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Marvin Molina
Marvin G. Molina, 36, a resident of The Dalles, Ore., passed away at a local care facility on Friday, Sept. 3, 2010.
He was born May 25, 1974, in San Juan Tepezonte, San Salvador. At the age of 10 he came to Weston, Ore., where he was raised and educated. He graduated from Weston-McEwen High School in 1994.
Marvin began his career in the U.S. Navy in 1996. He served on the USS Nimitz and the USS John C. Stennis, and was looking forward to serving on the USS George H.W. Bush when his health required his early retirement from the Navy.
Marvin enjoyed photography, walking, sightseeing, camping and football.
He is survived by his parents, Sean and Belen Mason; his children, Nickolas, Alyssa and Alex Molina; his grandparents, Louisa Gonzales and John and Dorothy Mason; great-grandmother, Mattie Lee Hinton; his sisters and their families: Marie Wells and her husband, Rhett, and their daughter, Arianna; Elisa Pike and her husband, John, and their daughter, Allison; Nickole Ramirez and her husband, Jorge, and their children, Morgan and Anthony; Angelica Molina and her daughter, Meliza; and Gicela Barahona and her daughter, Belinda, and her son, Lucas.
He is also survived by brothers John Soto and his wife, Saydi, and their children, Jewels and Darik and Adan Soto and his wife, Kayla, and their children, Liam, Malokai Hendershot and Emma Donahue; Abelordo Molina; Alberto Molina and Tonyo Molina; uncles Adan Gonzalez and his wife, Shirley, and Eloy Gonzalez; aunts Norma DePriest and her husband, Steve, Olga Gonzalez and Salli Johnson. Several nieces and nephews, a cousin, and his former wife, Jamie Molina, also survive.
A memorial service with military honors will be held Friday, Sept. 10, at 2 p.m. at Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home with Jim Hazlett officiating. Burial at sea to be performed by the United States Navy Mortuary Affairs.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the Gorge, 715 Myrtle St., The Dalles, OR 97058.
George Akiyama
George Akiyama went to be with the Lord on Sept. 9, 2010. He passed away at Parkhurst House in Hood River, Ore.
George was born Nov. 14, 1919, one of five children born to Tomeshichi and Itsu Akiyama. He grew up on a farm in Oak Grove where he would return after World War II to begin his career as an orchardist.
While in the Army he was a part of the famous all-Japanese American 442nd Infantry where their slogan was 'Go For Broke.' He was awarded the Silver Star and the Bronze Star Medal for his bravery in combat and meritorious service.
George is survived by his wife, Ruth, of Hood River; two sons, Gary Akiyama and his wife, Anne, of Camas, Wash., and Wesley Akiyama, of Yakima, Wash.; sister, Kiyo Ichikawa, of Owego, N.Y.; brothers Nobi and his wife, Florence Akiyama, and Sab and his wife, Betty Akiyama, of Hood River; grandchildren Kimberly, Amy, David and Katy; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his brother Henry and sister-in-law Grace, both of Juneau, Alaska, and brother-in-law Tom Ichikawa, of Owego, N.Y.
A service to honor George is planned for 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17, at Anderson's Tribute Center. Friends are invited to greet with family during a time of viewing Thursday evening from 5-7 p.m. at Anderson's. Private graveside rites will proceed at Idlewilde cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center (Funerals, Receptions, Cremations), 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031; 541-386-1000.
Bertie Downing
Bertha (Bertie) M. Downing was born to Elmer and Lillie Moilanen in Brockett, N.D., Jan. 6, 1920. She was the second of four children that would complete the Moilanen family.
When she was 6, living in Hibbing, Minn., she contracted polio and was unable to walk for about one year. When she recovered, she enjoyed a lifetime of physical activity.
Bertie loved sports and had a competitive spirit. In her early years she played tennis and basketball and swam in any available pond. Later she became hooked on golf and played as much as she could.
Her family came to Hood River by train in 1928 and settled in Odell, where she attended the local schools, graduating from Odell High School in 1938.
Bertie married
Raymond Milton Downing in 1940 in an outside ceremony at her parents' home in Odell. They were married
for 57 years.
Bertie was a homemaker, enjoying many creative hobbies such as tole painting, ceramics, weaving and sewing. She also loved gardening and flower arranging, and was part of a garden club and arrangers group. She valued her family and friends, and her gift for hospitality and cooking made holidays, birthdays and other occasions special and always tasty.
Bertie and Ray were members of the Christian Missionary Alliance Church for over 65 years, where Bertie served as a deaconess and taught Sunday school. When they built the new church, Bertie and Ray worked on planning and then painting and landscaping the new church facilities and grounds. In the last few years she has worshipped at Gateway Presbyterian church in The Dalles, delighting in the lively music.
Bertie and Ray were actively engaged in their children's activities. She was a den mother for cub scouts, planning projects and outings. She always welcomed her children's friends over to her house and took an interest in them.
Bertie and Ray had a lovely, complementary relationship. They shared a fun sense of humor and enjoyed golfing and travel. Europe, China, Mexico, and various places around the U.S. were destinations they enjoyed so much. While in Finland they flew almost to the Arctic Circle to meet distant cousins Bertie had rediscovered through old letters.
As Bertie's Alzheimer's disease progressed she was fortunate for the love and care she received from Mary Davidson, Chayo Hyskell, John Stevens and Sunshine Club at Brookside. Recently she was blessed with the care of Heart of Hospice.
Bertie was preceded in death by her parents, Lillie and Elmer Moilanen, her husband, Raymond Downing, her son Steven Downing, her sister Alice Swyers, her brother Ronald Moilanen and her niece Rhonda Moilanen.
She is survived by her sister Linda LaBounty (Jim), her son Dennis Downing (Linda), her daughter Carolyn Stevens (John), her grandson Peter Downing (Maddy), her granddaughter Jenny Ruth (Bryan) and two great-grandchildren, Olivia Joanne and Peter Dennis Downing. She also has three nieces (Kathi Pointer, Sally Moore and Sharon Phillips) and four nephews (David Hyskell and Tim, Mike and Rich Farra).
Memorial gifts can be sent to Heart of Hospice, the local food bank or the Alzheimer's research.
A celebration of Bertie's life is planned for noon Friday, Sept. 17, at Anderson's Tribute Center. Friends who would like to visit with family are invited to do so Thursday evening from 4-6 p.m. at Anderson's during a time of viewing. Entombment will precede her service at Idlewilde Mausoleum.
Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center (Funerals, Receptions, Cremations), 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031; 541-386-1000.
Serena Erspamer
Serena Erspamer Muratore was born July 31, 1948, and died Aug. 27, 2010.
Serena's family in Australia would like to express our deep thanks to the people of Hood River for embracing our precious sister/daughter into your community.
Sera (as we knew her) left Australia in 1990 to make a home with Robert. In that 20 years, Sera managed to take care of her disabled husband, Robert, make a family home and at the same time run a successful business (up to three stores at one time). We are so proud of her.
Through her shop, 'The Gift House, ' she met and made friends with so many of you. She loved that store of hers and how it allowed her to make so many friends in a new place.
There are so many of you - we just met a few on our visits to see Sera - you know who you are.
I would like to extend a deep and everlasting gratitude to Sharon Hobbs, a dear friend, for the special care she took of Sera for us. And a very special thank you to Buck and Mary Hobbs for all they did for her as well as being such good friends to us all.
Thank you to Dieter Nachmann for his support and friendship.
Sera never gave up the fight - she was brave and was mostly concerned for us all the time. We were with Sera when she ever so reluctantly slipped away from us.
Words cannot express the emptiness that we feel in losing Sera. Her sense of humor, her kindness and generosity; but mostly her love for us filled our lives. As a family we feel that her light has gone out here on earth, so that it can shine in a better place.
From the Muratore family in Australia: Filomena (mum), Vince, Jasmine, Francess and Maria (brother and sisters).
Michael Kennedy
Michael Kennedy passed away July 30, 2010, at 60 years of age. Born Aug. 8, 1949, near Southgate, Calif., Michael enjoyed his childhood and young adulthood in the sunny city of Los Angeles. He graduated from Western High School in Bueno Park, Calif., after which he worked for his father as a machinist making aircraft parts.
In 1995, Michael moved to Mosier, Ore., where he became the family collector, mechanic and metal detector extraordinaire.
He was a handyman at heart, always taking the time necessary to repair common household utilities. As such, Michael always felt comfortable taking the wheel, so to speak, in matters dealing with intricate parts and assembly.
Michael worked for the city council of Mosier where he made many life-long friends and acquaintances.
He is survived by his mother, Carolyn Haupt, of Mosier, Ore., aunt, Virginia Grider, and many cousins, distant family members and friends.
Michael was preceded in death by his two brothers, David and Stephen Kennedy, as well as his father, Gordon Kennedy.
There will be a viewing Sunday, Aug. 8, from 1-4 p.m. at Anderson's Tribute Center (Funerals, Receptions, Cremations), 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031; 541-386-1000.
Mary Woolums
Mary Ellen Woolums, or more affectionately known as 'Miki, ' passed away July 26, 2010, at Hood River Care Center. Mary was born Jan. 2, 1927, at Eugene, Ore., to Charles Arthur and Ethel Merle. She was 83 at the time of her death.
Mary grew up in Eugene the middle of three sisters: Patricia 'Pat' and Shirley. She attended school in Eugene and graduated from Eugene High School in 1944. She was head drum major in the high school marching band.
She and her sisters would bicycle to the coast from Eugene. She attended the University of Oregon in 1945 and was a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority.
In 1946 she started skating with the Ice Capades and traveled around the country as a chorus line skater. While she was traveling with the show she met Charles 'Pat' Russell Woolums at the Palladium in Los Angeles, who had just graduated from the Navy Academy and was in flight school. On March 17, 1947, St. Patrick's Day, they married
in Eugene, Ore.
Mary's life became a time of great memories as she traveled with her husband as he served our country as a naval pilot. In 1957 they were blessed with the birth of their son, Scott.
Charles was stationed throughout the world and the family would move almost every two years living everywhere from California, Kodiak to Iceland, until his honorable discharge in 1964 as a lieutenant commander.
Mary enjoyed life; she snow skied and water skied. They traveled the world both with the Navy and also with family vacations. She was always close to her sisters and in their later years they enjoyed each other's company.
Mary and Pat had a cabin south of Bend (before Sunriver) that they enjoyed many trips to.
They moved to Roseburg and Corvallis, where Pat finished his teaching degree. They then moved to The Dalles, where he taught at junior high school. They had a house in Skamania, Wash., where Mary enjoyed spending time on the lake right outside their back door.
Charles retired in 1976 and they continued to live in Skamania. He passed away in 2002 and Mary moved to Hood River to be near her son.
Mary loved her son and worried about him equally as Scott owns and operates Adventures International and travels all seven continents climbing, and has summited Everest five times. She would always welcome his safe return home and listen with excitement to his travels.
Mary is survived by her son, Scott Woolums, of Hood River, Ore.; two sisters, Patricia 'Pat' Pittman and Shirley Hibbs, both of Eugene, Ore.; and numerous nieces, nephews and other family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and brothers-in-law, Pitt and JC.
Family will gather to honor and remember Mary on Sunday, Sept. 5, in Eugene, at a family member's home.
Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center (Funerals, Receptions, Cremations), 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031; 541-386-1000.
Lucille McCoy
Lucille Signe Nordwall Killion McCoy was born Aug. 23, 1919. She passed away May 23, 2010.
Lucille was with us for 90 wonderful years, as a daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She was the second-youngest of nine children, born to parents who had both come from Sweden and then made their lives in Braham, Minn.
After attending high school and business college, she and her sisters then moved to Southern California, where she worked as a legal secretary in a law firm. She met and married
Army Air Corps soldier Dewey Jack Killion, and they raised three children, Stephen, Betty and Don.
Lucy also worked as a middle school secretary until retirement.
Following Jack and Lucy's divorce in 1978, Lucy then moved to Wilsonville, Ore., to be closer to her daughter and family. While spending time at Serenities, her younger brother Earl Nordwall's restaurant in Trout Lake, Wash., Lucy met Keith McCoy, local historian and author. They married
in 1990, and enjoyed 15 years of love and happiness together, with Keith passing away in 2005.
Lucy then spent the last five years of her life in Tualatin and Lake Oswego, Ore.
Lucy is survived by her son Stephen, her daughter Betty, grandsons Jeff Taylor and Michael Killion, granddaughters Kelly Taylor and Anna Killion, and great-grandsons Keith Taylor and Damian Killion.
We will remember Lucy with fond memories of her love, kindness, endless hours of craft-making, and Swedish Christmas Rice.
A celebration of Lucy's life will be held Sunday, Aug. 15, at 2 p.m. at Bethel Congregational Church in White Salmon. David Duncombe will officiate.
