345 SE 5th, Madras, OR 97741 | 541.475.2275
Obituaries for the week of 7-28-10
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Vivian Downing
Vivian Downing
Former Madras resident Vivian Pearl Downing died July 19, 2010, at the age of 80, at the Hospice House in Bend following an extended illness.
She was born on Sept. 25, 1929, in Fruitland, Idaho, to Hoyt and Opal (Pinkston) Nash. She attended school in Homedale until 1946, then married Clyde Downing on Sept. 25, 1947, in Idaho. The Downings lived in Homedale for three years, then moved to Mount Vernon, Ore., in 1951. In 1953, the family made their big move to Central Oregon, living in the communities of Culver and Metolius, then settling on Cora Drive in Madras in 1964.
To supplement the family income, in 1965 Mrs. Downing began working as a salesclerk first for McCaulou's store and then Hatfield's Department Store for over 38 years. Her coworkers became friends, buying trips were her vacations, and helping customers became an art.
In 1965, Downing Construction was formed and Mrs. Downing functioned as the secretary, displaying her amazing organizational skills. She continued to answer phones, take orders and weigh trucks a the scalehouse until 2009. She took great pride in the business her husband Clyde and son Mike had formed.
She possessed a strong work ethic and led her life by the following creeds: "The winner always has a plan; the loser always has excuses. The winner sees an answer for every problem; the loser sees a problem in every answer. The winner says:`It may be difficult, but it's possible;' the loser says: `I may be possible, but it's too difficult.'"
In 1987, her husband died, and although the family business continued, the family vegetable garden was replaced by flowers. Her gardens brought the birds she loved and her constant companions were her kitties.
Her life emulated the following: "What is essential is to create a beautiful life out of everyday struggles."
Survivors include her children, Vicki Jagels, and Mike and wife Cathy Downing, all of Madras, and Jani Jagels of Metolius; brother, Craig Nash of Modesto, Calif.; sister, Mildreta Shanley of Homedale, Idaho; grandchildren Micah, Ian, Caleb, Lucas, Callie, Josiah and Hoyt; and great-grandchildren Dacota, Monique, Hunter, Shaelynne, Kinzi, Morgan, Ariana, Kelsin, Tyler, Isabelle, Ethan and Ivan. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother Rodger, and sister Lynette.
The family is planing a memorial service to be celebrated on her birthday, Sept. 25, 2010. Arrangements were under the direction of Bel-Air Colonial Funeral Home of Madras.
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LaVonne Griffin
LaVonne Griffin
Longtime Culver resident LaVonne Patrice Griffin died peacefully in her home on July 17, 2010, at the age of 77.
She was born March 1, 1933, in Forest Grove, Ore. She attended Culver schools all 12 years and graduated as the valedictorian of Culver High School.
She met her husband and soulmate "Bud" Griffin on a hay ride, and they were married on June 10, 1951. She began her working career at the Culver U.S. Postal Service because it did not interfere with her ability to be with her children. She later worked many years for Jasa Ag Service, and then for Robert Rufener until April 2010.
Mrs. Griffin dedicated her life to her husband, family and many volunteer services, including the Culver Christian Church, Juniper Rebekah Lodge, Mountain View Hospital Auxiliary, Mount Jefferson Oddfellows, SMART reader program, and served as president of the Ladies Auxiliary Patriarch Militant in 1999 (a branch of Oddfellows).
Her interests included hunting, fishing, crocheting and working with her flowers. She had an unfailing faith and love for her family, friends, and anyone in need, who all drew strength and comfort from her.
Survivors include her husband Raymond "Bud" Griffin; daughters, Diane Kocks of Oakland, Ore., and Darlene Wisdom of Crooked River Ranch; grandchildren, Ryan Starkel-Kocks, Katie Starkel, Brian Wisdom, Melanie Wisdom; great-grandson, Alan Sullivan; and her brother, Burnard McQuinn.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Marguerite Wells, and her parents, Francis and George McQuinn.
A celebration of her life will be held at 11 a.m., Aug. 13, at the Culver Christian Church, 501 W. Fourth St., Culver. Memorial contributions have been suggested to the Mountain View Hospital Auxiliary. Arrangements were under the direction of Bel-Air Colonial Funeral Home of Madras.
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Lulu Johnson
Lulu Johnson
Madras resident Lulu Lyla (Frye) Johnson passed away at her home on July 19, 2010, at the age of 87.
She was born on April 22, 1923, at Lobster Creek homestead the seventh of 10 children to parents Andrew Jackson and Leona F. (Meservey) Frye of Gold Beach, Ore. She was born in the barn because the house was not yet finished. She was an enrolled member of the Karuk Northern California Indian Tribe.
She attended a one-room schoolhouse across the Rogue River from the homestead. Later, she attended Chemawa Indian School in Salem, from 1937-40 through her high school years.
After school, she went to work as a ship welder in Van Port, Wash., during World War II. There she met Willie Johnson and they were married on Dec. 22, 1944, in Portland. They moved back to Gold Beach and began their life together. They had seven children, and Mr. Johnson also had three sons from a previous marriage, who lived with them off and on. Her children remember growing up in a house filled with love and laughter.
While Mr. Johnson was working in road construction, they lived in Salem and several Central Oregon towns, then moved to Lindsey, Calif., for six years. In 1967, they moved to Madras, where Mrs. Johnson lived for 43 years.
Here, she worked as a food processor for the agricultural food industry.
Mrs. Johnson enjoyed attending powwows, and loved going to the Rogue River for the gathering of the tribal people. She loved watching her nephews, children and grandchildren dance, and enjoyed fresh baked salmon. She also enjoyed flowers and loved being with her family.
Survivors include her children and their spouses, Linda Hastings of Madras, Aaron and Connie Johnson of Redmond, Fran and Kim Millard of Madras, Willie and Ed Kuchera of Bellis, Alberta, Canada, Roger Johnson of Madras, Allen and Diane Johnson of Santa Maria, Calif., and Lillie Murphy of Redmond; 23 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1982; son Ronnie; daughter Nadine; great-granddaughter Hanna; one sister and six brothers.
Graveside services were held July 23, at Mount Jefferson Memorial Park Cemetery in Madras. Arrangements were under the direction of Bel-Air Colonial Funeral Home of Madras. Memorial donations have been suggested to Mountain View Hospice.
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Joy Pack
Former Madras resident Joy Margaret Pack, 83, died July 11, 2010, in Delano, Minn.
She was born Feb. 8, 1927, in Salem, to parents Roy and Harriet Wilbanks. A religious person, "she fought the good fight, she finished the course, and she kept the faith."
Survivors include her children, Donna Richey and Neal Pack, both of Madras, Ivan Pack of Lakeview, Ann Cockrum of Hampstead, N.C., and Vena Hall of Delano, Minn.; 16 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; seven brothers, and one sister.
She was preceded in death by her husband Arthur Fronado Pack, one grandson, and one great-grandchild.
Memorial services were held July 23, at the Madras Church of Christ. A private interment will be held at Deschutes Memorial Chapel in Bend. Condolences for the family may be made online at www.deschutesmemorialchapel.com.