and operated the
Pine Cone Restaurant for sever-
al years, and she taught school
as a substitute, and taught pre-
school and religious education.
She also did home child care.
She enjoyed volunteering
with the St. Vincent DePaul So-
ciety, reading, gardening, bak-
ing, quilting, sewing, and going
for car rides.
She was preceded in death
by her husband, and her son,
Michael “Micky”.
Survivors include her daugh-
ter, Kathleen Spinden of Ver-
nonia, and four grandchildren.
Duyck & VanDeHey Funeral
Home was in charge of arrange-
ments.
EARLINE N. COULOMBE
Earline Nancy Coulombe, 71,
Hillsboro, died April 17, 2012.
Private interment has been held.
Mrs. Coulombe was born
January 4, 1941, in Meeker,
Colorado, to Earl E. and Edith A.
(Hunt) Myrick. She was raised in
Grandview, Washington. She at-
tended nursing school and
earned a degree as a registered
nurse. She lived in Odessa,
Texas, Bakersfield, California,
and Seattle, Wash., before mov-
ing to the Hillsboro area in 1985.
She worked at Merix Corpora-
tion as a circuit board technician
for many years before retiring in
1999.
She enjoyed sewing, quilting,
and playing games on Face-
book.
Survivors include her three
daughters, Pamela Martin of
Naches, Wash., Anna Martin of
McMinnville, and Edith Cou-
lombe of Buxton; two brothers,
Ray Myrick of Aumsville, and
Larry Myrick of Yamhill; two sis-
ters, Jana Myrick of Manning,
and Carol Reece of Olympia,
Wash.; 10 grandchildren and
seven great-grandchildren.
Remembrances are suggest-
ed to St. Jude’s Children’s Hos-
pital in Tennessee.
Tualatin Valley Funeral Alter-
natives was in charge of
arrangements.
GERLEEN IVY CROSSMAN
Gerleen Ivy Crossman, 85,
Banks, died April 17, 2012. A
service was held April 21 at
Union Point Cemetery in Banks.
Mrs. Crossman was born Au-
gust 14, 1926, in Pauls Valley,
Oklahoma, to Edgar Leroy
Shaddon and Rosie Bell Pruitt.
She was raised in Okla. and
Arkansas.
In 1951, she married Herman
K. Crossman. They made their
home in Redondo Beach, Cali-
fornia, before moving to the
Banks area in 1959. She
worked for Bird’s Eye Cannery
in Hillsboro for several years.
She enjoyed crocheting,
camping, fishing, gardening,
and talking about Jesus.
She was preceded in death
by her husband; a brother, Joe
Shaddon; and a sister, Shirley
Shaddon.
Survivors include four sons,
David Crossman of Banks, Roy
Crossman of Redmond, Pastor
Michael Crossman of Hillsboro,
and Luther Crossman of
Yamhill; two stepchildren, Ken-
neth Crossman, and Phyllis
Crossman of Texas; four broth-
ers, Lonnie Shaddon of Mans-
field, Ark., Leroy Shaddon of
Dover, Ark., Frank Shaddon and
Donnie Shaddon, both of Wal-
dron, Ark.; one sister, Bonnie
Dale of Banks; 11 grandchil-
dren, 21 great-grandchildren,
nieces and nephews.
Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral
Home in Forest Grove was in
charge of arrangements.
LOUISE E. LARSON
Louise Elizabeth Larson, 95,
Forest Grove, died April 18,
2012. A memorial service was
held April 28 in Forest Grove.
Mrs. Larson was born Sep-
tember 9, 1916, in Astoria, to
George Edward and Anna
(Pauline) Beck Kruckman. She
graduated from Astoria High
School in 1934, then from the
University of Oregon. She later
earned a Master’s Degree from
Portland State University.
In 1941, she married Gordon
G. Larson. After his discharge
from the U.S. Navy, they made
their home in Newberg, Vernon-
ia, Banks, and then Forest
Grove. She taught school in
Banks for 25 years, until she re-
tired in 1983, then taught as a
volunteer.
She enjoyed reading and
traveling.
She was preceded in death
by her husband, and two sisters,
Patricia Loukas and June Park-
er Tassie.
Survivors include a son,
Scott Larson of Olympia, Wash-
ington; a daughter, Lynda
Campbell of Seaside; four
grandchildren and four great-
grandchildren.
Remembrances are suggest-
ed to the Larson Family Schol-
arship Fund, c/o Banks Union
High School, 450 S. Main St.,
Banks, OR 97106, or The Clat-
sop County Historical Society, or
the Columbia River Maritime
Museum in Astoria.
Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral
Home in Forest Grove was in
charge of arrangements.
ETTA ELIZABETH RUSSELL
Etta Elizabeth Russell, 94,
Vernonia, died April 24, 2012.
Cryptside services at Riverview
Abbey Mausoleum, in Portland,
were held April 24 with Pastor
Grant Williams officiating. A cel-
ebration of life service was held
April 29 at the Vernonia Com-
munity Church with Pastor
Ralph Young officiating.
Etta Elizabeth Russell
Mrs. Russell was born Febru-
ary 14, 1918, on a farm near St.
Charles, South Dakota, to
Joseph and Anna Marie Wuest.
She graduated from St. Charles
High School in 1936, then at-
tended Taylor University in Up-
land, Indiana, for one year. In
1939, she moved to Klamath
Falls.
In 1942, she married Gerald
LeRoy “Jerry” Russell. While her
husband served in the U.S.
Army, she moved to Snoqalmie,
Washington, to live with her par-
ents, where she worked at Boe-
ing Aircraft as a time keeper. In
1946, they moved to Portland
for a few months, then moved
to Salem. In 1949, they moved
to Vernonia. She worked at Tek-
tronix, Inc. for 10 years, retiring
in 1971, then worked as a custo-
dian at the Vernonia Post Office
for 12 years.
She volunteered at the Ver-
nonia Senior Center and helped
her husband operate a worm
farm for 12 years.
She was preceded in death
by a grandson.
Survivors include two sons,
Ronald Russell of LaCenter,
Wash., and Fay Russell of Ver-
nonia; one daughter, Karen
Miller of Hubbard; one brother,
Jim Wuest of Peoria, Illinois; 10
grandchildren, 10 great-grand-
children, nieces and nephews.
Remembrances are suggest-
ed to the Vernonia Senior Cen-
ter, 446 Bridge St., Vernonia,
OR 97064.
Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral
Home in Forest Grove was in
charge of arrangements.
LELAND SEIBERT
Leland Seibert, 72, Vernonia,
died April 19, 2012.
Mr. Seibert was born March
6, 1940, in Atascadero, Califor-
nia, to Clinton and Bertha Seib-
ert. When he was five years old,
the family moved the farm
(sheep, horses, and 200 goats)
to Vernonia on a train boxcar. In
Please see page 19