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John Houston
1914-2004
John A. Houston, 89, passed away peacefully on September 28th at the Rogue Valley Community Hospital. His life will be remembered at a memorial on Sunday afternoon, November 21st at the Unitarian Fellowship in Ashland.
The only son of Ethel Robinson Houston and John Alexander Houston, he was born and grew up in Spokane, WA. He graduated from Stanford University in 1936, worked in marine insurance and at the California State Relief Administration in San Jose and San Francisco. On the day after Pearl Harbor, December 5, 1941, he enlisted in the Navy, serving in the South Pacific as a communications officer on Halsey's staff. With the war over in 1945 he took advantage of the G.I. Bill of Rights to earn an A.M. at Stanford University and his Ph.D in political Science at the University of Michigan. His dissertation "Latin America in the United Nations" was published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Affairs.
He taught political science and international affairs at the University of Mississippi, Oxford, Mississippi from 1949 to 1954. In 1954 he joined the faculty of Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois and chaired the political science department for many years, retiring in 1980. One of his most vivid memories of life at Knox involved serving for a week as host for Dean Atchison, former U.S. Secretary of State.
In 1939 he married the former Marjorie Anne Robinson, deceased. They had three children; Alexandra Benham of St. Louis, MO, Ann Houston Martin of Arlington, MA, and John Alexander Houston, deceased. In 1969 he married the former Polly Turner of Palo Alto, CA, and became stepfather to Jane Teas Hebert of Columbia, SC, Howard Teas of Anchorage, AK, Steve Turner, deceased, Susan Dorman of Chico, CA, and George Turner of Davis, CA. He leaves one granddaughter, Catherine McKenna of Fayston, VT, two great-grandchildren and six step-grandchildren.
In addition to his love of teaching and interacting with students, John was an avid reader and intensely interested in politics. While in the hospital he asked for an Absentee Ballot because he wanted to be sure that he voted. He loved golf, music, San Francisco, and the Pacific Northwest. Throughout his life he remained a loyal Stanford supporter.
John and Polly retired to Hilton Head, SC in 1980, then moved to Ashland in 1987. Until recently, he enjoyed attending symphony and chamber performances, plays, playing the piano with the Extended Circle, participating in SOLIR where he also taught an occasional course, the Foreign Affairs seminars, and the Unitarian Church.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Dean Atchison Scholarship Fund, Political Science Department, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois.
Susan Roderick-Reynolds
October 6th was a day of great loss for the family and friends of Susan Roderick-Reynolds. The Roderick family are lifetime residents of Ashland and Susan will come Rest in the Columbarium at Trinity Episcopal Church in Ashland. Susan was born in Ashland July 13, 1955. She graduated from Ashland High School and continued her education at the Museum Art School in Portland, OR. Susan has spent the last 20 years with her husband Jamie in Sausalito, CA, where she developed and built an extremely successful Graphic Arts business. She worked with many notable people including those in the film and television industry where she was recognized by many and presented an Emmy Award for her work.
Beyond her successful career, Susan was loved and cherished by her family, a number of great friends, and she was a wonderful wife and sole mate to her husband. Susan lost a long, hard fought battle to cancer, her loss will touch the lives of all who knew her, and her courage and determination will be an inspiration to us all. Susan was truly loved and her memory will remain with us always.
Susan is survived by: Her husband James Roderick-Reynolds of Sausalito, CA, Mother; Shirley Long of Ashland, OR, Sisters; Sharon Denzer and two sons of Phoenix, OR, Shelia Gleim and daughter of Phoenix, OR, Sylvia Bieniek and daughter of Dahka, Bangladesh, Aunt; Isobel Grover and four children of Ashland, OR. Many very important extended family members.
A Memorial Service for Susan will be at Trinity Episcopal Church with Reverend Ann Bartlett Residing. Monday October 11, 2004 at 10:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, anyone wanting to Donate in her memory may do so to: University of California at San Francisco Foundation, In Memory of Susan Roderick-Reynolds, Breast Cancer Center, 44 Montgomery Street, Suite 2200, San Francisco, CA 94104
H.R. 'Buck' Graves
A graveside service for H.R. "Buck" Graves will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 14, at Scenic Hills Memorial Park, Ashland. The Rev. W. E. (Bill) Hase will officiate.
Mr. Graves, 79, of White City, died Saturday, Oct. 9, 2004 at his home.
He was born on Sept. 21, 1925 in Sheridan AR. He married LaNell Elbie in Eugene, OR.
Mr. Graves served in the U.S. Army during WW II. He moved to Oregon in the 1950s.
He worked in the lumber industry and in the furniture sales business until his retirement in 1983.
Survivors include: his wife, LaNell Graves; his son and daughter-in-law Louis and Shirley Graves; daughter-in-law Wendy Graves; step-children, DoRita Gordon, LaVita DeHaven, Sam Elbie, Jeff Elbie; sister, Kathryn Flynt; brother Pete Graves, 14 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Bessie; a son Ray; brothers, Reed, Elbert, and Delbert; and a sister, Imogene Lainer.
William Isaac (Ike) McCarley
William Isaac (Ike) McCarley, long-time Ashland resident and Shakespearean actor, died Tuesday, October 5th in Portland, of heart failure following a 20 year battle with cancer.
Ike was born on January 15, 1934 in Davis, Oklahoma. Son of Hisey (Mac) and Vida McCarley, former owners of McCarley's Books on Main Street. Ike graduated from Southern Oregon College in 1959 with a double major in Electrical Engineering and the Humanities.
Throughout his adolescence and young adulthood, Ike worked in the Ashland family store and acted in Shakespearean plays. He performed in a total of eight productions in the Shakespearean festival before leaving Ashland in 1953 to work for KMED radio in Medford.
In 1963, Ike married Sue Shafer of Oklahoma. In Oklahoma, he began a 24 year career with the U.S. Postal Service. He moved to Portland, Oregon in 1987, where he continued his career with the postal service until his retirement in 1995.
His survivors include two sisters: Cecilia Gordon of Cottonwood, Arizona and Janney McCarley of Las Vegas, Nevada; one brother: Francis McCarley of Berthoud, Colorado; two daughters: Shann Jeffery of Denver Colorado and Erin McCarley of Austin, Texas; and one granddaughter: Anna Jeffery of Denver, Colorado.
A private memorial service will be held on October 16, 2004.
Theo R. Campbell
The graveside service for Theo Roger Campbell will be at 2 p.m. Wed., Oct. 20, 2004, at the Mountain View Cemetery, Ashland. A visitation will he held from 5 to 7 p.m. today, Tues. Oct. 19, at Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home, Ashland.
Theo, 66, of Talent, died Saturday (Oct. 16, 2004) at Rogue Valley Medical Center, Medford.
He was born August 17, 1938 in Wethers, Oklahoma the son of Vollie and Corean Campbell and was raised in Ashland and Northern California. On July 16, 1960 at Reno, Nevada he married Pat Winkler who survives.
Theo worked for Fruitgrowers Company in Hilt, Industrial Air and Medco in Medford and retired from Boise Cascade Corporation in 2001.
He enjoyed hunting and camping. He was a handyman and mechanic willing to help anyone in need. He was a member of the Teamsters Union.
Surviving in addition to his wife are: two daughters, Kelly Campbell of Medford and Karen Ferguson of Eugene, Oregon; two brothers, L.J. Campbell of Farmington, New Mexico and Allon Campbell of McKinleyville, CA; four sisters, Alma Weems of Cottonwood, CA, Fran VanKwawegen of Greenacres, WA, Jeanie Brown of Brawley, CA, and Viola Anderson of Fort Nelson, Canada; and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, Oregon Affiliate, Inc., 1425 N.E. Irving, No. 100, Portland, OR 97232-4201.
Funeral arrangements under the direction of the Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home, Ashland.
Kurt Hartmann
Kurt Hartmann, 78, of Ashland, died Friday (October 15, 2004) at home. Arrangements: Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home, Ashland.
Alan Irvin Davis
Alan Irvin Davis, of Ashland, Oregon died suddenly Sunday, October 17, 2004 in San Francisco. He was 48 years old.
Alan was born to Paul Alan Davis and Mary Louise (Viox) Davis on May 18, 1956 in Castro Valley, CA. After a short stay in Dunsmuir, the family relocated to Willits in 1961, where he attended school until his graduation from Willits High School in 1974. Alan was an accomplished athlete, playing basketball, baseball, and football. He was also co-editor of his highschool paper (The Wolverine) and student body vice president his senior year. Alan attended the University of Nevada Reno and Mendocino Community College before settling in Chico, where he graduated from Chico State University (political science) in 1979.
While in college, Alan began a longtime career in the restaurant business. He was a chef until 2003, most recently at Omar's in Ashland. He had been working for Ocean Beauty since that time and until his death.
Alan met Theodore Ortiz in January 1980, and their relationship lasted 24 years. Ortiz died on June 8, 2004, in the couple's Ashland home. The couple had a daughter, Patti, and two grand-daughters. Alan was also predeceased by his father; and his grandparents Irvin and Elizabeth (Petersen) Viox, and Arthur and Anne (Canty) Davis.
He is survived by his mother, Mary Davis, of McKinleyville, CA, his sister, Ann Davis Gervan and brother, Jack Davis, both of Eureka, CA. his brother Rev. Stuart Davis of Dawson, NE., nephews, Calen Davis, Chris Davis, Alex Wissman, Edward Davis, his niece Megan Davis, brother-in-law David Gervan, and several cousins and an uncle.
Many will remember Alan for his love of the University of California Golden Bears, his tennis game, his sensitivity, his smile and his trust in the goodness of humankind. He was tireless in his work for the DARE program and encouraged others to be accepting of their own "prodigal sons". Go with God Big Al, and GO BEARS!
Family and friends are invited to memorial services at 1 p.m. on Saturday October 30, at First Presbyterian Church in Ashland, OR.
Memorial contributions in Alan's name may be made to any local DARE program or to any charity which helps children.
