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William D. Mearns
The memorial service for William D. Mearns will be held Saturday, November 13, 2004 at 2 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 member of the Theta Delta Phi Honorary Fraternity. 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 and son-in-law, Billee and Pete Stemple of Jacksonville; sister, Francis Nebel of Belt, Montana; grandson and grand-daughter-in-law, Scott and Kara Stemple of Hillsboro, OR; two great-grandchildren, Camden and Lela Stemple of Hillsboro, OR; and numerous neices & nephews. He was preceded in death by one sister, Florence Adams.
Bill was loved deeply by his family and friends throughout the community of Ashland and will be sorely missed.
Leona Faye Hoover
Leona Faye Hoover, 94, of Ashland, died Monday (Nov. 8, 2004) at Linda Vista Care Center in Ashland. A private family service was held.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.
She was born Leona Sutton on Sept. 19, 1910 in Independence, Kansas. In 1926 in Independence, Kansas she married Dale D. Hoover who preceded her in death in 1979.
Mrs. Hoover worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse until her retirement in 1975.
She was a member of the Ashland Garden Club, and volunteered her time with the garden club at the VA Domiciliary in White City. She was a member of the Apostolic Faith Church and worked for years in child evangelism.
Mrs. Hoover enjoyed gardening, crafts and playing the piano.
Survivors include her son, Max of Hawthorne, CA; son-in-law, Tom Marmo of Medford; daughters-in-law, Betty Sisney of CA, and Louisa Swain of Utah; her sisters, Dorothy Turner of CA, Betty Wilcox of CA, and Joyce Sisney of MO, Phyllis Schutt of CO; a brother, Bud Sutton of Kansas; 14 grandchildren; 30 plus great-grandchildren; and several great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her sons, Jack D. and Larry; and her daughter Leota Marmo.
Arrangements: Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home, Ashland.
Eva T. Laufer
Eva T. Laufer, a long-time Ashland resident, died peacefully in her sleep, October 21, 2006 at her daughter's home in New York. She was 91. Complications following a stroke last February led to her death.
Laufer was born in New York City. She attended New York public schools and conducted her undergraduate studies at what is now the City University of New York. A musician, she trained as a violinist, and in addition to performing, she engaged in an early career teaching violin.
She met her future husband during rehearsals for a New York orchestra; they found each other sitting side by side in the violin section. Thomas Laufer, a graphic and industrial designer, died in 1985.
In the mid 1950's the two went into business together. Eva Laufer, during an era when few women graced corporate boardrooms, represented the firm. She tutored management regarding the crucial role of design for creating successful business enterprises.
In the early 1970's the Laufers moved to Ashland, where they continued to operate their business until retirement, redesigning the corporate identities of a number of local firms. Eva Laufer was a familiar face around Ashland, her warm and empathetic personality enriched all those she encountered, be it a casual meeting or a longstanding friendship.
Laufer is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Susan L. and Jesse Roth of New York; her son and daughter-in-law, Sheila Swan and Peter Laufer of Sonoma County, CA; and her five grandchildren and her great granddaughter.
Donations may be sent in her name to the Oregon Food Bank, P.O. Box 55370, Portland, OR 97238-5370, Phone: 503-282-0555.
Jean Marilyn Zarka
Jean Marilyn Zarka of Medford, (formerly of Ashland) went home to be with the Lord on October 27, 2004.
She was born May 28, 1930, in Days Creek, to Perry DeVoe and Clarice Totten DeVoe. Her family moved to Medford in 1942 where she attended Medford Schools.
In 1949, she married Charles Zarka. They made their home in Ashland where Mrs. Zarka was employed at Walker Elementary School Cafeteria for many years. They became full-time RVers upon retirement and spend their winters in Arizona, California and Nevada.
She is survived by her husband Charles; a brother Robert DeVoe of Ashland; a daughter, Linda Buchanan and her husband Steve, of Medford; a daughter Sally Jordan and her husband Ken of Florence; a daughter Julie Evanson and her husband Steve, of Medford; and a son, Steve Zarka of Bend; 5 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Her parents preceded her in death.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, November 20, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. at First Church of the Nazarene, 1974 E. McAndrews Rd., Medford. Memorial Contributions may be made to Medford Gospel Mission.
Catherine Weissenfels
Catherine Weissenfels, 80, of Ashland, died Nov. 11, 2004 at an Ashland Foster Home.
Arrangements: Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home, Ashland.
Elmer L. Miller
Elmer L. Miller, 86, of Ashland, died Nov. 12, 2004 at the Linda Vista Care Center.
Arrangements: Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home, Ashland.
Von W. Pulsipher
Von Walter Pulsipher, 76, of Ashland, died Nov. 11, 2004. Arrangements: Litwiller - Simonsen Funeral Home, Ashland.
Charles G. Widmann
Charles G. Widmann, 91, of Talent, OR, died Nov. 12, 2004 at the Ashland Community Hospital.
Arrangements under the direction of the Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home, Ashland.
Beverly June Berry
Private family services will be held for Beverly June Berry, 73, of Chico, CA. She passed away November 12, 2004 in Chico. She was born August 14, 1931 in Kansas City, MO. to Lyle Gore and Lillian Harr. She was a long-time resident of Ashland and had attended Southern Oregon University.
Beverly was the assistant manager for Grouphome Southern Oregon Training and Habilitation.
She enjoyed knitting, reading, quilting, birdwatching and sewing.
She is survived by her four daughters; Kathy Berry of Chico, CA., Laura Berry of Seattle, WA. Terry Rivett of Shelton, WA, Lona Berry of Sacramento, CA. Beverly was preceded in death by her husband, William Berry in 1972.
