Page 18
The INDEPENDENT, July 5, 2012
Letters
From page 3
Our behaviors affect
community response
To the Editor:
A huge ‘Thank You’ goes to
Nancy and Henk From Oregon
Realty in Vernonia. They found
us a beautiful home. They both
tried to find us a home in Ver-
nonia, but it didn’t work out. So
they found us one in St. He-
lens.
Our family is all together
plus we have room for our ex-
tended family and visitors. Our
family feels whole once again.
We wish to send a thank you to
all of those in Vernonia who
made us feel welcome and
helped us survive while we
worked things out as our family
made the transition from work-
ing for 27 plus years to making
the choice to retire and spend
time with our three teens.
My other reason for writing
is due to the article which was
written about those not so hap-
py with the way things are go-
ing in Vernonia. I have thought
about a response for over a
week. Our family had ups and
downs with the school and city
hall but we choose to deal with
those issues differently. Those
ups and downs affected our
teens more than us. When the
first house we chose didn’t
work out, we listened to our
teens’ opinion. Cost of living
did play a part in their opinion.
What weighed more in their
minds was the open and ac-
cepted use and open discus-
sion of drugs and alcohol by
some teens within the commu-
nity, (parks, school and
homes). Also, the disrespect
some teens showed to teach-
ers, staff and folks in the com-
munity. My youngest would
rather be with upper classmen
who are at school to learn than
with some students her own
age due to their immature be-
havior. Not all students around
her fell into this category. One
needs to understand that my
teens have been to a public
CHARLES L. MARTIN
welder, septic tank servicer and
in many other areas. In Banks,
he owned and operated his
own scrap metal recycling busi-
ness for over 45 years.
He enjoyed old country mu-
sic, western movies, playing
pool and dancing.
He was preceded in death
by three siblings, Hubert W.
Martin, Bobby Joy Martin, and
Lorraine Gasiorowski.
Survivors include his wife;
one son, Charles Martin of Cor-
nelius; three daughters, Diann
Vandecoevering, DeLinda Hug-
gins, both of Banks, and Dar-
lene Capone of Hawthorne,
Calif.; two sisters, Patsy Wallis,
and Peggy Hernard, both of
Texas; 10 grandchildren and
three great-grandchildren, with
a fourth on the way.
Duyck & VanDeHey Funeral
Home was in charge of
arrangements.
celebration of life service was
held June 22 at City Bible
Church in Tigard, followed by
interment at Vernonia Memorial
Cemetery.
Mr. Perez was born March
30, 1993, in Portland, to Joe
Thomas Perez, Jr. and Reeann
Marie Gray. He was raised in
Clackamas and Damascus. He
attended Renewable Air Insti-
tute in Vancouver, Washington.
He enjoyed playing basket-
ball, swimming, listening to rap
music, and was involved in the-
ater while in middle school.
He was preceded in death
by his father.
Survivors include his mother
of Happy Valley; a brother,
Justin Perez of Happy Valley; a
sister, Alisha Tolboe of Astoria;
two grandmothers; one grand-
father; one great-grandmother;
aunts; uncles; and cousins.
Remembrances are sug-
gested to the Marcus J. Perez
Memorial Fund at Wells Fargo
Bank.
Tualatin Valley Funeral Al-
ternatives was in charge of
arrangements.
charter which set high stan-
dards for one’s behavior/char-
acter and achievement on and
off campus. It was an honor to
attend and one behavior was to
be conducted honorably. What
standards we teach, accept or
allow will set the stage for an
outcome.
Vernonia is a wonderful
town – “The Friendship Town”.
We enjoyed and loved the
friendship, kindness, willing-
ness to lend a hand, to protect
Please see page 19
Obituary
CATHERINE E. ATKINSON
Catherine Elizabeth Atkin-
son, 86, Forest Grove, died
June 17, 2012. Funeral servic-
es were held June 22 in Arcade
Cemetery.
Mrs. Atkinson was born Feb-
ruary 15, 1926, in Pittsylvania
County, Virginia, to Edd
Thomas Tanksley and Pansye
Wyatt Tanksley Bane.
In 1940, she married Charlie
Grover Atkinson. They moved
to Forest Grove in 1988. She
was a homemaker and textile
worker in her early years.
She was preceded in death
by her husband.
Survivors include two sons,
Chuck Atkinson of Vernonia,
and Wesley Atkinson of Forest
Grove; three grandsons; and
eight great-grandchildren.
"A Trusted Name in Funeral Service"
Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt
Funeral Home
& Crematory
Charles L. Martin, 81,
Banks, died June 16, 2012. Fu-
neral services were held June
21 at the Banks Community
United Methodist Church. Bur-
ial was at Banks Union Point
Cemetery.
Mr. Martin was born Sep-
tember 9, 1930, in Muskogee,
Oklahoma, to Charles Ervin
and Jessie (Brown) Martin. He
started picking crops at a very
young age, beside his family as
they followed the seasonal har-
vests into California.
In 1948, he married Lois
Simmons. They followed the
harvests in Calif., Arizona and
Oregon. They moved to Banks
in 1967. He had the knack of
fixing things, so he worked as a
MARCUS JOSEPH PEREZ
Gregory & Rachel Hoyt
Third Generation
Family Owned & Operated
Jeffrey & Kathryn Hoyt,
Gregory & Rachel Hoyt,
Ross Mathews,
Samantha Humphrey,
Peni Flores.
Attendant: Ray Pelster
2308 Pacific Av. Frst Grv....357-2161
741 Madison Av. Vern.........429-6611
E-mail: Fuitenrosehoyt@aol.com
To sign the online guest book or send
a condolence to the family, go to:
www.fuitenrosehoyt.com
Marcus Joseph Perez, 19,
Portland, died June 15, 2012. A
BEULAH L. PETERSON
Beulah Louise Peterson, 89,
Buxton, died June 18, 2012. A
service was held at Buxton
Cemetery on June 20.
Mrs. Peterson was born
September 29, 1922, in Kan-
sas City, Kansas, to Orval and
Louise (Wickle) Buxton. She
was raised in Burlington, Iowa,
graduating from Burlington
Beulah L. Peterson
High School in 1940.
In 1940, she married
Charles Norman “Norm” Peter-
son. They made their home in
Seattle, Washington, Whidby
Island, Wash., Tillamook and
Cascade Locks, before moving
to Buxton in 1949. She was a
homemaker.
She enjoyed hunting, fishing
and gardening.
She was preceded in death
by her husband, in 1996.
Survivors include three
sons, Charles Peterson of
Banks; Dan Peterson of Forest
Grove, and Donald Peterson of
Buxton; two brothers, Millard
Buxton of Forest Grove, and
Carlyle Buxton of Carlton; one
sister, Eula Graber of Lincoln
City; eight grandchildren; 14
great-grandchildren; nieces
and nephews.
Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral
Home was in charge of
arrangements.
CARD OF THANKS
The family of Leland Seibert would like
to thank the community, Metro
West/Volunteer Ambulance, churches
and friends for all the support given the
last 14 months of his life, including
flowers, cards, and prayers.
Lorretta, LaRhonda and LeMel