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Kurt Hartmann
A private family service will be held for Kurt Hartmann, 78, of Ashland who died Friday, October 15, 2004 at his home following a brief illness.
Born in 1926 in Passau, Germany, Kurt Hartmann came to the United States in 1938, when his family fled the Hitler regime. He lived in Albany, New York until 1944 when he enlisted in the United States Navy. He served in the Philippines until 1946.
Mr. Hartman attended Antioch College in Yellowsprings, Ohio and graduated from that institution with a degree in political science.
In his younger years he worked for the National Labor Relations Board in North Carolina and Philadelphia. Subsequently, he became a journalist in West Virginia and Washington D.C. In 1955 he assumed ownership of the weekly newspaper in Seaside, CA, the News-Sentinel, and several years later founded a printing business, Printing Inc. In 1978, together with his wife, Kurt established a bookstore in Salinas, Books & Books.
Since his retirement in 1989 he had returned to journalism, writing, among other publications, for the Monterey Herald's Alta Vista magazine, the Ashland Daily Tidings, and the Medford Mail Tribune.
Kurt and Lou moved from the Monterey Peninsula to Ashland, Oregon in 2000 after each had lived in California for over 40 years.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Louise, and two children by a prior marriage, Susan Gernaey of Rossmoor, CA, Thomas Mark Hartmann of Los Angeles, CA, and four grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements under the direction of the Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home, Ashland.
John P. Ernst
John Price Ernst, 84, of Medford, died Saturday, October 16, 2004 at his home.
Arrangements: Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home, Ashland.
Frances Prieto
Frances Prieto passed away Wednesday, November 3, 2004 peacefully at her daughter's home in Ashland, surrounded in love by her two daughters, Wanda Nelsen and Elizabeth Gray, and their husbands, Terry Nelsen and Kenneth Gray.
Frances will be remembered as a best friend and loving mom to her daughters, and also loving wife to Frank Prieto, who predeceased her. Her family cherished every moment shared with her.
Frances was a long-time resident of Florida, a state that she loved with all of her heart. With her daughter Wanda's family and her beloved cat Spots, she moved to Ashland in 2001, where she enjoyed the Rogue River and the Upper Duck Pond in Lithia Park.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her name to her favorite animal rescue group, Wildlife Images, P.O. Box 36, Merlin, OR 97532.
Arrangements: Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Ashland.
Philip Walden
Philip Walden, 78, husband, father and humanitarian, died on October 17th, 2004 at home in Ashland, Oregon.
He was born in Oceanside, California, the oldest of three children, a brother and a sister. He is survived by his sister, Abbie Lou, and his two daughters, Jeanie and Sudee.
Phil grew up near the ocean and was a precocious and avid surfer. He received a bachelor's degree from Pomona College in Claremont, California, in 1949. In 1951, Phil earned a master of Business Administration from Stanford University and became a Certified Public Accountant in 1954.
In 1961, Phil met Patricia Marsh at the Unitarian Church in Palo Alto. She had lost her husband and the father of her two daughters to cancer several years earlier. Phil and Pat fell in love and married in the spring of 1962, giving the girls the new dad they longed for. Phil continued to work at a Bay Area technological firm enabling his new wife Patricia to take two years off from her teaching career and stay home with her daughters.
He believed in non-violence and was involved in the early resistance movement to the US involvement in the Viet Nam War. He was very knowledgeable about international relations, promoted human rights issues and was a long-term supporter of Amnesty International. Phil was an enthusiastic traveler and with his wife Patricia, visited 41 countries, often as part of the Elderhostel programs. He enjoyed sailing and hiking and had a deep appreciation for the beauty of nature and for classical music. He played the violin, like to water color and often illustrated his letters with captivating cartoons.
He and Pat moved to Ashland in 1990 where they joined the Ashland Unitarian Center to pursue their lifelong membership in the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Phil's passion for foreign affairs drew him to SOLIR classes and foreign policy reading groups.
Phil was dearly loved by his daughters and all those who met him and will be deeply missed. Gifts of remembrance can be made in Philip's name to: Amnesty International USA, Attn: Member Services Department, 322 8th Avenue, 10th fl.; New York, NY 10001. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on November 6th at the Unitarian Center, 87 4th St. Ashland.
Judith Ann Daoust
Judith Ann Daoust, 65, of Ashland, died Sun. (Oct. 31, 2004) at home.
Friends are invited to their home at 1290 Greenmeadows Way, for a brief gathering at 2 p.m. Sun., Nov. 7, 2004.
Arrangements: Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home, Ashland.
Dottie Ekstrom
Dottie Ekstrom of Eugene, formerly of Ashland, died October 30, at the age of 80. She was born May 5, 1924 in Almena, KA to Oliver and Florence (Hines) Green.
She lived in the Grants Pass area from 1937 to 1942, when she graduated from Grants Pass High School. She lived in Portland, OR from 1942 to 1951, Ashland from 1951 to 1956, Millbrae, CA from 1956 to 1967, and Los Angeles from 1967 to 1979 when she moved to Eugene. She married Gordon Ekstrom in Portland on October 19, 1946. He died June 8, 1991.
She enjoyed playing cards, music, theater, and lunch with friends. She is survived by two brothers: Loyal Green of Grants Pass, and Richard E. Green of Eugene.
The funeral service will be held Tuesday, November 9, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. at Musgrove Family Mortuary in Eugene. A committal service will be held Wednesday, November 10th at 1:00 p.m. at Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home, with a private burial at Mountain View Cemetery, Ashland.
Contributions may be made in Dottie's memory to the Assistance League of Eugene or Sacred Heart Hospice in care of Musgrove Family Mortuary, 1152 Olive St., Eugene, OR 97401.
William D. Mearns
The memorial service for William D. Mearns will be held Saturday, November 13, 2004 at 2:00 p.m., at Ashland First United Methodist Church. Rev. Michael Powell will officiate. Private inurnment will be in Chapel of Reflections Columbarium, Scenic Hills Memorial Park, Ashland. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the William D. Mearns Scholarship at Ashland High School, 201 S. Mountain Avenue, Ashland, OR 97520.
William D. Mearns, 84, of Ashland, died Wednesday, November 3, 2004 at Ashland Community Hospital.
Mr. Mearns was born July 17, 1920 at Ashmoor, Montana to James William and Lucinda Ellen (Maxwell) Mearns. On October 24, 1941 at Butte, Montana he married the former K. Yvonne Siegling, who survives. They just celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary.
Mr. Mearns received his Bachelor of Science Degree in education from Southern Oregon College and his Masters degree in counseling, guidance and school administration from Oregon State University. He was a teacher and Dean of Students at Ashland High School for twenty-five years. He retired in 1980.
Mr. Mearns was a life member of the Masonic Order-Hillah Shrine. He was active in the B.P.O.E., Ashland Elks Lodge and the Rotary Club of Ashland. For more than twenty-five years he participated in a coffee club with close friends and the Ashland Elks Lodge. He was a numismatist; a field tester for Jackson Perkins Roses; he enjoyed traveling, ocean and stream fishing, and wood working. He thoroughly enjoyed people, socializing with friends and family.
During World War II he served in the United States Coast Guard and was attached to the United States Navy for active service in the South Pacific-Asiatic Theatre.
Survivors in addition to his wife K. Yvonne of Ashland include daughter Billee Stemple of Jacksonville; sister, Francis Nebel of Belt, Montana. He was preceded in death by one sister, Florence Adams.
Arrangements: Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Ashland.
Nancy Hollenback
Nancy Hollenback, 93, of Ashland, died Sunday, Nov. 7, 2004 at Linda Vista Care Center. Arrangements: Rogue Valley Funeral Alternatives.
Gladys Joy Cox
Gladys Joy Cox, 34, of Redding, CA, died Nov. 1, 2004. The memorial service will be held Nov. 18 at 11 a.m. at the Christian Church of Ashland.
