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Debora Seymour.Surrounded and held by people who love her dearly, Debora Seymour made her passage to the home of our ancestors Jan. 17, 2007.
Debora, 54, was born in New York City on Aug. 22, 1952. She lived there with her mother, Dorothy Conway, until she reached middle school, when they moved to Rochester, N.Y. At age 21, Debora headed west on a train through Canada. She spent two years in Okanogan County, and eventually made a home for herself in Astoria, Ore.
Debora loved to tell the story of how, at the age of 16, she ate her first bowl of brown rice, and how that experience changed her life forever. It was at that point that her passion for organic, wholesome food was awakened, which led her to discover other related passions. Among these were sustainable farming, environmental activism, social justice, nuclear protest work, building healthy community, service to any cause she believed in, Waldorf education and the healing arts.
All these passions were rooted in Debora’s deep spirituality, which was evident in every aspect of her life. She never forgot to be thankful for even the smallest blessing, and her faith led her to give selflessly and fearlessly of herself.
Debora attended Clatsop Community College, where she served as student body president. She worked to preserve the remaining old growth forests along the Oregon coast and helped make natural foods available in Clatsop County. She worked for many years at the Astoria Community Store, where she found her vocation.
It was on Feb. 3, 1993, that Debora’s greatest passion, her daughter Cedar, was born. Debora loved Cedar with her whole being, and was willing to move mountains to provide her a full and beautiful life. To this end, she brought Cedar to the Methow Valley in 2003 so she could attend The Community School.
Debora often said she had truly found her home in the Methow Valley and had no reason to ever leave. She and Cedar developed a close community of friends, who soon became members of their family.
Debora’s friends will always enjoy the fond memories they carry of her. She was famous for her "cosmic" cookies, especially jam thumbprints and chocolate chip. She grew the most beautiful delphiniums and loved to create amazing bouquets.
Debora served as chaplain of the Twisp Valley Grange. She often reminded people to "be mindful, " She was an inspiring and loving friend.
Debora is survived by her daughter Cedar St. Onge, her partner John Wadland and many members of her extended family. There will be a memorial ceremony for her in the spring, when the flowers bloom. He ashes will be scattered on Spirit Mountain.
Beverly Jean Webb, 76, passed away Jan. 26, 2007, in Moses Lake. She was born Sept. 14, 1930, in Wenatchee, to Oscar and Inez (Stouffer) Burck.
Beverly was raised in Twisp and graduated from Twisp High School in 1948. On April 29, 1950, she married
Ray Dean Webb in Wenatchee. They resided more than 25 years in South Kitsap County before moving to Moses Lake, where they lived for the past 25 years.
She and Ray were active in the Fraternal Order of Eagles in both Port Orchard and Moses Lake. Beverly was a bookkeeper for Safeway, Kyle’s Kloset, and H&R Block. She loved singing, camping and gardening.
Beverly will be missed by her husband of 56 years, Ray Webb of Moses Lake; her daughters Pam Hamburg of Moses Lake, Donna McCary of Port Orchard, Pat Rollman of Bremerton; her sons Steve Webb of Portland, Ore., Dean Webb of Troy, Mont.; her brother, Lyle Burck of Moses Lake; her sister, Mildred Olson of Ephrata; her grandchildren Galye Beckett of Bremerton, Michelle McCary of Kirkland, Jim McCary of New York, Tim Rollman of Blaine, Wash., Jessica Rollman of Bremerton, Donald Rollman of Bremerton, Amy Webb of Portland, Stevie Webb of Portland, Ryan Webb of Arizona, Ashley Scott of Moses Lake and Ronnie Scott of Bremerton; and her nine great-grandchildren.
Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 2, at Haven of Rest Funeral Home, Gig Harbor.
Remembrances may be made to: Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Avenue, 6th Floor; New York, NY 10001.
Evan Nerin Robertson died too young, at age 20, in an avalanche while snowmobiling in the beautiful Monashees Mountains of British Columbia, Canada on March 9, 2007. He was born April 18, 1986.
Evan’s life began among pines and aspens, coyote calls, sage brush and stars on a bluff overlooking the West Chewuch. He called himself a "valley boy" with pride and shared his family’s deep love of the Methow Valley and its community.
He attended Little Star Montessori, Allen Elementary (later Methow Valley Elementary), and Liberty Bell Jr./Sr. High School. Evan skied with the local Nordic and Alpine ski teams, ran track in junior high, and played football as a senior. He worked at Winthrop Mountain Sports starting at age 14 and was a volunteer at the Winthrop Fire Department throughout high school and college. He raced mountain bikes from age 10 to 17, winning many times at the regional level and achieving national ranking. He was awarded the distinguished "David Moffit Award for Best Junior, " a mountain biking honor Evan was very proud of.
Evan traveled the world with his family and was well aware of how fortunate he was to live in the Methow. Once, while exploring Morocco at age nine, he mentioned to his mom, "We live like kings!" He became a certified diver in Tahiti and para-glided in the Swiss Alps with his dad and sister Skye. He hiked throughout the Methow Valley, the North Cascades and completed a five-day journey from Canada to Hart’s Pass on the Pacific Crest Trail. He joined his dad and others climbing Mt. Rainier when he was 14. Evan loved hunting, camping and fishing with his close friends. Early in his life he became part of Chris and Don Lundgren’s family and learned to cowboy, work on their ranch, and ride four-wheelers, motorcycles, and snowmobiles.
After high school, Evan was accepted into the prestigious Washington State University Fire Services program after successfully completing a rigorous series of tests and interviews. While at WSU, Evan expanded his circle of friends, gained valuable skills, and became a certified EMT. To Evan’s great disappointment, the Fire Services program was discontinued the following year. He decided to return to his beloved Methow Valley in May 2006 and accepted his father’s offer to learn to design kitchens and join the family cabinet business, Alpine Designs.
Evan enjoyed snowboarding and he accompanied his family on many trips skiing/snowboarding in most of the western states and British Columbia (including a heli-ski trip with his dad and, most recently, a week in Whistler with his mom). Evan loved defying gravity: flying on rope swings, jumping off bridges, and bungee jumping. In the summers, if he wasn’t working on a wildland fire crew or with his dad, you could find him wakeboarding with friends. His most recent interest was snowmobiling and he spent many hours working and riding on his new sled. As he watched the winter begin to turn to spring, his enthusiasm for mountain biking rekindled, and he had just ordered a new freeride bike, much to his dad’s delight.
Evan’s character reflected the love of his parents and sister, the steadfast majesty of the mountains, and the wonderful local community to which he felt so connected. Evan had many friends and loved having a good time. He was soft spoken, strong, confident and brave. He was a loyal friend and a loving brother. He was maturing and becoming a fine young man. His family would like to thank each of you who loved, supported and encouraged him along his way.
Donations may be made in Evan’s memory to Aero Methow Rescue Services to support their extraordinary emergency and search and rescue work (P.O. Box 66, Twisp, WA 98856). Everyone is invited to a celebration of Evan’s life, Sunday, April 15, at 11 a.m. at the Winthrop Barn. A Community potluck will follow the celebration.
Evan will be greatly missed by his family, extended family, friends, and many in the community. His ashes will be cast at his favorite high places in the valley, and so he will remain with us always, everywhere.
Edward M. "Mike" Skylstad passed away in his Sun City, Arizona, home on March 14, 2007, surrounded by his wife and family.
Born March 28, 1938, in Omak, Mike was the third child born to Steven and Reneldis Skylstad. He was raised on the Methow River, instilling in him a lifelong love of water and fishing.
After graduating from Pateros High School in 1956, he attended Saint Martin’s College for one year, then transferred to Washington State University. He graduated from WSU in 1960 with a degree in horticulture.
In 1961 Mike enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Germany in the armored division as a teletype operator. He was honorably discharged in 1964.
The majority of his working life was spent as a horticultural consultant. He assisted with starting H.R. Spinner in Brewster and retired from Northwest Wholesale, Inc. in 1997 to operate his orchard full time. He taught agriculture at Wentachee Valley College, had a weekly horticulture radio program and conducted educational seminars.
Mike was a mentor to many, giving freely of himself and his knowledge. He had a natural feel for the land and was respected as a premier consultant.
Mike was also an innovative and progressive grower, holding the belief that quality would always be worth more than quantity. In 1996 he converted the remainder of his orchard to a variety of organic pears, cherries and pluots.
He served as past president of both the Okanogan County Fieldmen’s Association and Washington State Horticultural Association. He served on both boards for many years.
He was the recipient of many industry awards throughout his career, including warehouse awards and Grower of the Year. He last received the Silver Pear Award in 2006 from the Washington Horticultural Association, an acknowledgement of his achievements, contributions and expertise in the field.
In 2001, Mike became ill with congestive heart failure. In 2005 he became involved with the "bridge to transplant" program for prospective heart transplant patients at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. He participated in a clinical trial for the Thoratec Heartmate 11 LVAD, a mechanical heart assist device. He underwent open heart surgery and was the first person to be implanted with the device in Spokane.
No matter how rough his path became, he never complained nor lost sight of the fact that his participation in the program could help others. He never knew the meaning of the word "handicap". When advancing Muscular Dystrophy eventually prevented him from kneeling, he built a garden three feet off the ground.
Throughout the years, Mike always made time for fishing. Ocean, river, lake or stream - trout, steelhead, and salmon were always his main pursuit. During his extended illness, with the help of Joe Dezellem, Carlos Swayze and Matt Watson, Mike continued to fulfill his fishing wishes. He was able to make a trip to Kenai, Alaska, several trips to coastal rivers, and local trips to the Columbia, Methow and Okanogan rivers.
He is survived by his wife and soulmate, Gloria; his beloved Kriket; a stepson, Matt Watson of Glendale, Ariz.; daughters, Teresa of Omak and Michelle of Okanogan; sons Michael S. of Phoenix and Scott of Walla Walla; brothers, Bishop William of Spokane, Ron of Cashmere and Steve of East Wenatchee; sister, Olene Konkel of Albuquerque; grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by an infant brother, mother, stepdaughter, sister and father.
Mike, you are greatly loved and will be greatly missed.
Rosary will be held Tuesday (April 3) at 7 p.m. at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, Okanogan.
Services will be held Wednesday, April 4, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church. Father Pitstick will be presiding
Memorials should be made to: Spokane Medical Center, P.O. Box 2555, Spokane, WA 99220 or American Hospice Foundation, Attn: Connie Frisbee, 2222 W. Northern Ave, Ste. A100, Phoenix, AZ 85021
Donald Boyd Webb of Quincy died Dec. 14, 2006.
Don was born March 14, 1932, in Twisp, to Walter Webb and Hazel (Liebl) Fee. His grandparents were pioneers of the Methow Valley.
There will be a graveside service at Beaver Creek cemetery Saturday (April 21) at 2 p.m. with refreshments to follow at the Methow Valley Senior Center for family and friends.
Jeanne C. Windel, 88, died April 10, 2007, in Brewster. She was born April 9, 1919, at Pateros. She lived all her 88 years in the lower Okanogan County. She married
Fay Windle in 1938.
She is survived by her sons Bill Windel and Abe Windel of Brewster; daughter Mae Thomas of Mallott; six grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Fay Windel; her brother Buck Shaw; and her infant sister.
Graveside services were today (April 18) at the Methow cemetery near Methow.
Bailey Joanne Harper, age 3, was born Sept. 11, 2003, in Everett. She peacefully entered into rest while in the loving arms of her mother on April 9, 2007, at Mary Bridge Childrens Hospital in Tacoma. Bailey endured a brave fight with cancer for two of her three short years. She will be sorely missed by all those who came to know her beautiful brown eyes and playful smile.
Bailey joins her dear Grandmother Joanne Harper, in Heaven to watch over the rest of us.
Bailey leaves behind her "Momma" Cami Harper (formerly of Twisp); "Daddy" Jack Longnecker; little brother Noah of Tacoma; aunts Kathy White of Puyallup, Angel (Shon) Bivens of Burien, Sheena Miles of Everett, and Riki Bagiardi of Puyallup; uncle, Randy Harper of Tacoma; special friends Isaac Carlsen, Leanna Jensen and Scott Mortland all of Marysville, and many other family, friends, and strangers who heard of her fight and offered prayers, thoughts, and donations.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the Methow Valley Eagles and its members for their support last year. Their generosity was deeply appreciated!
Anne Supple Cramer, retired schoolteacher and widow of the first American soldier killed in Vietnam, passed away on April 13, 2007, in Saratoga, Calif. She was 83 years old.
She was born in Beacon, N.Y., on May 27, 1924, one of seven children in the family of an Irish-American railroad conductor. She graduated from New Paltz State College in 1943, and began a teaching career that lasted over four decades. Her first assignment was Fostertown Elementary School in Newburgh, N.Y., where she co-taught with her sister, Queene Supple.
On June 25, 1947, she married
Harry G. Cramer, an Army officer from Johnstown, Pa. Their wedding was at the Catholic Chapel at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. Wherever the Army stationed the couple, Anne continued her career by teaching in post schools.
Captain Cramer was killed at Nha Trang, Vietnam, on Oct. 21, 1957, while commanding a team of "Green Beret" advisors from the Okinawa-based 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne). He was the first U.S. Army soldier to die in the Vietnam War.
Anne Cramer returned with her children to Newburgh, N.Y., and resumed her career as a teacher at Gidney Avenue School. She never remarried
, but focused on raising her three children, and caring for her youngest sister and widowed mother. She enjoyed traveling and music, and was an expert bridge player. She retired from teaching in 1985.
She is survived by her three children, Kainan Bolger of Park City, Utah, Quinn Cramer of Saratoga, Calif., and Lt. Col. (Retired) Hank Cramer of Winthrop, Wash. She has seven grandchildren and two great-granddaughters. She is also survived by a sister, Helen Gurian of Cooperstown, N.Y.
Memorial services will be held both in Saratoga, Calif., and at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.
Shirley McGee, 76, of Sioux Falls, S.D., died April 17, 2007, at Select Specialty Hospital.
Shirley Lince was born May 7, 1930, in Yakima. She grew up in Winthrop, and graduated from Winthrop High School in 1948. Following high school, she married
Richard Renn in Winthrop. They lived in Winthrop, where they raised their six children. She moved to Sioux Falls in 1977.
She married
Wilbur McGee on April 28, 1978, in Sioux Falls. They lived in Sioux Falls, where Shirley worked at Chris’ restaurant and Rosie’s Café. She was most recently employed as a waitress and cashier at the Sunshine Café. She worked there for more than 20 years until January 2007.
She is survived by her children, Mary Hand of Goldendale, Wash., Lynn (Curt) Bovee of Winthrop, Jackie (Dan) Segovia of Whitehall, Mont., Debbie Peck of Twisp, Bill (Lawry) Renn of Winthrop, Sharon (Rich) Wise of Madison, S.D., Galen (Lauri) McGee of Worthing, S.D., Sheryl Huber of Ramona, S.D., Tracy McGee of Moorcroft, Wyo., Sandy (Rick) Ainfinson of Sherman, S.D., and Tammy (Rocky) Miller of Scotland, S.D.; numerous grandchildren and great -grandchildren; a brother, Jack Lince of Winthrop; and a dear friend, Marge Kramer. She was preceded in death by her son, Rick Renn; daughter, Pat Miller; her parents; and her husband, Wilbur.
Graveside services will be Saturday (April 28) at 11 a.m. at Sullivan cemetery in Winthrop.
Elizabeth Louise Wilson, 49, of Seattle, passed away March 20, 2007. She was born Feb. 14, 1958, in Ventura, Calif.
She is survived by her sons, Bobby and Bryan Wilson of Seattle; ex-husband and lifelong friend, Mike Wilson of Seattle; mother, Virginia Coleman of Everett; sisters, Barbara Evans (Betsy’s twin) of the Seattle area, Margaret Coleman (Rick Avery and their son Clayton) of Winthrop and Mary Cotton of the Seattle area; brothers Bill and Red Coleman of Winthrop and his son Mattie Coleman of Winthrop; numerous nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by her father, Robert Coleman.
Betsy loved unconditionally and taught us the value of living each day to its fullest. She will live on forever in our hearts. A celebration of Betsy’s life was held March 26 at Northwest Church in Shoreline.
Lois Martin Sabold of The Terraces of Los Gatos, Calif., died April 21, 2007.Survivors include her son, David Sabold, and a daughter-in-law Marilyn Sabold of Winthrop, and daughter Joan Sabold Yeager and son-in-law William Yeager of Menlo Park, Calif.
Lois is also survived by three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Lois continued to grow in wisdom over her 95 years – she showed many of us how to live gracefully.
She enjoyed her visits to the Methow over the years and supported the work of the Methow Conservancy.
Elsie May (Berkey) Stokes, 90, passed away Dec. 30, 2006, at Mid-Valley Hospital in Omak after a brief illness. She was born May 29, 1916, to Victor Hiram and Flora Bond (Job) Berkey in Port Orford, Ore.
As a small child, Elsie moved with her family to a farm outside Olympia, Wash. Elsie attended Olympia High School, graduating in the class of 1934. She attended Central Washington State College in Ellensburg for two years.
To earn money to go to college, Elsie worked as a secretary in the Office of Finance and Budget at the state capital. On trips to the Methow Valley to visit aunts Mary Batie and Grace Thurlow, she met a young cowboy by the name of Jay Stokes. On Feb. 21, 1940, Elsie and Jay were married
in Wenatchee.
Their married
life started out in a sheep camp by Entiat owned by Frank Morse of Winthrop. Elsie was the camp cook. When the lambing was done that spring, they moved to Twisp and rented a small farm south of town. Their first child, Bonnie, was born there. Jay had taken a civil service test and received an offer to work for the Social Security Administration in Baltimore, so Jay, Elsie and Bonnie went by train to the East Coast.
It was soon apparent that the big city wasn’t the place to raise a family, so a return to Twisp happened in 1942. Son Morris joined the family at this time.
In 1945, a ranch on Beaver Creek that Jay lived on as a small child became available, so Jay and Elsie purchased it. Elsie grew large gardens, preserved fruits and vegetables and maintained a large flock of laying hens to help with grocery money. Sons Steven and Victor were to follow at this time.
In 1964, a secretarial position at Twisp High School became available and Elsie started a career she was particularly good at. She was an adept bookkeeper and secretary. Elsie continued as Methow Valley School District secretary after the consolidation of Twisp and Winthrop schools, retiring in 1976. Elsie served on the elections board for Twisp Rural precinct for a number of years.
Elsie was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Jay, in 2005; her father Victor; mother Flora (Bonnie); stepfather Eric and brothers Victor and Morris. She is survived by sister Mary Berkey of Sutherlin, Ore.; daughter Bonnie Frost of Moses Lake; son Morris (Kathy) of Milan, Mo.; sons Steven (Nancy) of Ephrata and Victor (Carrie) of Twisp; 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
A graveside memorial service is planned for Saturday, (May 19) at 11 a.m. at the Beaver Creek cemetery, with a gathering for lunch afterwards at the Methow Valley Senior Citizens Center.
