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Graydon Stanley "Jerry" Gray
Graydon Stanley "Jerry" Gray, 83, Gold Beach, died May 25, 2002, in Gold Beach of a heart attack.
He was born Dec. 1, 1919, in Syracuse, Neb., to Roy B. Gray and Lois Richards Gray Kraft Witt.
He was raised on a large farm owned by his stepfather, Frank Kraft.
He attended schools in Syracuse and toured the state with a group of schoolmates who had formed a vocal group.
At 17, he joined the U.S. Navy and went to the Great Lakes Naval Training School. He attended naval schools during his years in the service. He served aboard the U.S.S. Lexington aircraft carrier on Dec. 7, 1941, during World War II and the thick of the Pacific action. The "Lady Lex" was in the Battle of the Coral Sea when it was hit by a Japanese Torpedo and sunk. He was rescued some time later by another naval ship. He also survived an airplane crash while on duty at San Diego.
Mr. Gray had also attended pre-flight schools and participated in reconnaissance flights in various areas. One memory he shared was flying from Japan to Alaska with orders to bring back his commanding officer a large stage of fresh Alaskan crab, after completing their required mission.
After the war and the Occupation of Japan, he was stationed in Saipan and Atsugi N.A.S. Japan with his family. While in Japan he became friends with Price Mauri (an Imperial Marine), through his maid, Fujiko. He was invited to the Royal Palace to play golf with the prince who was a Harvard graduate.
His last assignment, after serving in many duty stations, was Memphis, Tenn., where he taught aviation mechanics. He retired in 1957, with an honorable discharge. He received his Certificate of Retirement for "having served faithfully and honorably in the U.S. Navy as a chief aviation structural mechanic on Oct. 1, 1967, for having served 20 years of active service and 10 years inactive in the U.S. Naval Reserve."
After his military retirement, he moved to California with his family where his first wife Thelma died in Concord, Calif., in 1961.
Mr. Gray married
Dorothy in Concord, Calif., Feb. 25, 1962. They made their homes in Concord and Antioch, Calif. He retired from the Acalanes School District in Lafayette, Calif., in 1980 and moved to Gold Beach in 1989.
He was an avid golfer and was a member of the Cedar Bend Golf Course in Gold Beach and the Cedar Bend Mens' Club. He was a member of the Fleet Reserve, Professional Golfer's Association. He was an active member of the Gold Beach Elks Lodge where he served as a trustee and an exalted ruler, a member of the Oregon State Sheriff's Association, and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Survivors include wife, Dorothy "Dottie" Mary Gray of Gold Beach; stepson, Jesse Lee Lovelady of Brookings; daughters and sons-in-law, Sherry and Lou Meyer of Sacramento, Calif.; Janis and Jim Ramsey of Apex, N.C.; granddaughters, Laree Hawkland of Baton Rouge, La.; Sheryl and husband Bill Mulville of Sacramento; Allison and husband Mark Ramsey of Maryland; Renee and husband Richard Stidham of Sacramento; Robin and husband Rick Fremont of New Jersey; Julie and husband Guy Franklin of Sacramento; grandsons, Mike Opdahl of California; Marc Opdahl of Seattle; and Matthew and wife Julie Ramsey of Maryland.
Also surviving are great-grandchildren, Christopher, Casey and Nicholas Hawkland of Baton Rouge; Michelle Opdahl of California; Jon and Kelly Mulville of Sacramento; Tyler, Brandon and Lauryn Ramsey of Maryland; Ashley, Sara and Matt Stidham of Sacramento; aunt, Florence Richards of Nebraska City, Neb.; sisters-in-law, Mozelle Sinquefield of Concord; and Kathryn M. Wells of Gold Beach.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Leland Gray, and his first wife.
Lediah Adrian Schmidt
Lediah Adrian Schmidt, 17, Gasquet, died May 31, 2002, in Gasquet.
He was born March 9, 1985, in Redding, Calif.
He was a six-year resident of Del Norte County. He was a student of Del Norte High School class of 2003.
He enjoyed surfing, snowboarding, skateboarding, backpacking and was an outdoor survivalist.
Survivors include mother, Deborah Cain; father, Wade Schmidt and his wife, Cherri; brothers, Nathan and Shane Schmidt, and Dennis Cobb; sisters, Samantha and husband Jay Baloue; Jill Cobb; grandparents, Arlene and Dr. George Kasper; Brooks and Phyliss McManus; great-grandmother, Frances Page; uncles, Dan and Diana Laughlin; Robert and Carol Schmidt; Tom Page and family; Elden Chang; Scott Laughlin; Steve Cain and family; Robert Page; aunts, Janette and Edward Hugg; Lorrie Cain; and Sandy Steinke; godmother, Tess Roberts and her daughters, Tressa and Breanna.
The family requests contributions be made to CASA, 1080 Mason Mall, Suite 9, Crescent City, CA 95531 or Crescent City Skate Board Park Fund, c/o Coast Central Credit Union, Account 100883-S70.1. Please refer to Skateboard Account.
A memorial service was June 4.
Funeral arrangements under the direction of Wier's Mortuary Chapel, Crescent City.
Charles Leroy Witter
Charles Leroy Witter, 88, Brookings, died May 26, 2002, in Brookings of natural causes.
He was born April 11, 1914, in Wamago, Kan., to Roy Campbell Witter and Hattie Bennett.
He grew up in Jacksonville and graduated from Jacksonville High School in 1931.
He married
Corrinne Meyer June 14, 1950, in Yreka, Calif.
Mr. Witter served in the Army Signal Corps during World War II and later worked as a timber faller.
He was a member of the VFW in Camas Valley.
He is survived by his son, Stephen Witter of Brookings. Also surviving are three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Preceding him in death was his wife.
Arrangements are under the direction of Litty Funeral Directors, Brookings Chapel.
Darlene Shadduck
Darlene Shadduck, 62, Brookings, died May 24, 2002, in Crescent City of natural causes.
She was born Feb. 27, 1940, in Klamath Falls to George Earl St. John and Della Lucille Donaca.
She grew up and graduated from school in Klamath Falls.
Mrs. Shadduck worked at Chetco Community Public Library for 14 years retiring in 2000. She was known to some as the puzzle lady.
She is survived by her son, Orval Spence of Brookings.
No services are planned.
Arrangements are under the direction of Litty Funeral Directors.
David "Piggy" Lawrence George
A celebration of life for David "Piggy" Lawrence George will be today (June 1) from 1 to 5 p.m. at Wild River Pizza.
The family invites people to bring pictures and memorabilia to share.
The Pilot published the incorrect photo with the announcement of the celebration in the May 29 issue. The Pilot regrets the error.
David Lawrence George, 58, Brookings, died May 11, 2002, at Rogue Valley Medical Center in Medford of complications arising from a heart transplant.
He was born May 12, 1943, in San Diego, Calif., to Thomas and Frances George. He moved to Brookings in 1972 to be near his mother after his father died.
He married
Victoria George in June 1997.
Mr. George worked as a logger, heavy equipment operator and mechanic in the timber industry, and as a mechanic in the Brookings-Harbor community. He managed the Halfmoon Bar Lodge on the Rogue River in 1994 before getting ill and receiving his heart transplant that same year at Oregon Health Science University Hospital in Portland.
Mr. George enjoyed photography and loved taking pictures of scenery, especially sunsets over the ocean.
Survivors include his wife; mother; daughters, Shelby George, Lindsay Logan, Teresa Rigel and Rebecca Hamlin; son, Zachary George; brother, Roy George; sisters, Virginia Laurin, Linda Fabrello and Darlene Rae.
Also surviving are eight grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to Washington Mutual Bank for the George family.
Cremation was under the direction of Rogue Valley Mortuary Alternatives.
Elsie Eva Dodson
Elsie Eva Dodson, 91, Brookings, died Sunday, May 26, 2002, at the Pinecrest Foster Home Care after a long battle with cancer and heart disease.
She was born July 12, 1910, in San Francisco to Ben and Leah Sellinger.
On Jan. 29, 1944, she married
Wayne Dodson in San Francisco where they made their home and owned a candy store. In 1955 they moved to Rogue River and owned a small dairy for a number of years. She named each one of her cows.
The Dodsons moved to Brookings in 1975 where he enjoyed fishing and she raised roses and fuchsias. She loved animals and always had a treat for friends and neighbors' pets. She enjoyed watching sports on TV, and reading. She liked to travel with her father.
Mrs. Dodson is survived by her brother, Albert and his wife, Esther Sellinger; cousin, Arthur Sellinger of San Francisco; nieces, Linda Hosken, Ellen Somsel, Laurie Simerson and Karen Sellinger-Liebman of the San Francisco Bay area; and friends, Herb and Pat Looney of Brookings.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1985; her parents; and her sister-in-law, Rose Sellinger.
Memorial contributions may be made to Curry County Hospice, 800 Chetco Ave. Brookings.
Upon her request, no services are planned. Cremation is under the direction of Redwood Memorial Chapel.
Fay Irene Brazil
Fay Irene Brazil, 87, Brookings, died May 30, 2002, of natural causes in Brookings.
She was born June 21, 1914, in Everson, Wash., to Archibald Mathews and Louise Theresa Gerdel.
She grew up in Whatcom County, Wash. She attended Mount Baker and Whatcom High School and graduated from Whatcom High School in Bellingham, Wash.
She married
Edward Brazil in 1938 in Reno, Nev.
She worked at the U.S. Post Office in Crow's Landing, Calif., then moved to Brookings in 1975.
Mrs. Brazil was a member of Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Brookings.
She is survived by her son, Charles Dominy of Malaga, Spain; and daughters, Alvera Pals of Waterford, Calif., and Lydia Balentine of Crow's Landing.
She is also survived by 10 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren; along with many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband and sister, Theresa Anderson.
Remembrances or donations may be made to the Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 820 Old County Road, Brookings.
Arrangements by Litty Funeral Directors, Brookings Chapel.
Paul E. Gardner
Paul E. Gardner, 81, died May 3, 2002, with his family at his side after a long battle with Parkinson's disease.
Mr. Gardner was born Sept. 4, 1920, on a farm in Hamburg, Iowa.
He left home in 1940 to work in the Lockheed aircraft factory in Burbank, Calif.
He returned to Iowa to marry Thelma Brown in 1943, then joined the Navy, serving on the heavy cruiser U.S.S. Louisville as an aviation metalsmith. He was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries received in a kamikaze attack on his ship during the battle of Okinawa in June 1945.
After the war, he moved his family to California, where he retired from the auto body repair business in 1979. He moved to Oregon for a life of hunting and fishing. In 2000, as his health began to deteriorate, he returned to Santa Paula, Calif., to be closer to his children.
Survivors include his wife, Thelma; daughter and son-in-law, Paula and Jim Bridges of Santa Paula; son and daughter-in-law, Chuck and Marilyn Gardner of Lancaster, Calif.
Also surviving are grandchildren, Chris, Tony, Danny and Jenny; great-grandchildren, Isaiah, Joey, Jordan, Maddison, Jonathan and Pearson; brother, Ralph Gardner and his wife, Goldie of Paso Robles, Calif.
Dixie C. Burnim
Dixie C. Burnim, 26, Crescent City, died April 28, 2002, in Crescent City.
She was born Jan. 9, 1976, in Missouri.
She was a Del Norte County resident for the past 13 years.
She enjoyed writing poetry and short stories, and taking walks on the beach. She will be remembered for always being a friend to anyone who needed one.
Survivors include mother, Sue Burnim of Crescent City; brother, Scott Burnim of Gresham; daughter, Kayla Gustine of Crescent City; stepfather, Al Clayton of Crescent City. Also surviving are numerous other friends and relatives.
She was preceded in death by her father, Ronald Lee Burnim.
There will be a visitation today (May 1) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Wier's Mortuary Chapel, 408 G St., Crescent City.
The funeral will be today (May 1) at 4 p.m. at Wier's Mortuary Chapel.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made to Sue Burnim to be placed in an education fund for Kayla Gustine.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Wier's Mortuary Chapel.
