Gilbert Victor Kamara
Feb. 25, 1919-Jan. 5, 2013
Gresham resident Gilbert Victor Kamara died Saturday, Jan. 5. He was 93.
Burial will take place at Willamette National Cemetery. Contributions may be made in Gilbert's memory to the OSU Foundation or the Elks Children's Eye Clinic.
Gilbert was born Feb. 25, 1919, in Astoria to Isak and Ethel Kamara.Â
He graduated from Astoria High School in 1938 and enlisted in the United States Army in 1941, receiving an honorable discharge and two Bronze Stars.
On Sept. 9, 1946, Gilbert married Annette Bozarth in Vancouver, Wash. Retiring from a career in engineering, farming and real estate in 1985, he wrote memoirs and loved ballroom dancing.
Annette preceded Gilbert in death in 2010. He is survived by his daughters, Sherrie Kamara of Walla Walla, Wash., and Carol Chase of Gresham; and four grandchildren.
Bateman Carroll Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Dawne Mercedes Josephson
Nov. 29, 1922-Jan. 7, 2013
Gresham resident Dawne Mercedes Josephson died Monday, Jan. 7. She was 90.
A visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 14, at Bateman Carroll Funeral Home. A funeral will be held at noon Tuesday, Jan. 15, also at Bateman Carroll, with a committal following at Willamette National Cemetery.
Dawne was born Nov. 29, 1922, in Minneapolis to Harold and Margaret (Geise) Adams. She married Robert E. Josephson on Sept. 6, 1947.
Dawne retired in the early 1980s after working at United Airlines and Hughes Aircraft, Electronic Specialties and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Oregon. She enjoyed dancing, singing and watching old movies and musicals.
Robert preceded Dawne in death. She is survived by her children, Henry Josephson of Medford, Pamela Messinger of Portland and Judy Bennett of Gresham; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Bateman Carroll Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Margaret Elizabeth (Slaymaker) Leforgey
March 8, 1944-Jan. 5, 2013
Fairview resident Margaret Elizabeth (Slaymaker) Leforgey died Saturday, Jan. 5. She was 68.
A public cemetery service will be held at a later date at Willamette National Cemetery.
Margaret was born March 8, 1944, in Sweetwater, Texas, to DeLeise Slaymaker and William Bard Slaymaker.
She graduated from Klamath Union High School in 1962 and continued her studies at the College of San Mateo in California.
Maggie married Jim Leforgey in 1969. She worked for Meier & Frank as an auditor for 20 years and enjoyed sewing, arts and crafts and baking.
Margaret is survived by her husband; children, Tyson Leforgey of Fairview and Leanne Hedges of Fairview; brother, William Bard Slaymaker of Chandler, Ariz.; sister, Barbara Jones of Forest Grove; and one granddaughter;
Bateman Carroll Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Elaine Riley
Sept. 27, 1925-Jan. 8, 2013
Longtime East County resident Elaine Riley died Tuesday, Jan. 8. She was 87.
A memorial service will be held at noon Sunday, Jan. 13, at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Gresham.
Verva Dean Park
March 18, 1937-Jan. 2, 2013
Gresham resident Verva Dean Park died Wednesday, Jan. 2.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan.12, at Good Shepherd Community Church in Boring.
Verva was born March 18, 1937, in Shirlee, Ark., to Raymond and Goldie Harness. She was married for more than 50 years to Leonard Park before he died in 2011.
Verva spent many weekends at the bowling alley with her family. She also liked garage sales and crossword puzzles.
Verva was preceded in death by her husband and son, Dennis Park. She is survived by her children, Doreen Robinson of Camas, Wash, Diane Ruhnow of Springfield, Kelly Wilkerson of Gresham and Timothy Park of Salem; 12 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.
Bateman Carroll Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Paid obituaries
Donna L. Senff-Mata
Born: 1-8-1932 – Died: 1-4-2013
Donna would have been 81 on Jan 8, 2013. She was always proud that she and Elvis shared the same birthday, only he was born in 1935. Donna was born to Annetta Martinson-Senff and Leon R. Senff in Abracrombie, N.D. and spent her first 7 years in N.D. and then the family moved out to Portland, OR.
Donna went to Gilbert Grade School, Gresham High School and graduated from Sandy High School in 1949. Donna had only one sister, DeLores Boots Senff-Fritz and she survives Donna. Boots lives in Gresham and has for 20 years with her husband, Geary Fritz. Donna has two daughters, Jody Hanson-Emerson (Dwight) and lives in Santa Clarita, CA, her other daughter, Dera Hanson is married to Paul Landry and resides in Rochester, MN. Donna has 5 grand children and one great-grand daughter.
Donna lived in Gresham, OR before moving to CA. Donna was proud of her German and Norwegian heritage.
Donna was married to Sal Mata who spent 21 years in the Air Force and Sal passed away August 1994 and is buried in Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, CA. Donna will be placed next to Sal and requested that there be no service.
Donna was heavily into Genealogy and self-published over 400 genealogy books. She taught computer and genealogy classes to hundreds of people while living in CA. When she was diagnosed with colon cancer , she donated her books to the LDS Family History Center & the Mormon Church in Salt Lake City, UT.
Bradley James Lynch
July 25, 1962 - December 27, 2012
Bradley James Lynch, 50, died December 27, 2012, following a kayaking accident in the Columbia River.
Brad was born July 25, 1962, in Nampa, Idaho. He came with his family to Oregon as a small child and grew up and attended schools in West Linn and Hood River. He graduated from Hood River Valley High School and Portland State University.
He worked in the nursery business all his working life, the last 12 years at Cascade Meadows Nursery in Boring, Oregon.
Brad was an avid cyclist and was well known in the cycling community, participating in more than 20 Cycle Oregons. He also loved skiing, hiking, camping, and all outdoor sports.
Brad is survived by his parents, Jim and Mary Lou Lynch of Boise, ID, his brother Patrick Lynch of Parkdale and Patricks wife and children Beatriz, Sebastian, and Izabel. He is also survived by his uncles Jim Hupe of Guatemala and Jack Acree of Boise, ID. He is survived by one aunt, Christine Hudson of Garden Valley, ID.
He was preceded in death by his uncle Mark Hupe of Nampa, ID.
Services will be private.
Harriett Valentine Nelson
Feb. 14, 1926 to Jan. 1, 2013
Born on Valentine's Day out in the country near Valentine, Nebraska and delivered by Harriett, the midwife who delivered the majority of her seven siblings, Harriett Valentine Allen joined the family of James Edward and Mary Irene Allen. The family moved into Valentine proper, where Harriett attended school, graduating from high school in 1943. During those years she met her future husband Donald Earl Nelson & they married after his Navy service in the South Pacific.
After their 8-8-1945 wedding they moved to Gresham where they lived the rest of their lives. Don and Harriett had three children: daughters Mary Jo Warr-King & Linda Whitmore, both of Gresham, and son James Donald Nelson of Seattle. Harriett also had six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Harriett worked first for the Cherry County Treasurer in Nebraska, then moved with her parents to Oregon to work in the office of the shipyards. After her years as a stay home mom, Gresham High School hired her to work in their office, a position she enjoyed through three principals and 24 years.
Harriett was always a busy housewife, sewing and cooking. She loved reading, walking, bridge, and travel, especially camping throughout the Northwest and snowbirding with Don. She took up golf and enjoyed opera after he died. Family gatherings were very important to her and she insisted on hosting them until she moved to Courtyard Fountains four years ago. She died of Alzheimer's disease on January 1, 2013.
No service will be held now. A family gathering is planned for the future scattering of her ashes. To honor Harriett the family recommends sending donations to either of two of her favorite charities, SnowCap Community Charities, PO Box 160, Fairview, OR 97024, or Gresham Historical Society, 410 N Main Ave., Gresham OR 97030.
The family thanks both the staffs of Courtyard Fountains and Pacific Gardens for the loving homes they made for Harriett in the last four years of her life.