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Merl C. Howard
Merl C. Howard, 81, a long-time resident of Ashland passed away Thursday, July 31, 2003 in the home of his daughter, Pamela Nelson of Ashland.
He was born September 12, 1921 to Benjamin Franklin Howard and Olive Howard in Round Valley, Idaho.
Mr. Howard moved to Ashland for the first time in 1935, after his father's death. He attended junior high school in Ashland while living with his grandmother. He returned to Idaho soon thereafter. He worked as a ranch hand for the Civilian Conservation Corps and for Weyerhaeuser until he enlisted in the Army Air Force. He rose to the rank of Tech Sergeant with the 510th Fighter Squadron, 405th Group as a propeller specialist. During W.W. II he served in the U.S., England, Normandy, Northern France, the Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe. He was a part of one of the turning points in W.W.II, the D-Day invasion, as well as the events that followed, leading to the allied victory in Europe. He was honorably discharged in November 1945.
After W.W.II, he returned to Ashland, and worked for Weyerhaeuser Corp. He married Patricia M.L. McCoy in 1947, and they had two daughters. Though he and his wife divorced, they continued to be great friends and allies for the rest of their lives.
In the early 1950s, he opened A-1 Cabinet Shop, and eventually started building homes. He built many homes, commercial buildings and housing complexes in Ashland and the Southern Oregon area. He was the building contractor for the current Ashland Daily Tidings building. He built his last custom home in his 60s. He continued to build furniture and do small construction jobs until 2 years ago.
He was an avid outdoorsman. He was a prolific reader with particular interests in World history, Northwest history, the classics and the natural sciences.
His ex-wife preceded Mr. Howard in death. His companion of many years Gail Schmaltz also preceded him in death. Mr. Howard is survived by his good friend and companion of recent years, Lois Severson.
Family members that survive him are two daughters, Denise Howard Moon of Vancouver, Wash., and Pamela Nelson of Ashland; two sisters, Jane Roberts of Auburn, Calif., and Aloha Hays; and one grandchild. Mr. Howard is also survived by his 20-year old cat, "Mr. Cat."
At the time of his death Mr. Howard was in the home he built for his daughter and her husband, surrounded by furniture he built for them.
Those who wish may pay their respects from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 5, 2003 at Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home, Ashland.
A gathering of family and friends will be held to celebrate his life, Saturday, September 13, 2003, 4 p.m., at the home of his daughter, Pamela Nelson.
Montana Laird Trites
Mrs. Montana Laird Trites, 93, long-time resident of Ashland, died Saturday, August 2, in her home.
She was born December 29, 1909 to Thomas Warner Laird II and Lilly Mae Kerlee of Darby, Mont. She married G. Richard "Dick" Trites on June 24, 1929 and moved to the Rogue Valley in 1934.
Mrs. Trites was an outgoing member of the Ashland community. She was a charter member of the Ashland Soroptimist club and the Eleanor Roosevelt League. She held various positions in the Eastern Star and actively participated in and supported Job's Daughters, Demolay, and the Masons.
In the 1950s, Mr. And Mrs. Trites opened the Trites Coffee Company in Ashland, serving as a wholesale restaurant supply company. It was truly a family business; Dick did sales, Montana was the bookkeeper and their son, Rich, was a delivery driver. After the coffee company was sold, she spent many years working in customer service at Engle Drug and Ideal Drug stores in Ashland.
During the last several years of Mrs. Trites' life, her eyesight was failing and she was unable to enjoy books, crossword puzzles and card games. She turned her energy to writing poems about family, friends and life. This poem was one of the first she wrote:
Yes, Montana is my real name. Of that there is no doubt. And the story I remember is that father picked it out.
I've been called a lot of names as the years have drifted by, but the one that made me chuckle was when I was called "Big Sky".
Mrs. Trites' husband Dick died in March 1980 at age 72 and her son Rich in March 1997 at age 59. Mrs. Trites is survived by two granddaughters: Teresa Moss of Mt. Shasta, Calif., and Tisha Trites of San Diego, Calif.; two great grandchildren, Casey Moss and Kaila Moss of Mt. Shasta, Calif.
A celebration of life will be held at 12 p.m., Saturday, August 30, 2003 in Lithia Park at the picnic area above the upper duck pond. Memorial contributions may be made to the Trites-Laird Memorial Scholarship fund at 4360 Niagara Avenue, San Diego, Calif. 92107.
Arrangements under direction of Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Ashland.
Verna Aho
Verna Aho, 61, died at home on August 14, 2003, after a two-year battle with lymphoma. A memorial service will be held at Windmill Inn in Ashland on August 23, 2003 at 5:30 p.m.
Verna was born August 18, 1941 in Sacramento, Calif. She married Arthur Aho Jr., on August 20, 1959 in Reno, Nev. They separated in 2001.
She attended several colleges throughout the country, receiving a bachelors degree in English from Southern Illinois University and a masters degree in education from Southern Oregon University in 1982. Verna taught and coached sports at Ashland Middle School from 1975 until her retirement in 1999. She continued as a substitute teacher until 2002.
Verna is survived by her husband; her son, Arthur Aho III of Alaska and Mexico; her daughters, Karyn Aho of Eugene, Annie Mattos of Ashland; her granddaughters, Ashley and Averie Aho-Green of Ashland, Tatiana and Mackenzie Mattos of Ashland; her sister Ellen Wayker of Los Gatos, Calif. and brother, Chuck Start of Bend.
Verna was active in 4-H, Camp Fire, and Pony Club with both her children and grandchildren. She was an active and energetic volunteer with all of these organizations. She loved children, and touched many lives as a teacher, leader, foster parent and friend.
In lieu of flowers, her family would deeply appreciate contributions to the SOU Foundation Verna Aho Memorial Scholarship Fund, 1250 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, Or 97520, 541-552-6127.
Arrangements under direction of Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Ashland.
Sidney E. Ainsworth
The memorial service for Sidney E. Ainsworth will be 11 a.m. Saturday, August 30, 2003 at the Ashland First Baptist Church. Officiating will be pastors Don Baldrica and Dwayne Robinson. Mr. Ainsworth, 75, of Medford, died Thursday, August 14, 2003 at the Rogue Valley Medical Center in Medford.
Mr. Ainsworth was born December 28, 1927 at Murphy the son of Gladys and Ralph Ainsworth. He was reared in Murphy and served in the United States Army from 1945 to 1947.
In 1953 he graduated from the University of Oregon School of Law and joined Sam Davis in a law practice in Ashland. He retired in 1993.
On April 14, 1946 in Grants Pass, he married Carolyn Marie Benedict, who survives. They were later divorced.
On July 12, 1981 at Lake Tahoe, Nev., he married Janet Parsons, who survives.
Sid was very active in the Ashland community. He helped create the Southern Oregon College Foundation and was one of five founders of the Rogue Valley Manor.
He was an active supporter of the Britt Festival in Jacksonville the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Boy Scouts of America, the Medford Gospel Mission, and Ducks Unlimited.
Mr. Ainsworth was a member of the Elks Lodge where he served as exalted ruler. He was a member of the Ashland First Baptist Church.
Mr. Ainsworth enjoyed hunting, fishing, woodworking, traveling, gardening, and construction. He was a loving husband, father, and devoted grandfather.
Surviving in addition to his wife are: His son, Sydney Bruce Ainsworth and his wife Gloria of Hawi, Hawaii; his daughters Nonda Donovan and her husband Bill of Davis, Calif., and Lynda Forderer and her husband Tom of Medford; son James Parsons of Beaverton; daughter Kate Stoller and her husband Greg of Washougal, Wash.; brothers Ralph Ainsworth and his wife Elaine of Medford and Dale Ainsworth and his wife Dody of Phoenix; one sister Louise Fuller and her husband Orville of Grants Pass; and five grandchildren, Scott Donovan, Amy Donovan, Megan Donavan, Lauren Forderer, and Marin Stoller.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Medford Gospel Mission, 125 West Jackson Street, Medford, Oregon 97501, the Boy Scouts of American, Crater Lake Council, 3039 Hanley Road, Central Point, OR 97502 or to Mercy Flights, 3650 Biddle Road, Medford, OR 97504.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Ashland.
