Ethel Learn
March 18, 2009
Ethel Learn passed away on March 17, 2009 at South Hills Care Center in Eugene from a heart condition. She was 94.
She was born to William B. and Effie May (Carr) Johnston on May 24, 1914 in Windber, PA.
She graduated from high school and married David Learn on March 24, 1934 in Clearfield, PA. They bought a piper cub and flew from Indiana, PA to Springdale, WA.
During the war she made resister tubes for the war effort. Later in life the family lived in Brookings, OR where she was involved with commercial lily growing. From there they moved to Springfield, OR where she took the job of childcare in her own home.
Ethel loved playing cribbage and spending time with her family.
She is survived by her son, Bill Learn (and his wife Bonnie) of Springfield, OR; her sister, Dorothy Howarth of Commodor, PA; and by nine much-loved grandkids, six treasured great-grandkids and two precious great-great-grandkids. She was preceded in death by her husband, David, and her daughter, Janet Avonell Gehrke.
Visitation for Mrs. Learn will be Friday, March 20th from 3-5pm at Buell Funeral Chapel in Springfield. A funeral will be held Saturday, March 21st at 10am at the funeral home, followed by a committal at Sunset Hills Memorial Park in Eugene.
Wanita Smith
March 18, 2009
PLEASANT HILL — A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 21, at Jasper Christian Church for Wanita June Smith of Pleasant Hill, who died March 14 of Alzheimer’s disease. She was 80.
She was born June 4, 1928, in Cottage Grove to O.C. and Annie Westlake Parr. She married Albert Smith on April 12, 1949, in Pleasant Hill.
She graduated from Pleasant Hill High School in 1946. She worked as a bank teller and bookkeeper at First National Bank in Eugene and in Springfield, and worked at the Jasper Post Office.
Survivors include her husband; two sons, Mike Smith of Walterville and Scott Neet of Salem; two daughters, Peggy Smith and Anna Neet, both of Pleasant Hill; two brothers, Vernon Parr of Pleasant Hill and Ron Parr of Portland; two sisters, Shirley Dilley of Fall Creek and Phyllis Wilson of Pleasant Hill; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Burial was in Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Arrangements by Buell Funeral Chapel in Springfield. Remembrances to the church
Wanda Young
March 16, 2009
SPRINGFIELD — Wanda Shirlene “Sheenie” Young of Springfield died March 8 of cancer. She was 74. A celebration of life will be held later.
She was born March 30, 1934, in Crescent City, Calif., to Lyle and Dacie Barker.
SheattendedSpringfield High School and worked as a bartender in Springfield.
Survivors include two sons, Mike Lowry of Reno, Nev., and Deke Lowry of Florence; two daughters, Janet Anderson of Springfield and Shelly Circle of Florence; a sister, Janet Gregg of Springfield; nine grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. A great-grandson, Robert Lowry, died previously.
Arrangements by Andreason’s Cremation & Burial Service in Springfield.
Vincent DeMartine Sr.
March 16, 2009
SPRINGFIELD — Vincent “Vinnie” DeMartine Sr. of Springfield died March 9 of age-related causes. He was 83. No service is planned.
He was born Dec. 3, 1925, in Hoboken, N.J., to Thomas and Camilla Fortuna DeMartine. He and his wife, Lucille, were married April 21, 1948, in Hoboken.
DeMartine served in the Navy in the Pacific Theater from 1942 to 1945. He worked as a diecut operator, in assembly at Freightliner and as a school district custodian.
Survivors include five children, Kathy Tremblay and Cammy DeMartine, both of Springfield, Judy James of Placerville, Calif., Vincent DeMartine Jr. of Tucson, Ariz., and Susie DeMartine of Nashua, N.H.; 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. His wife died April 19, 2008.
Arrangements by Buell Funeral Chapel in Springfield.
Jeffrey Davis
March 16, 2009
SPRINGFIELD — A memorial service will be held at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, March 21, at the Thurston Grange 853 in Springfield for Jeffrey A. “Jeff” Davis of Springfield. He died March 8 of pancreatic cancer at age 62.
He was born July 17, 1946, in Harrisburg, Ill., to James and Betty Jean Sexton Davis. He married Sandra Skelley in 1966 and they divorced in 1970. He married Barbara Hunter Ure in May, 2002, in Sacramento.
Davis attended schools in Harrisburg, Ill., Blythe, Moorpark and Oxnard in California, and Ventura College in Ventura, Calif. He served in the Marine Corps Reserves. He worked as a comptroller and finance manager for Child Development Resources-Head Start in Ventura, and in Eugene for Central Latino Americana and for the White Bird program.
Survivors include his wife; his mother, Betty Davis Kumler of Camarillo, Calif.; a daughter, Kimberly Davis of Monroe, Wash.; two stepsons, David Ure of Springfield and Doug Ure of Eugene; two sisters, Tracy Davis of Fort Garland, Colo., and Pat Davis of Brea, Calif.; a brother, James Jr.; two stepbrothers, Robert Kumler of Redondo Beach, Calif., and Roger Kumler of Honeoye Falls, N.Y.; a stepsister, Margie Kumler of Hollywood, Calif.; and two grandchildren.
Arrangements by Andreason’s Cremation & Burial Service in Springfield. Remembrances to Cascade Health Solutions Hospice in Eugene.
Edith Andrews
March 16, 2009
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at First Baptist Church in Eugene for B. Edith Andrews of the Eugene-Springfield area. She died March 10 of age-related causes at age 84.
She was born Aug. 13, 1924, in St. Maries, Idaho, to Charles and Reefa Earl Nelson. She married Obert Andrews on Sept. 20, 1942, in Eugene.
She graduated from Harrisburg High School. She was a real estate investor and a landlord.
Survivors include five sons, Harlan of Campbell, Calif., Eldon of Springfield, Charles of Springfield and Taiwan, Arnold of Shakopee, Minn., and Richard of Eugene; a daughter, Nola Belding of Sisters and Eugene; 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Her husband died May 22, 2004.
A private graveside service is planned.
Arrangements by Andreason’s Cremation & Burial Service in Springfield. Remembrances to the church.
Mickey L. DeFeo
March 13, 2009
Mickey Lawrence DeFeo passed away March 9, 2009. Mickey died from complications of post traumatic stress disorder, following his tour of the war on terror in Iraq. He was 38.
Mickey was born April 15, 1970 in Prince Georges County, Maryland to Armando and Dona (Eichner) DeFeo. He lived most of his life in the Cottage Grove, Oregon area, attending Cottage Grove High School before enlisting in the US Army National Guard. He served one tour of duty in Iraq, and it changed him forever. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten, Mickey.
He would probably rather be remembered for the better times, though. He was especially proud of his time working as a deckhand on a commercial fishing boat out of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, on the Bering Sea. It’s a grueling trade, and he enjoyed the challenge and the hard work.
Mickey’s mother passed away in November of 2007. He is survived by his siblings, Tina Carlile of Springfield; Eddie DeFeo, Linda Fenton and Angelo DeFeo, all of California; and Bonnie Bogan and Carmine DeFeo, both of Maryland. His mother preceded him in death.
Gertrude Mary (Knox) Albro
March 13, 2009
Gertrude Mary (Knox) Albro
1919-2009
We would like to honor our dear Mother and her passing, and the loss of another generation of our Lane County Pioneer Family. Mom was gathered into the arms of our Lord, Feb. 17, 2009 at age 90. Gertrude is survived by two daughters, Mary Francis Tiner of Waldport & Nancy Jo Albro of Eugene, Granddaughter, Heidi Collins & Great Grandchildren Brittney and Jacob & her dear Sister Catherine Grimes. A celebration of life will be held on March 16, 2009 at 1:00 p.m., at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on McBeth Road in Eugene, Oregon. Pastor John Dinsmore officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in her name may be made.
Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, and most of all her own person. She was a strong, independent woman, well before her time. She did it all and all was done well. Born to pioneer parents in the Fox Hollow Valley in 1919, she was one of 3 children born to Guy Bampfylde and Eva Martha Knox. She attended Le Bleu Grade School on the hill above their farm home, attended University High School and graduated from Eugene High in 1937. She was well educated for the times. Her Father came from England in 1900 and her Mother was born in Saskatchewan, Canada. They married in 1918. The Knox family settled on a 500 acre section of land in the Fox Hollow valley.
Gertrude loved family, gardening, sewing, knitting & especially her piano. Playing the piano was a lifetime passion and she used it in service to the Grange and Church for years. She was ahead of her time in recognizing that service to community and others made for a full and happy life. This skill along with a strong work ethic and the ability to organize, served her well throughout her life. She was an active member of Spencer Creek Grange for over 70 years, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Lane County Home Extension and served as President of the Associated Country Women of the World. She was a stringer reporter for The Register-Guard for a number of years, served as the Secretary of Mulkey Pioneer Cemetery for over 40 years and taught piano privately in her later years. Gertrude was known for and will be remembered for her kindness, caring and total dedication to all she knew and all that she did.
“Gerty,” married Merl Josiah Albro, Nov. 27, 1937, thus beginning a 63 year love story. Merl was the Grandson of early pioneer, Andrew Jackson Carson. They made their lives on the homestead farm on Spencer Creek for over 50 years. Gertrude and Merl loved their little farm and raised two daughters there, Mary born in 1941 and Nancy born in 1947. Her life with Merl included raising sheep, vegetable and flower gardening and serving as accountant and Co-owner of Albro Logging Co. They loved to travel the back roads of Oregon never returning home the same way they went. They adored each other from the first time Daddy laid eyes on her when she was 15 at a community picnic.
She took great joy in the process of providing for all her family and friends. She “PUT UP” massive amounts of fruit and vegetables every summer. Anyone that knew Gerty would call with any excess they might have and she would be there johnny on the spot, boxes in the trunk of the old 1949 Chevy to collect all they had. A phone call was all it took, and there she was her love and caring in tow.
Nancy and Mary thank their Mom & Daddy for what one would call an idyllic “Raising up” & the grand senses of humor that has served so well all their lives.
All of our Love Dear Mom,
Your Daughters & Family
Gerald Johnson
March 12, 2009
Gerald Lee Johnson of Eugene died March 9 of a stroke. He was 73. No service is planned.
He was born Jan. 3, 1936, in Bond, Ark., to Johnny and Gladys Johnson. He married Charlotte Johnson in Harrisburg; they were married for 40 years before being divorced.
He served in the Army from 1957 to 1961. He owned businesses in Arkansas and worked as a quality control lab technician for West Coast Plastics in Eugene.
Survivors include three sons, Tim of Harrisburg, Kenneth of Springfield and Larry of Eugene; two brothers, Marion and Tony, both of Arkansas; two sisters, Lavera Henning of Texas and Sharon Yakley of Alabama; and seven grandchildren.
Arrangements by Andreason’s Cremation & Burial Service in Springfield.
David Ferebee
March 12, 2009
David Ferebee of Eugene died March 9 of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. He was 55. No service is planned.
He was born Dec. 7, 1953, in Eugene to Don and Loni Morrow Ferebee.
He graduated from Marist High School in 1972. He worked for Hutchins Imported Motors in Springfield and Kendall Ford in Eugene and for dealers in Seattle and Scottsdale, Ariz.
Survivors include his parents; two sons, Darren of Troutdale and Preston of Eugene; two daughters Kate Ferebee of Eugene and Haley Ferebee of Troutdale; and a brother, Daniel of Lake Oswego.
Arrangements by Andreason’s Cremation & Burial Service in Springfield. Remembrances to the ALS Association in Eugene or Hospice of Sacred Heart.