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Robert M. Clark
Robert M. Clark, 89, of Ashland, died Monday, (March 29, 2004) at home. Arrangements: Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Ashland.
Darwin Bjerke
Aug. 18, 1941-March 29, 2004
Darwin Bjerke died peacefully, with his wife, Sandy and sister, Kathy at his side, in their home on March 29, 2004.
Darwin, 62, was born August 18, 1941 in Ulen, Minnesota. He had a B.A in Psychology and Anthropology from Moorehead University in Minnesota, and a Master's degree in Psychology from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto, California. Darwin began his professional career as a teacher and taught 20 years.
In 1970, he founded Poseidon School in Los Angeles, California; which was an alternative Jr. High and High School.
In 1982, he moved to the Rogue Valley, where he worked as a professional counselor. He worked at Plowshare Treatment Center, Family Friends, Community Works, and most recently, Southern Oregon Child Study and Treatment Center, and was in private practice with Child and Family Psychiatric Center of Southern Oregon. Darwin's desire was to make a positive difference in the world and because of that he profoundly served his community with a gentle spirit, kindness, love and compassion.
Darwin is survived by his adoring wife of 13 years, Sandy Bjerke of Medford; daughter, Amira Bjerke of Ashland; parents, Lavern and Ihlor Bjerke of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota; and sister, Kathy Bjerke of Richwood, Minnesota.
Viewing will be March 31, 2004. For information call 776-0821. A celebration of Darwin's life will be held in May at the Yeshe Nyingpo Buddhist Retreat Center near Ashland. A notice of the celebration will appear in the obituary section prior to date.
Because of Darwin's love of nature and his desire for environmental preservation, he requested instead of flowers, contributions to any of the following charities: Sierra Club, Wilderness Society, and Ospirg; and Southern Poverty Law Center (Teaching Tolerance), and Yeshe Nyingpo Buddhist Retreat Center which Darwin helped to build.
Karen Ann Jeffries Johnson
Karen Ann Johnson, 46, of Lafayette, OR, died March 23, 2004 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland, OR, after losing her 24 year battle with Lupus.
She was born November 19, 1957 in Spokane, WA to Jim and Ida (Smith) Jeffries. Karen attended schools in Ashland, graduating from Ashland High School in 1976. She had a career in banking for 21 years, and worked in Ashland, Medford, and McMinnville, OR. Karen married Gary A. Johnson on June 6, 1987 in a garden wedding in Medford, where they lived for 10 years. In 1997 they moved to Lafayette, OR.
She enjoyed her animals, flower gardening, reading and the beach. She will be remembered by all as a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend. Survivors include husband Gary and daughter Kayla, 12, of LaFayette, sister Ramona Holmes of Bend, OR, and parents Jim and Ida Jeffries of Ashland. Contributions can be made in memory of Karen Johnson for the Yamhill County Humane Society, account# 370131010990, at any branch of Key Bank.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Elks Lodge, 255 E. Main St. in Ashland from 1:00 to 4:00 PM, Saturday, April 24, 2004.
Welden "Bill" M. Stauffer
Full Military Services will be held at the Eagle Point National Cemetery on Friday, April 2, 2004 at 10 a. m. Reverend Alan Jackson of Westminster Presbyterian Church will officiate.
Welden passed peacefully in his sleep on March 27, 2004 after having been cared for at the VA SORCC for the past several weeks.
He was born July 27, 1920 in Eagle Grove, Iowa to Emil & Eva Stauffer. Welden enlisted in the military in 1939, his first career, and served with distinction in the Army Air Corp and then the Air Force, finally retiring in July of 1960. He survived the BATAAN Death March and three and half years in Mukden, Manchuria prison camp before being liberated. He was awarded numerous medals including the Prisoner of War Medal and a Bronze Star. He rose to the rank of Chief Master Sergeant and was awarded one of the first 600 E-9 rank designations approved by the Department of Defense in 1959.
After retirement from the military, Welden joined the Oregon Employment Division rising quickly to an office management level. After managing the Tillamook office, he returned to Medford where he managed that office for numerous years until his second retirement in 1982.
In the years after dual retirements, he enjoyed stamp collecting, woodworking, billiards, fishing, hunting and collecting key chains and miniature toys. He was a lifetime member of the Elks in Ashland, having been a member for 59 years. Memorial contributions may be made to the Elks Scholarship Fund at the Ashland Elks Lodge.
He was preceded in death in 1995 by his wife of 49 years, Grace Cleveland, Stauffer his sister Donna De Rose in April 1 2003 and parents Emil & Eva Stauffer. His survivors include two sons, Cary Stauffer of Central Point &; Terry Stauffer of Medford; a sister, Rosalie La Fleur of Medford; three grandchildren, Ryan Stauffer of Seattle, WA, Courtney Stauffer of Medford and Alsacea Stauffer of Central Point; three great-grandchildren, Sidney Stauffer, Cole Welden Stauffer and Ruby Dale Stauffer all of Seattle, WA.
Welden was an honorable man who served his country and citizens with dedication and pride Those he left behind will miss him very much. "Thc faults of our brothers we write upon the sand, their virtues upon the tablets of love and memory."
Arrangements: Rogue Valley Funeral Alternatives, Medford.
James B. Altemus
James B. Altemus, 75, of Ashland, OR, died Saturday, (March 27, 2004) at the Linda Vista Care Center, Ashland. Arrangements: Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Ashland.
June Worden Smith
June Worden Smith, 77, of Grants Pass died Friday (March 26, 2004) at her residence. A Quaker Memorial Service will be held at the South Mountain Friends Meeting House, 543 South Mountain Avenue, Ashland at 11 a.m. Sunday, April 18.
June was born on June 5, 1926 in Rushford, New York to Clifford & Anna Worden. She married John Smith on September 20, 1952; he preceded her in death on March 30, 1983. June worked as a civil service secretary for the Army & Air Force Exchange Service until her retirement in 1984. She moved to Ashland from Texas in 1987.
June was a member of the South Mountain Friends Quakers, Oregon Watercolor Society, Kerrville Art Club (Texas), Art & Soul Gallery in Ashland & was the featured artist of the month in September 2001. She also served as the secretary for the South Mountain Friends Quaker group in Ashland. June was an accomplished oil & watercolor artist; she enjoyed playing the piano, the organ and the recorder.
Survivors include: Companion Merrill Barnebey of Grants Pass; brother and his wife, Cliff & Mary Worden of Grants Pass; niece and her husband, Julie & Michael Claydon of Grants Pass; niece and her husband, Patricia & Kenton Breidenthal of Applegate; niece and her husband, Gayle & Pete Moore of Tehachapi, CA; Nephew Mike & Heather Breidenthal of Huntington Beach, CA; nephew and his wife, Doug & Melanie Breidenthal of Medford; cousin and his wife Robert & Simone Coffan of Medford; cousin Bob Coffan of Eureka, CA; grandniece Jennifer Claydon of San Pedro, CA. She was preceded in death by her husband John Smith in 1983; and a son, Richard Smith in 1968.
Arrangements: Grants Pass Funeral Alternatives.
Robert Middleton Clark
A "Celebration of Life" service is planned for Robert Middleton Clark, 89, who died Monday, March 29, 2004 at his Ashland home. The celebration of life service will be on Monday, April 12 at 2 p.m. at Skylark Assisted Living, 900 Skylark Place, in Ashland, Oregon.
Bob Clark was born January 25, 1915 in Portland, Oregon to Clara (Poulton) and Robert Middleton Clark, Sr. He graduated from Jefferson High School in Portland and later attended college at Oregon State University, where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity.
During World War II, he served in the United States Army and was stationed in England and France.
Bob Clark married Kathleen "Kay" Lorraine Predmore in Stevenson, WA and they were married for more than 66 years. Bob and Kay Clark were a fun-loving, active, and adventurous couple who lived in many locales in Oregon, including Portland, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Seal Rock, and Jacksonville, and in Tiburon and Palos Verdes, California.
Bob and Kay made many friends during their lifetime and were always very active in their community. While living in Tiburon, Bob and Kay participated in "painting the town" - a community project to beautify downtown. Bob was also involved in community theater and was an active member of the Gaslight Players of Tiburon. The couple, along with friends, opened the first bowling alley in Lake Oswego, Oregon.
Bob was on the Board of Directors for the Britt Festival in Jacksonville, and served as Director for one term. Bob was involved in the Jacksonville Boosters and was a volunteer for the Vintage Wine Festival, Pioneer Days, and the Jacksonville Information Booth, among other activities. Bob and Kay were the owners/operators of an ivy fronted gift shop in Jacksonville called the "Hen House." Bob Clark spent the majority of his working life as a sales and marketing manager. While he was District Sales Manager for the Bell and Howell Company in the 1950's, he traveled extensively through the United States, including remote parts of Alaska. In the 1960's, he was the marketing manager for Code-a-phone Electronics and again he traveled extensively throughout the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico. By the late 1950's, Bob had flown so many miles that United Airlines presented him with a plaque and made him a member of the "100,000 mile" Club.
In the 1980's, Mr. Clark was the Jacksonville correspondent for the Daily Tidings.
After retirement, Bob and Kay traveled frequently. For many years they traveled in their motor home and they particularly enjoyed the time they spent in the desert in Arizona. Bob and Kay also made many trips to England where they were reconnected with relatives and friends.
After living more than 28 years in Jacksonville, Bob and Kay moved to Ashland in December 2002. Bob was a beloved resident of Skylark Assisted Living and will be missed by residents, staff, and family members.
Survivors include: four daughters: Judith "Judi" Gibbens of Issaquah, WA, Toby Coulter of Lake Oswego, Lorriane "Rainy" Olsen of Ashland, and Margaret "Peggy" Kindred of Portland; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren, with two more on the way. He was preceded in death by his wife, Kay Clark, three sisters, and his great-granddaughter, Rayleigha Coulter.
Arrangements: Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home, Ashland.
Lillian A. Mitchell
Lillian A. Mitchell, 69, of White City, died Tuesday, April 6, 2004 at her residence. Arrangements by Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Ashland.
Rosemary Logan
Rosemary Logan, 80, who lived in the Rogue Valley 69 years, died April 6, 2004 in Medford. The memorial graveside service will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, April 10th at the Mountain View Cemetery in Ashland.
Rosemary was born March 26, 1924 in Winnegar, Wisconsin to George D. and Jeanne Glenda (Haney) Richards. On August 15, 1948 in Reno, Nevada, she married the late Glen Logan who died in 1993. Mrs. Logan retired from Bear Creek Corporation in 1985 after 35 years. She enjoyed crafts and playing pinochle. Formerly a Talent resident, she was a member of the Talent Historical Society.
Survivors include: two sons, Charles Logan of Jacksonville and Richard Wilson of Talent; one daughter, Glenna Logan of Phoenix, OR; two sisters, Fay Coursey of Salem, OR and Kay Kramer of Cortez, FL; two grandsons, Rob and Ike Skaggs; and four great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Mercy Flights or Rogue Valley Hospice. Arrangements: Conger-Morris Funeral Directors of Medford.
