George W. Rohweder
June 22, 1931-April 19, 2013
Sandy resident George W. Rohweder died Friday, April 19. He was 81.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 4, at Oral Hull Foundation for the Blind.
George was born June 22, 1931, at his family homestead on Lusted Road in Boring to Jergen and Kathryn Rohweder. He spent his life in Sandy, graduating from Sandy Union High School, where he was student body president and lettered in football and baseball.
George enlisted in the Navy in 1951, serving during the Guantanamo Bay conflict in Cuba. He married Joanne Chilton on Oct. 30, 1959.
George worked as a firefighter and retired in 1990. He was an avid hunter and fisherman who loved to play cards with firefighter friends into retirement. He was proud of his German heritage, keeping up with his culture and traditions.
He is survived by his children, G. Dan, Caryn, Karl, Nancy and Mike Rohweder; and five grandchildren.
Crown Cremation Services is handling arrangements. Contributions in his name may be made to Toy N Joy Makers, 5916 N.E. Going St., Portland.
Lois Elvina Blackburn
Dec. 2, 1923-April 17, 2013
Fairview resident Lois Elvina Blackburn died Wednesday, April 17. She was 89.
A Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 4, at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church. Burial will be at Skyline Memorial Gardens.
Lois was born Dec. 2, 1923, in Mukilteo, Wash., to Robert and Anna Smollett.
She graduated from Everett High School in 1942.
Throughout her life, Lois worked for Boeing, Meier & Frank, U.S. Bank and Multnomah County. She married James Blackburn on June 25, 1955, in Portland.
Lois was a member of the Catholic Church and enjoyed reading, music, fashion and decorating. She returned to her beloved hometown often to visit family and friends.
Lois is survived by her husband; sons, David Blackburn, Greg Blackburn and Eugene Blackburn; daughter, Lexy Tappert; 14 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
Gresham Memorial Chapel is handling arrangements.
Sondra Jean Mendell
June 9, 1939-April 21, 2013
Troutdale resident Sondra Jean Mendell died Sunday, April 21, in Troutdale. She was 73.
A memorial service will be held at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, May 2, at Gresham Memorial Chapel.
Sondra was born June 9, 1939, in Glendale, Calif., to Floyd and Mildred Smith of Pasadena.
The family moved to Sandy, and she graduated from Sandy High School. In 1959, she attended beauty school in Eugene where she met her husband of 40 years, Robert Mendell, at a Valentines Day dance. The couple married Dec. 12, 1961.
Sondra was preceded in death by her husband. She is survived by her daughter, Verda Sargent; four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; brother, Larry Smith; and sister, Peggy Wachline of Troutdale.
The family suggests contributions to the American Cancer Society.
Paid obituaries
Reeve E. Erickson
April 15, 1925 - April 15, 2013
Memorial service for east county resident, Reeve E. Erickson will be held on Saturday, May 4 @ 11:00am @ GRESHAM MEMORIAL CHAPEL with Honors.
Private inurnment will be at Willamette National Cemetery.
Reeve E. Erickson was born on April 15 1925 in Portland Or, the son of Fritz & Geraldine (Larson) Erickson. Reeve died on April 15, 2013 in Portland at the age of 88.
He grew up in Gresham, where he attended school until he joined the Civilian Conservation Corp(3 Cs) in 1941. When the 3Cs broke up shortly after Pearl Harbor Day he worked at the Oregon Shipyard until he enlisted in the Marine Corps in early 1943 and served with the 4th Marine Division, landing on Roi, in the Marshall Islands; Saipan & Tinian, in the Marianas & Iwo Jima, and in the Volckans.
Later after college he joined the corps again and was sent to Korea where he was injured and retired from the service.
Upon release from the service he went to graduate school and worked as a school psychologist with Multnomah County until he retired in 1983. In the mid eighties he worked as a mental health examiner for the court in commitment hearings and continued to do so until April 15, 2005.
In 1956 he married Mitzi Jones and became stepfather to Ronald Jones & Joanne Gratton. He is also survived by one grandson and one great granddaughter and his sisters: Beverly Wiens & Donna Mae Lunt.
He and Mitzi enjoyed travel, hiking, bicycle riding, ballroom dancing and bowling with seniors. In addition he liked to read and write poetic verse.
Remembrances can be made to the Gresham Historical Society.
LaVon Hills
LaVon Eileen (Konen) Hills, peacefully made her way to heaven Thursday April 18, 2013 in the comfort of her home, surrounded by her family. Born to Nicholas John and Katherine Cecilia (Brinkman) Konen on December 27th 1934, in a little farmhouse in Gooding Idaho where LaVon spent her early years before moving with her family to Mt Angel Oregon in 1940. LaVon attended Gervais grade school and was a graduate of the all-girls Mt Angel Academy, class of 1952. LaVon worked for Mt Angel telephone as an operator prior to her marriage to Raymond Hills of Salem, at St Marys Cathedral on June 6, 1953. LaVon and Rays early years were spent in California and Salem before buying their first home in Greshams Centennial neighborhood in 1958. It was here that they met neighbors, deemed the Club, to play cards. Always at the center, LaVon cherished these friends who gathered at weddings, parties and luncheons for the next forty years. Upon moving to Cypress Park in 1966, Ray and LaVons corner house became the heart of the neighborhood. It was here that LaVon would find, across the back fence, a family like her own and her closest friend Muriel Proulx. By 1985 the kids were grown and LaVon could attend Mt Hood Community college floral design program where her talent and love of color would come to life. As part of the Gresham Florist team LaVon enjoyed working with her gals. Family and friends were happy beneficiaries of her talent with flowers and her ability to find specialty gifts or cards as over the years LaVon never (ever) forgot a Birthday, Anniversary or special occasion. LaVon and Ray traveled extensively in retirement and wouldnt miss an opportunity to bring back a souvenir and pictures of their adventures visiting friends from high school, their military life, extended family or former neighbors. Always ready to welcome guests with warmth and generosity, don a costume, plan a theme party or host a get together LaVons spirit of fun and loving grace enriched every life it touched.
Survived by her sister Marian Bielemeier of Mt Angel and her husband of sixty years Raymond, LaVons large and loving family; sons Craig, Doug (Cathy), Dennis (Lisa), and Ken (Nancy) Hills and daughter Rene (Mark) Brown, her twelve grandchildren and two great grandsons, cherished nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws will miss her always.
On behalf of LaVon, the consummate hostess, her family would like to invite you to a celebratory memorial Mass of the life she lived with love and joy, at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday May 4 2013, at St Annes Parish, 1015 S E 182nd Ave, Gresham, OR 97233, where Lavon was a member of the Alter Guild.
Memorial donations can be made to Children International, 2000 E Red Bridge Rd. PO Box 219055, Kansas City Missouri, 64131 www.children.org.
Arrangements by Batemen Carroll
LAUREL ANN MOLLER-SEILER
Laurel Ann Moller-Seiler, a resident of Gresham, died on April 24, 2013 in Portland. She was 54 years of age.
Laurel was born on April 14, 1959 at the US Air Force Base in McAllen, Texas and was the daughter of Gary and Shirley Moller. She grew-up in Gresham and graduated from Sam Barlow High School in 1977. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree from Oregon State University in 1981 were she was a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority.
On September 4, 1982, she married Jeffrey Seiler at the Mt. Tabor Presbyterian Church in Portland. She worked at her familys nursery, Mollers Nursery, in Gresham where she and her sister Sue attained part ownership. After the sale of the Nursery, Laurel opened LMS Bookkeeping and Business Services in Gresham in 1996, operating her business until 2009.
Laurel volunteered her time with various organizations donating time to the East County Oregon Donor Auctions, the Barlow Football Boosters and the OSU Booster Program. She was also dedicated to her family and friends supporting their interest and hobbies.
Fashion, design, and shopping were at the top of Laurels list of hobbies. She also enjoyed reading, sewing, needle point, and crocheting as well as watching classic movies and Broadway musicals. She enjoyed trips to the coast, skiing, art galleries, gardening, landscaping, and home improvements. Laurel had an eye for design and was brilliant in starting new endeavors. Laurel was a goal oriented, energetic woman with a strong sense of ethics and morality. Her positive outlook on life was infectious and her consideration for others undeniable. Laurel struggled through numerous health challenges but through her struggles she lived her life to its fullest; never missing an opportunity to laugh, love and live.
Laurel is survived by her husband, Jeffrey of Gresham, children, Hillary Seiler and Colton Seiler both of Gresham, parents, Gary and Shirley Moller of Damascus, sister, Sue (husband, Fred) MacLeod of Gresham and brother, Kurt (wife, Katie) Moller of Damascus along with numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Laurels life will be held on Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 11:00 am at Bateman Carroll Funeral Home. Contributions may be made in her memory to the OSU BASF Scholarship Fund. Bateman Carroll Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Denise Diane St. Clair
Denise Diane St. Clair, a resident of Gresham, Oregon, died April 23, 2013 in Gresham. She was 55 years of age.
Denise was born on October 23, 1957 in Boise, Idaho and was the daughter of Loren and Antonette (Jones) St. Clair. She moved around as a child living in Idaho, Nevada, California and Hawaii. Her family later settled in Oregon where she graduated from Gresham High School in 1976.
Denise worked for RGIS Inventory for thirteen years. She later worked as an accounts payable clerk for Fred Meyer Jewelers at their corporate office for 18 years.
Denise had many hobbies. She loved to bake deserts; making unbelievable candy, cakes, and pies for family and friends. She loved her cat, and was very loyal to friends. She was strong willed and protective, and cared very much about her family. She had a heart of gold and with her determination she had many accomplishments. She will be dearly missed.
Denise is survived by her mother, Antonette Evans of Gresham, father, Loren St. Clair of Hawaii, brother, Rick (wife, Becky) St. Clair of Gresham and her nephews Joshua, Michael, and Daniel St. Clair all of Gresham, her lifelong best friend, Susan Ferguson of Lake Oswego, and Sandy Garcia, her friend and coworker; she also had numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. Her Step-father, Gene Evans preceded her in death in 2007.
A Celebration of Denises life will be held at a later date. Contributions may be made in memory of Denise to the Humane Society. Bateman Carroll Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.