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Sarilee Meyle
Sarilee Sue Meyle, of Hood River, died July 19, 2009, in Aiken, S.C., at the age of 69.
A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, at Asbury United Methodist Church in Hood River, Ore.
Sarilee was born in Atchison, Kansas, to Wilmer and Genevieve Meyle, of Hood River. Her family first lived at the Mid-Columbia Experiment Station, sharing many mischievous and fun adventures with the families who lived there. Her family then moved to a small ranch called 'The Meyle Family Fruit Ranch, ' and helped with raising and selling various fruits and berries.
Throughout her childhood she was heavily involved in a variety of activities including 4-H projects, band, church, sports, school and camp outings. She loved getting children together to sing around a campfire while she played her ukulele.
Sarilee graduated from Oregon State University in recreation education and worked for 31 years at the Donald E. Long Juvenile Home in Portland. She blended her creativity in fun activities while supervising very troubled and sometimes violent children.
She approached every child as a gift from God, and was committed to impacting their lives for the better.
When her health declined in 2004, she lived part-time in South Carolina to be near her sister.
She is survived by her brother, Sam, and his wife, Carole, of Worley, Idaho; sister Zoe Meldrum and brother-in-law Dave, of Aiken, S.C.; nephews Shawn Meyle, of Hood River, David Meldrum and his wife, Kari, and sons, David and John, of South Carolina, John Meldrum and his wife, April, and children Parker and Lydia, of Tennessee, and Chad Meldrum and his wife, Kadi, of South Carolina; and niece, Kristina Meyle, of Colorado.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Wilmer and Genevieve Meyle, and brother, John Meyle.
Memorials may be directed to Asbury United Methodist Church.
Antonio Zapata Mares
Antonio 'Tony' Zapata Mares, 79, a Parkdale, Ore., resident, died Sept. 10, 2009, at Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital. He was 79 years of age.
Dressing and viewing will be Friday, Sept. 11, at 3 p.m. at the Independent Indian Shaker Church in White Swan, Wash. Burial will be Saturday, Sept. 12, at 8 a.m. at the Yesmowit cemetery in White Swan, Wash.
Antonio was born June 3, 1930, in Brawley, Calif., to Renaldo Zapata and Emilia Mares. He was the youngest of 13 children. He was raised and educated in California and then moved to Toppenish, Wash.
In 1958 he and Rosalyn Sam were married
in Nevada. Tony worked most of his life on the traveling gang of the railroad (Southern Pacific Railroad which is now Union Pacific). He retired in 1985.
Following his retirement he resided in Portland and Vancouver, coming to Hood River in 2002.
Tony enjoyed traveling, visiting family, hunting, walks and picking berries. He also enjoyed reminiscing and sharing stories of his life with family and friends.
Tony enjoyed walking and it was during these walks that he would collect friends - he would stop and talk and befriend whomever his path crossed.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two sons, Raymond Mares and Antonio Mares Jr.
Tony is survived by five daughters, Lorraine, Elizabeth, Virginia, Emilia and Shirley Mares. Twelve grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren also survive.
Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center (Funerals, Receptions, Cremations), 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031; 541-386-1000.
James Thomas
The Thomas family is very sad to announce the passing of James W. Thomas. James was born Sept. 15, 1925, and passed away on Aug. 21, 2009. He is preceded in death by his beloved 'sweetheart, ' Frances Mae Thomas, and daughter Catherine Ann Thomas.
He is survived by his son, James Gerard; granddaughters Jacqueline, Jessica, Shelby and Grace Thomas; and sisters Ruth, Geraldine, Mary-Jane and Lorene.
James, or Jim as he was affectionately called, was born in Fairland, Okla., and then moved to Hood River, Ore., when he was a child. He loved Hood River very much; he always said 'It's such a cute little town.'
He enlisted in the Navy in 1943, and was a member of the underwater demolition. When he returned from the war, he met his wife, Frances, and they were married
on Oct. 15, 1949.
Jim worked in the Los Angeles county of Southern California, for the Operative Plasterers & Cement Masons International Association, where he worked hard, and eventually became vice president.
Jim retired in 1993, and moved to Valencia, Calif., where he and Frances would visit their son and daughter, and multiple granddaughters.
After the passing of Frances, Jim moved to the Coachella Valley with his granddaughter Jackie. He passed away peacefully in his home, in Indio, Calif.
There was a memorial service held at San Fernando Mission Catholic Mortuary on Sept. 1.
James, aka 'Grampa, ' 'Gramps, ' 'Dad, ' 'Jim, ' 'kimosabi, ' will forever be in our hearts. We love you; take care of Granny. 'Yahvo!'
Anne Goe
Anne Frances Goe passed away at her Mount Hood, Ore., home on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009, after a lengthy illness. Her loving husband, Gary, and son Colby were at her side.
Anne brought to this challenging period in her life the same gracious and positive spirit that characterized the whole of her life. She continued to exercise her special gift of enjoying and supporting, family and friends to the end.
Anne was born in Ilford, Essex, England, on June 9, 1946, to Ronald and Rachel Bridgeman. In 1957, her family immigrated to Santa Barbara, Calif. She graduated from Santa Barbara High School in 1964.
She worked at the Southern California Edison Company as an executive assistant. After many years, she moved up to Hood River, Ore., where she worked for the Hood River County District Attorney's office as a legal secretary for 13 years.
Because of her love of animals she then worked as a vet tech for Tucker Road Animal Hospital and later All Animal Care Clinic until cancer forced her to retire in 2003.
Anne was preceded in death by her father, Ronald Bridgeman. She is survived by her beloved husband of 26 years, Gary, and her son, Colby, at their home in Mount Hood; mother, Rachel, and brother, Alan; niece, Denise Villarete, and her husband, David; and nephews Kaden and Tanner.
Memorials are suggested in Anne's name to Hospice of the Gorge and sent in care of Anderson's Tribute Center.
An open house to honor Anne's life is planned from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Mt. Hood Winery, 2882 Van Horn Drive, Hood River.
Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center (Funerals, Receptions, Cremations), 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031; 541-386-1000.
Harry Inukai
Harry Hisashi Inukai, 87, passed away at his Hood River home on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009, with family by his side. Harry was born March 5, 1922, in Dee, Ore., to Kazuo and Ishino (Ikegami) Inukai and grew up in Dee.
Harry graduated from Hood River High School in 1940. At the start of World War II, he and his family were transferred to the Tule Lake Internment Camp. From there he enlisted in the United States Army.
He was placed in the European Theater to serve in the 522 Field Artillery Battalion of the 442 Infantry, Headquarters Division; this battalion being one of the first to discover and liberate the Dachau Concentration Camp in April of 1945.
Shortly after the war, he remained in Germany as an Army of Occupation and helped prepare for the Nuremburg Trials.
In 1967, he married
Shirley Ann Gretz and raised two daughters, Laura Ann and Arlene Kay. He was a member of the JACL (Japanese American Citizens League) and the local Hood River Veterans of Foreign Wars.
His hobbies included bowling and collecting items for resale, and he researched, wrote and published the Tule Lake Directory and Camp News in 1988.
In addition to his parents, Harry was preceded in death by siblings Fumiko Wakamatsu, Tom Inukai and Kaoru Inukai, and granddaughter Hanna Franklin.
He is survived by Shirley Ann Gretz at their home in Hood River, Ore.; two daughters, Laura Inukai (and Mathew Kieran Dulin), of Jackson Hole, Wyo., and Arlene Inukai (and Tod Franklin), of Toledo, Ore.; granddaughter Leah Franklin; and sisters Ruth (and Kennie) Namba and T.A. Yamasaki, of Portland, Ore.
Harry was an orchardist throughout his life and it was one of his last wishes to allow his fellow orchardists to finish harvest and hold a memorial following the harvest season.
A memorial service is planned for 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at Anderson's Tribute Center. Celebrant speaker and friend Bob Huskey will lead this celebration of Harry's life. Military rites will be provided by the Oregon Honors Team.
Donations in memory of Harry Inukai can be made to Hospice of the Gorge and sent care of Anderson's.
Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center (Funerals, Receptions, Cremations), 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031; 541-386-1000.
Harold Kanable
Harold William Kanable, 87, passed peacefully Oct. 8, 2009, at his home in Boring, Ore., in the presence of his family.
Harold (Stubby) was born Sept. 13, 1922, in Fargo, N.D., to John and Marie (Jerke) Kanable. He moved with his family to Hood River, Ore., in 1939, where he worked at Eby's Food Store until he was drafted in December 1942. He wed Dorothy Lucile Buck on July 4, 1942.
Upon his induction to the Army he trained and was place in the Army Air Corp as a ball turret gunner on the a B-17 bomber. He flew 30 missions over Europe as an aerial gunner and received an Air Medal, three Oak Leaf Clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He returned to Walla Walla, Wash., as a staff sergeant technical instructor until the end of World War II.
After the war he returned to Hood River with his family and resumed his employment. In 1952 he joined R.P. Matthew Distributing in The Dalles, where he was employed as a driver salesman until his retirement in 1984.
His hobbies included softball, bowling, golf and crafting. Harold hit two holes-in-one at the Hood River Golf Course. He and Dorothy enjoyed 20 winters in sunny Arizona. In 1998 they moved to Boring, Ore.
Harold was a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He is survived by Dorothy, his wife and companion of 67 years; his five children: Judy, Robert, Linda, William and Edward; 10 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; his sister, Evelyn; and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his sisters Alma and Virginia.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Oct. 17, at 1:30 p.m. at the Community Presbyterian Church of Sandy, 39290 Scenic, Sandy, Ore. A private interment is scheduled at Willamette National cemetery on Oct. 19.
Remembrance contributions can be made to the Community Presbyterian Church of Sandy or Mt. Hood Hospice, Sandy, Ore.
Arrangements are under the direction of Sandy Funeral Home, P.O. box 41, Sandy, OR 97055; 503-668-6015.
Wesley Vann
The Vann family is saddened to let you know that Wesley Vann passed away on Oct. 10, 2009, at Brookside Manor with his wife, Genevieve, by his side. We were getting ready to celebrate his 89th birthday in 21 days and his 64th wedding anniversary on Nov. 24.
While we will miss him dearly, we are grateful for his wonderful, long life filled with kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, brothers and sisters and many friends. Hood River was his home; owning and driving log trucks were his work and he loved it here.
Wesley is survived by his wife, Genevieve, of Hood River, and their three children: son Terry of Olympia, Wash., son John and his wife, Terri, of Hood River, and daughter Debi, of Rhododendron, Ore. He is also survived by two daughters from a previous marriage: Sanoma Hatfield and her husband, Dee, from Salt Lake City, Utah, and Pricsilla Weber and her husband, Cal, of Gresham, Ore.
Also surviving are seven grandchildren: Jason Vann and his wife, April, Jonquil Vann-Tessmer and her husband, Zach, Jared Vann, Debra Konell, Shannon Webber, Andrew Webber and his wife, Dione, and Gaylene Varoz; 11 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson.
His brother Billy Vann and sister-in-law, Tillie, of The Dalles, and sister Sue Lavoie and brother-in-law, Al, of Las Vegas, Nev., also survive.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father; four brothers: John Walker, Grover, Donald Lee and Leon; and two sisters, Wilma Lee and Joann.
Wesley was born on Oct. 31, 1920, in Euchie, Okla., to John and Elsie Vann and was the eldest of their nine children. He came to Oregon when he was 22. It was the Depression era and the area in Oklahoma where his family lived was a dust bowl.
He left Oklahoma to work as a truck driver for the CCC and came out west with his brother Grover to find work at the shipyards in Vancouver, Wash.
He loved to tell us that he saw Genevieve crossing a street in McMinnville, Ore., and told his brother that was his future wife. They met later at the Blue Moon Fountain and, sure enough, they got married
; much to the chagrin of her father.
Since Genevieve was a mouthful to say, her nickname was Jimmie. Wesley thought that was too masculine so he called her Jennie, and took her to meet his family.
Wesley came back to Oregon to visit a Hood River friend and he and Jennie got a place to live at Dee. He had lots of stories about Oregon Lumber Company and Dee, the 'company town' with a dead-end main street. He was fond of reminding us about the rowdy nightlife and the early days of logging.
Wesley was proud of his Cherokee ancestry and was know as 'Chief' in his early Hood River years; some folks still know him by that name.
It was not long before his family decided to move away from the reservation and join Wesley and Jennie in Hood River. They also reconciled with Jennie's father, Harvey, and he and Wesley built the Orchard Road house that they lived in for 53 years. Many family-and-friend holiday gatherings occurred at the Vann house.
Wesley owned and operated a small fleet of trucks, hauling logs for logging contractors in the Hood River Valley for many years. He retired in 1984.
During his retirement years he and Jennie traveled and fished at the Snake River with childhood friend Jim Haggard and his wife, Leona.
They went to Alaska for three extended visits to fish and visit Hood River friends, taking their grandson Jared on one trip with them. They took their granddaughter Jonquil to Oklahoma on one of their trips. They spent time in Mexico with daughter Pricsilla and her family.
In fact there are pictures of Grandpa in some fluorescent orange shorts that grandson Andy gave him on that trip. They always knew where he was on the beach in those shorts, much to Andy's delight.
Wesley was an avid outdoorsman and took his family on many trips throughout the years. He did not like flying, so going anywhere was a road trip.
On one trip to pick up a new log truck in Detroit they went by train and endured frozen train tracks, a snow storm that shut down all the trains behind them and the train's food supply ran out. We never let him forget that experience.
Wesley was active and supportive of his children and grandchildren in their various activities. He could be seen walking the sidelines of Wy'east and Hood River Valley high school football fields, in the stands at basketball and baseball games, and going to high school and community theatre plays. He was a very proud and involved dad.
Terry says 'Dad taught me a strong work ethic. I could never understand why we had to work on the weekends to keep the trucks maintained and why I had to wash every logging truck on Sunday afternoon so it would be bright and shiny on Monday morning to get muddy or dusty by Monday night.
'We had a great time celebrating all the holidays, and especially his birthday and Halloween because it was the same day. He had a great time at these gatherings of family and friends and made sure everyone felt included and that Mom had plenty of food. He was a great host and it rubbed off.'
'He had a laugh that was infectious; when he would tell a story you would be laughing right alongside of him' Debi said. 'I loved that twinkle in his eye and his great smile. All of us kids did inherit his sense of humor. And I loved washing the trucks; I got paid to do it; maybe Terry didn't!'
John just told us that 'this is too long - end it now.' He inherited Dad's sense of timing: Know when to go home.
Thanks, Dad, for sharing a full life with us and teaching us about being the 'love of Mom's life' for 64 years. We love you so much.
We will be celebrating Wesley's life and share a story or two on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 10 a.m. at Anderson's Tribute Center with a reception to follow. The family suggests donations to the American Diabetes Association in Wesley Vann's name and sent care of Anderson's.
Arrangements are pending, under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center (Funerals, Receptions, Cremations), 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031; 541-386-1000.
