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Frances Dempster Dwyer
Frances Dempster Dwyer, 90, of Medford, died Wednesday (April 25, 2001) at her home. A private service will be held.
Memorial contributions may be made to Southern Oregon Humane Society, 2910 Table Rock Road, Medford, OR 97501.
She was born on Jan. 22, 1911, in Pueblo, Colo. She moved to the Rogue Valley in the early 1940s.
Mrs. Dwyer worked as a dental assistant for many years. She worked at Camp White during World War II.
She enjoyed gardening, building houses, dancing and her cat.
She is survived by two daughters, Susan Carrigan, Medford, and Janet Lynch, Eugene.; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two husbands, Marcus Dempster and Tom Dwyer.
Claudette Mary Speaks
Family and friends will gather for a memorial service for Claudette Mary Speaks at 10 a.m. Saturday at Central Valley Chapel, Central Point.
Mrs. Speaks, 45, of Gold Hill, died Saturday (April 28, 2001) at her home.
She was born on March 1, 1956, in Cohoes, N.Y, a daughter of Henry and Annette (Couture) Ekmalian. In 1994, she moved to Gold Hill from Fresno, Calif.
On May 30, 1979, in Lake Tahoe, she married Gary A. Speaks, who survives.
In 1999, she received a bachelor’s degree in teaching from Southern Oregon University.
Mrs. Speaks was co-owner of G.S.A. Computer Wholesale Corp., Medford.
In addition to her husband, survivors include a son, Christopher Shannon, Medford; two daughters, Jennifer Ryan and Samantha Robyn, Gold Hill; her mother, Annette L. Couture, Oakland, Calif.; two sisters, Paulette Ruth Parks, Lakewood, Calif., and Annette Marie Ekmalian, Fresno, Calif.; three brothers, Henry Paul, Lakewood, Calif., John Paul, San Diego, and Peter John, Fresno; and a grandmother, Varanouche Kalvstian, Fresno, Calif.
Friends may pay their respects from 3 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday at Central Valley Chapel.
Raymond H. Johnson Sr.
Raymond H. Johnson Sr., 89, of Central Point, died Saturday (April 28, 2001) at his home. Family services will be held in Daly City, Calif.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 1425 Irving, Suite 100, Portland, OR 97232 or the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 698, Medford, OR 97501.
Mr. Johnson was born on Aug. 22, 1911, in Chicago, a son of Olaf and Gerta Almquist Johnson. He moved to the Rogue Valley 13 years ago from Daly City. On March 12, 1938, in San Francisco, he married Bernice Burman, who died in 1974.
In 1929, he graduated from Arlington Heights High School, where he lettered in basketball, football, track and baseball.
Mr. Johnson worked for many years as a warehouse manager for Sears. From 1953 to 1971 in San Francisco, he was operations manager for the furniture store W & J Sloane. He worked for James Hill Office Furniture in Sacramento, Calif., retiring in 1982.
He enjoyed flower gardening, golfing and the outdoors and was a cartoonist.
Survivors include a son, Raymond H. Jr., Benicia, Calif.; four daughters, Karen Gallagher, and Nina Johnson, both Medford, Darlene Applegate, Vallejo, Calif., and Judith Burnham, San Mateo, Calif.; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a brother and two sisters.
Arrangements: Central Valley Cremation & Funeral Care, Central Point.
Alice Bernice Grell
Alice Bernice Grell, 71, of Independence, formerly of the Rogue Valley, died Sunday (April 29, 2001) at a Salem hospital. A service will be held later.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association, 9320 S.W. Barbur Blvd., Suite 140, Portland, OR 97219
She was born Aug. 22, 1929, in Medford, a daughter of Otto and Mary Howard. She attended schools in Medford and Ashland. In 1970, she graduated from what is now known as Western Oregon University.
Mrs. Grell was a member of the Christ Church in Monmouth.
She enjoyed arts and crafts.
Survivors include a daughter, Kathryn Smith, Fife, Wash.; four sons, Thomas and Peter, both of Salem, Robert, Independence, and Steven, McMinnville; a sister, Beatrice Price, Phoenix Ariz., and six grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles, in 1998.
Arrangements: Farnstrom Mortuary Inc., Independence.
Erin Artoff
The memorial service and celebration of the life of Erin Artoff will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday at the family’s home at 151 Fielder Lane, Rogue River.
Mrs. Artoff, 45, of Rogue River, died April 20, 2001, at her home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Rogue River Chieftain Field of Dreams, P.O. Box 1760, Rogue River, OR 97537.
She was born July 3, 1955, in Orange, Calif., and grew up in Southern California. She graduated from San Bernardino High School in 1973 and went on to graduate from dental assistant school. In 1976, she married David Artoff, who survives. They moved to Rogue River in 1981.
Mrs. Artoff taught aerobics in the community for 20 years. She also taught physical education at Christian Life School and coached cheerleading at Rogue River High School.
She was president of the Rogue River Chieftain Booster Club and coached various softball, basketball and volleyball teams over the years. She was elected to the Rogue River School Board in 1998 and served until her resignation earlier this year due to health concerns.
Survivors, in addition to her husband, include two daughters, Brittany and Ashleigh; a son, Samuel; her parents, Edwin and Joyan Illsley; two brothers, Mark and David Illsley; and a sister, Karen Campbell.
Arrangements: Grants Pass Funeral Alternatives and Crematory.
John Eldon Sanford
John Eldon Sanford, 56, of Eugene, formerly of Medford, died Wednesday (April 25, 2001) of cancer, at his sister’s home in Eugene. No service is planned.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. James Episcopal Church, 210 E. Third St., Coquille, OR 97423.
He was born June 27, 1944, in Salem, the son of Ray and Dorothy Sanford. He graduated from Coquille High School in 1962 and attended Northwest Christian College.
Mr. Sanford worked at Fred Meyer in Portland. He moved to Medford 13 years ago from Portland and received training in floral design at Rogue Community College. He worked as a floral designer in the Medford area for many years.
He was a member of the Boy Scouts and DeMolay, and was an Episcopal lay reader.
Mr. Sanford enjoyed reading, classical music and playing the trombone, recorder and organ. In Medford, he performed regularly with a church handbell choir and the Tintinabulation ensemble.
Survivors include his sister, Jane Harrison, Eugene; and his stepfather, Robert Ley, Coquille. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Arrangements: Chapel of Memories.
William St. Dennis
William St. Dennis 68, of Medford, died April 13, 2001 at Rogue Valley Medical Center. Committal will be at Eagle Point National Cemetery.
He was born June 26, 1932, in Tucson, Ariz.
Mr. St. Dennis served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He moved from Tucson, Ariz., to Southern California after the service. He had lived in the Rogue Valley since the early 1990s.
He enjoyed sports, puzzles and crafts.
Arrangements: Rogue Valley Funeral Alternatives and Crematory.
Benjamin B. Brackin Jr.
The celebration of the life of Benjamin B. Brackin Jr. will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 12, at the Eagles Lodge, 2000 Table Rock Road, Medford.
Mr. Brackin, 38, of Sams Valley, died Monday (April 23, 2001) at Ridgeview Assisted Living from complications of diabetes and renal failure.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Eagle Point High School Scholarship Fund at any branch of Wells Fargo Bank, or the Rogue Valley Dialysis Patient Fund, 2868 Creekside Circle, Medford, OR 97504.
He was born March 15, 1963, in Ventura, Calif. He lived in the Rogue Valley for 27 years. Over the years, he lived in Virginia, California, Ethiopia, Washington and then Sams Valley.
Mr. Brackin graduated with honors from Eagle Point High School in 1981. At EPHS he was active in Math Club, Future Farmers of America, and woodshop, winning the Golden Hammer Award in his senior year. He attended Chemeketa College in Salem for two years. He also took classes at Rogue Community College and Southern Oregon University.
He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
Mr. Brackin was an avid pool player. He enjoyed four-wheeling with his friends, fishing and camping.
Survivors include his parents, Ben and Gerry Brackin, White City; a brother, John D., Medford; and a sister, Karen Brackin.
Arrangements: Rogue Valley Funeral Alternatives and Crematory.
