The INDEPENDENT, December 5, 2012
VHS Honor Roll
Letters
To the Editor:
As someone who knows just
how hard it is to put out a com-
munity newspaper, I wanted to
take a moment to express my
hope that the residents of Ver-
nonia understand how lucky
they have been to have a truly
“Independent” publication in
their small town for nearly three
decades.
Over the past several years,
I’ve gotten to know Clark and
Rebecca pretty well. Rebecca
seems to be a saint. Clark?
Well, Clark can be a bit hard-
Page 3
headed but the guy is an amaz-
ing self-taught journalist and
jack-of-all trades.
Like every reporter and edi-
tor, he’s made mistakes and
made them in public. But I have
never doubted that he was
working for what he believed
was the good of a community
he so clearly cares about.
Right now, it looks like the
future of The Independent is in
doubt.
If it continues, the paper will
need the support of the com-
munity. If you’re a business,
that means giving Clark a call
to talk about advertising. If
you’re a reader, that means
supporting The Independent’s
advertisers and taking time to
thank them for their support of
their community’s paper.
And, if the paper doesn’t
make it, people should know
it’s not for a lack of effort on the
part of its owners.
As Mark Twain once wrote:
“I am not the editor of a news-
paper and shall always try to
do right and be good so that
God will not make me one.”
Clark wasn’t so lucky, but
the residents of Vernonia were.
The Independent has had an
amazing run and regardless of
what happens, Clark, Rebecca
and Noni should be proud of
what they’ve done.
John Schrag
Publisher
Forest Grove News-Times
Hillsboro Tribune
in Spring 2013.
Mrs. Chambers was born
April 26, 1940, in Thousand
Oaks, California, to Oscar and
Edith (Wallace) Wiseman. She
was four-years-old when the
family moved to Gaston, where
she was raised. She graduated
from Gaston High School in
1958.
She worked for Rogers Or-
gan, ESI and Allen VanZoren
Pipe Organ in Hillsboro. She
retired in 2002.
Her kind and gentle spirit
was expressed in her extensive
flower garden and welcoming
smile. She was also a talented
knitter, keen pinochle player,
and an avid bowler who played
in several leagues in Vernonia
and Hillsboro. More recently,
she belonged to the Red Hat
Ladies.
She was preceded in death
by her parents.
Survivors include her hus-
band, two children, Tim Mc
Leod and Teresa Brucken, both
of Vernonia; three brothers,
Randy Wiseman of Forest
Grove, Chuck Wiseman of Gre-
sham, and Leroy Wiseman of
Pacific City; two grandchildren,
many nieces and nephews.
Remembrances are sug-
gested to the American Cancer
Society or Hospice Care of
Washington County.
Duyck & VanDeHey Funeral
Home is in charge of arrange-
ments.
LEONARD L. FOSTER
ping; he was inducted into the
Oregon Trapper’s Hall of
Fame.
He lived in Jewell until 2009,
when he moved to Forest
Grove.
He was preceded in death
by his companion of ten years,
Laura Fern, and two brothers,
Earl and Ernest Foster.
Survivors include his daugh-
ter, Candalee Wrede of Van-
couver, Washington; son, Dean
Foster of Forest Grove; five
grandchildren, one great-
granddaughter, and many
nieces and nephews.
Remembrances are sug-
gested to the National Stroke
Association, 9707 East Easter
Lane, Centennial, CO 80112.
Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral
Home in Forest Grove was in
charge of the arrangements.
The following students were
named to the Vernonia High
School academic Honor Roll
for the 2012-13 first quarter.
Grade Point Averages (GPA)
are on a scale of 1-4, with 4
equaling a perfect score.
Principal’s Honors, 4.00 –
Makayla Adams, Marley Bow-
er, Alex Budde, Iryna Bud-
kevych, Emilee Easlon, Jamae
Easlon, Julia Fletcher, Jeffrey
Goodman, Samantha Lin-
dauer, Nathanael McCroskey-
Izzett, Yuliya Pestova, Deziree
Roberts, Jocie Roberts, Ryan
Please see page 8
Obituary
RAYFORD WAYNE ALLEN
Rayford Wayne Allen, 72,
died November 24, 2012. A cel-
ebration of life was held De-
cember 1 at the Nehalem Val-
ley Community Church in Jew-
ell.
Mr. Allen was born July 2,
1941, in Hardin, Oklahoma. As
a young adult, he traveled
around the Midwest working on
the oilfields. He eventually
moved to Mist with his family, in
1985, and worked at the mill
and as a ranch hand.
He will be remembered for
his strong work ethic, quick wit,
big stories of bull-riding and his
“Hey Darling” that he called all
the ladies, and the great love
that had for his family and
friends.
He was preceded in death
by his wife, Judy.
Survivors include his sons,
Mark Porter and Randy Kotara;
daughters, Samantha Francis-
co and Kerri Lendgren; sisters,
Kay McLaughlin and Wanda
Johnson, 14 grandchildren and
many nieces and nephews.
NORMA JEAN CHAMBERS
Leonard L. Foster, 83, For-
est Grove, died November 8,
2012.
A Celebration of Life service
was held November 14 at
Camp 18 Restaurant in Elsie.
Mr. Foster was born January
14, 1929, in Astoria, to Curtis
and Maggie Foster. He was
raised in Jewell and graduated
from Jewell High School in
1947.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy
in 1951 and was a veteran of
the Korean conflict. He was
honorably discharged in 1955
as an Assistant Personnel Offi-
cer.
He worked in the fishing in-
dustry in Alaska, for the Clat-
sop County Road Department,
and as a logger for forty years,
finishing his career at Olstedt
Logging.
He enjoyed hunting and fish-
ing, and his passion was trap-
JUDY ANN GLOSTER
Judy Ann Gloster, 73,
Banks, died November 19,
2012. Private cremation rites
have been held.
Mrs. Gloster was born No-
vember 8, 1939, in Kettle River,
Minnesota, to John and Vieno
(Niemi) Leppioja. She was
raised in Kettle River and grad-
uated from Duluth High School
in 1957. She worked for many
years in electronics assembly,
retiring from Hewlett Packard in
1997.
Judy Ann Gloster
She enjoyed gardening,
sewing, collecting elephant fig-
urines, and volunteering with
the Tualatin Valley ALANO
Club.
She was preceded in death
by a son, Rodger Wiita; a
daughter, Karen Wiita; two
brothers, Frank Leppioja, and
Harold Leppioja; and two sis-
ters, Mary Juntunen and Elma
Sarvela.
Survivors include three
sons, Ronald Wiita of Duluth,
Minn., Dale Wiita of Banks, and
John Wiita of Portland; one
daughter, Kim Leach of Ver-
nonia; four sisters, Faye Peer
of Missouri, Marion Johnson of
Duluth, Minn., Helen Thomp-
son of Wisconsin, and Pearl
Houle of Minn.; grandchildren;
Please see page 7
State Farm ®
Providing Insurance and Financial Services
Home Office, Bloomington, Illinois 61710
Bunny Girt, Agent
Norma Jean Chambers, 72,
North Plains, died November
13, 2012. Services will be held
1229 N. Adair
PO Box 543
Cornelius, OR 97113-0543
Bus 503-357-3131 Fax 503-357-9667
bunny.girt.b71g@statefarm.com