Melba F. Jones, 75, of Cottage Grove died March 16, 2014 from complications of Alzheimer?s disease.

 She was born Aug. 3, 1938 in Hatfield, Ark. to J.Y. ?Sid? and Cleda (Harris) Jones.

 She graduated from Cottage Grove High School in 1956.

 Melba retired in 1994 from First Interstate Bank, Eugene Main Branch, after 32 years of service.

 She was an avid supporter of University of Oregon athletics and was a member of Daisy Ducks. After she retired from banking, she worked in the U of O ticket office. She loved to travel and read books. As a cancer survivor, she supported and participated in cancer awareness.

 Survivors include a sister, Dorothy Jones of Honolulu, Hawaii, two brothers, Tom Jones of Cottage Grove and Tim Jones of Indian Mound, Tenn., and six nieces and nephews.

 She was preceded in death by a sister, Karen S. Hedien, in 2006.

 A memorial service was held March 25 at Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel with private inurnment in Shields Cemetery in Cottage Grove.

 Memorial contributions may be made to Willamette Valley Cancer Care Foundation, 520 Country Club Parkway, Eugene, OR 97401.

 Arrangements under the care of Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel, Cottage Grove. 

Barbara ?Barbie? (Willis) Watson, 77, of Cottage Grove died suddenly and unexpectedly on June 9, 2014.

She was born Jan. 15, 1937 in Cottage Grove to Frank and Luella (Vanderberg) Willis.

She graduated with the Cottage Grove High School class of 1954. She served in the Air Force from April 1955 to Nov. 1957. In 1963, she received a BA in Music with a teaching certificate from Seattle Pacific College. 

On Aug. 17, 1963 in Cottage Grove, she and Charles Watson were married. They were together 15 years.

In addition to working as a wife and mother, Mrs. Watson taught piano lessons for more than 15 years, held various office and piano performance jobs and later invested all her energy in her artistic passions.

Barbie loved Jesus and depended on Him daily; one of her favorite pastimes was hand-writing scripture cards for friends, relatives and anyone else she thought needed some. She also enjoyed late-night games of Trivial Pursuit, playing everything from Honkey Tonk to Bach on the piano, walking the beaches of Florence or Coos Bay collecting shells and watching the waves, crocheting slippers, dresses and blankets for her grandchildren, reading, watching movies over cocoa with good friends and visiting with her family on the phone.

Survivors include a son, Lyle Watson of Kennewick Wash., a daughter, Merri (Watson) Mickelson of Morrill, Minn. and son-in-law Ken Mickelson of Morrill, Minn., a sister, Orpha (Willis) Hales of Cottage Grove and 10 grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Pauline (Willis) Payne of Cottage Grove, in February 2013.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, June 21, at 10 a.m. at First Baptist Church, 301 S. 6th St., in Cottage Grove.

Hoyt Burrows, Terry Nousen, Cliff Cook and Shirey Helsdon in conversation.
Katrina Morss Commesso takes a few shots.
Bessie Partney Speers.
Clint Dilbeck and Beverly Oatney Dilbeck arriving for the reunion.
Clint and Beverly Dilbeck.
Keith Attridge.
Beverly Dilbeck gives Janie Attridge a hug.
Jim Seitz and Melinda Carlson arrive.
Jim and Melinda.
Gene Nossaman with Jim Seitz and Melinda Carlson.
Gene Nossaman.
Jim and Melinda.
Rick Shoemaker and Pat Laird Shoemaker arrive.
Gynger and Jim Hoover.
Stan Cooper and Pat Flenniken Cooper (in background) just arriving for reunion.
Pat Cooper gets a hug from Shirey Helson.
Pat Flenniken Cooper
Corolene Riddle Corriea.
Stan Harris, Corolene Corriea and Deanna.
Mike Heckman
People look like they're ready to enjoy the meal.
Mary Warren checks out the buffet.
Enough for a party!
Buffet is set out.
The service was great.  It was like a private catered party.td>
One-thirty and time to line up for food!
In line for some really good food.
Mary (Burrows) Spickelmier, Hoyt's younger sister joined in the festivities.
Classmates enjoying their wine with conversation.
Some were almost done with their meals while others were still in line.
The food was great!
The buffet had beef and chicken, potatoes, vegetables and more.
People still in line.
Great Turnout for our 55th reunion.
There was still plenty of food left for those still in line.
The group enjoyed many different conversations.
Everyone finally were enjoying their meals and visiting with old (not that old) friends.
With the meal done, there was a lot of time for more chatting.
Some people went for seconds.
A glass of wine and great company!
Enjoying the shade.
Hoyt makes the announcements.
Mary Warren and Bessie Speers.
Diane Weaver
Lyle and Wilma Chaffee.
Denton Weaver and Lyle Chaffee.
Wilma Chaffee, Denton Weaver, Lyle Chaffee.
Tom Munroe, Beverly Dilbeck, Elaine Munroe, Shirey Helsdon.
Rocke Warren, Deanna Cartmill, and Kay Smith look at school pictures Elaine had brought.
Stan Harris
Corolene Riddle Corriea
Party starting to wind down.  It's about 4:30 in the afternoon.
Mary Warren talking with Bessie Speers.
Clint Dilbeck.
Richard Morss.
Bessie Speers.
Elaine Munroe leaving the party.  The young guy on the left is Stan Harris' son who helps Stan.
Beverly Dilbeck.
Denton and Diane Weaver, Wilma Chaffee, Katrina Morss Commesso.
Orval Mosby
Richard Morss and Stan Harris.
Shirey Helsdon talks with Lyle and Wilma Chaffee.
Shirey Helsdon talking with Lyle Chaffee.
Lyle Chaffee and Shirey Helsdon saying their "So-Long Until Next Years".

Fifty-five classmates and spouses (and a couple of children of classmates) gathered at the north site of the King Estate Winery on August 3rd for getting re-acquainted with each other and enjoying each other's company and the beautiful facilities there.  Sweet Dreams Bakery in Eugene delivered the cake we ordered with the pictures of 146 classmates taken from the 1958 Year Book.  What an incredible job they did!  Everyone had an opportunity to admire the work the bakery did . . . we even had total strangers who were walking down the sidewalk from the parking lot asked to come onto the terrace and take pictures of the cake.

Apparently, the baker can print onto an edible "paper" with an edible ink and literally print anything they want onto the cake!
Those were real flowers on the corners and a blue plastic ribbon around the outside

King Estate is located about 15 miles west of Cottage Grove in Lorane off of Territorial Highway.  It is a beautiful place, peaceful and quiet.  King Estate is the largest contiguous organic winery IN THE WORLD!  We were on the North Terrace where it felt totally private . . . only classmates and serve staff.  The pictures below are of the taken from the NE corner of the property showing the Front, view to the North, view to the NE, view to the SE, view to the south and a shot of the N Terrace where we met for the reunion.

The weather really cooperated for the day . . . not too hot . . . not too cold.
This is the view looking to the North taken from just across the entry road by the NE corner of the main building.
King Estate has a lot of acres of vineyard to the NE.
. . . and to the SE.
There are other vinyards and wineries to the South of King Estate.
That's us under the white canopies on the Terrace at the north side of the building.
Closer look at the North Terrace.
A set of poster boards was prepared in remembrance of our lost classmates.
Kay Heath Smith was one of the first to arrive.  It's about noon and we're looking forward to greeting everyone.
More people started showing up.
Terry & Kathy Knouse.
LaVina's husband Marvin Dale Sparhawk.
Terry Nousen.
Margie (Land) Nousen.
Hoyt Burrows.
Sandra (DeYoung) Burrows.
Cathy and Burton Land.
Larry Owen.
Kay Smith checks out the cake while Larry Owen, Terry Knouse and Hoyt Burrows visit in the background.
Larry Owen, Terry & Kathy Knouse and Hoyt Burrows catching up on their recent histories.
The tables were set and ready for the rest of the group to arrive.
Several classmates checked out the Obituaries.
Elaine (Nerlie) Munroe and husband, Tom (the current mayor of Cottage Grove).
Jim Webb chats with Terry Nousen.
Deanna (Decker) Cartmill, Wilma Chaffee and Kay Smith.
LaVina Ericksen Sparhawk.
Mary Warren.
Kay Smith and Sandra Burrows.
Larry Owen, Terry and Kathy Knouse.
Terry and Margie Nousen with Marvin and LaVina Sparhawk.
Mary Burrows Spickelmier (Hoyt's sister), Deanna Cartmill, Sandra Burrows and Kay Smith..
People Start to Gather.
Kathy and Terry Knouse check out the cake.
Rocke Warren talks with Kathy Knouse.
Marie Nousen, Wilma and Lyle Chaffee and Mary Cranmer.
Area is set up and just waiting for classmates to start arriving.
Margie Land Nousen, Sandra DeYoung Burrows, Elaine Nerlie Munroe, Deanna Decker Cartmill and Kay Heath Smith.
Jim Webb, Terry, Tom Kathy and Hoyt.
Katrina Morss Commesso (Richard and Mary's daughter, back to camera), Carol Tonole Thompson, Lyle, Hoyt and others.
Rocke Warren, Cliff Cook and others.
Don Werner, Mary Thiel Cranmer and others.
Don Werner and others.
Don Werner, Hoyt Burrows, Mary Burrows and Jim Webb.
Lyle Chaffee.
Lyle and Wilma Chaffee talking with other classmates.
Dean Cranmer
Cliff (Lee) Cook
Kent Helsdon and Shirey Morgan Helsdon.
Kay Smith, Diana Lindsey, Wilma Chaffee, Deanna Cartmill.
Shirey Morgan Helsdon.
Terry Nousen and Larry Thompson.
Diana Lindsey and Keith Attridge
Larry Thompson, Orval and Julie Mosby.
Everett (Denton) Weaver travelled all the way from Australia to attend the reunion.
Diane and Denton Weaver.
Diane and Denton Weaver.
Keith Attridge.
Diana Wert Lindsey.
Jim Webb snaps some pictures.
Stan Harris, Corolene Corriea and Deanna Cartmill.

CONTINUE TO TOPIC LABELED "55TH CLASS REUNION AT KING ESTATE IN LORANE (PAGE 2)

Robert (Bob) Warren, died Thursday morning, July 18, 2013 at his home in Peyton, Colorado at the age of 81.  He was born August 27th, 1931, in Sacramento, California and moved with his family to Cottage Grove in 1941.  He attended Cottage Grove High School and graduated in 1949.  He spent four years in the Air Force as a Meteorologist  during the Korean War. 

He married Denise Witt in Vancouver, Washington on May 12, 1962.  They had two sons, Randy and Robbie, while still living in Oregon.  They moved to the Colorado Springs area in 1974 and have lived there since.  Both he and Denise worked as Arthur Murray dance instructors in the 60s and moved to the Denver, Colorado area in the early 70s to open a Weight Loss Clinic.  They subsequently closed the Clinic and moved to Colorado Springs, where Bob worked as a Manufacturing Manager for a small electronics firm until they closed.  In retirement, he worked as a "greeter" for the WalMart near their home.

Bob is survived by his wife, Denise,  sons, Randy and Robbie, daughter-in-law, Sarah, grandsons, Ryan, Dylan, Reece and Riley, and granddaughter, Kristen, a brother Rocke Warren of Happy Valley, OR and a sister, Rhoda Bettis of Cottage Grove.

It was Bob's wish there would be no service.

See Carl's obituary in the "Gone . . . But Not Forgotten" section.

Carl Owen passed away on June 28th, 2013 at the age of 73. He was born March 30, 1940 in Cottage Grove, Oregon to Robert and Zora Owen.

Carl was a graduate of Cottage Grove High School, class of 1958. He enlisted in the Navy in June 1958 with an honorable discharge in June 1962. He was a radioman 3rd Class Petty Officer. He married Virginia Sackett on October 14, 1961. Carl worked for Willamette Industries for 32 years as a supervisor.

Carl's survivors include his wife, Virginia; a son, Michael Owen (Tammi) of Eugene; 2 daughters Carla Anderson (Mitch) and Patricia Cox, both of Springfield; 8 grandchildren; a sister, Marie Raymond of Creswell; 4 brothers, Ernest of Bend, Tommy of Salem, David of Lakeport, California and Ross Turner of Pleasant Hill.

A Celebration of Life was held at McKenzie River Golf Course on July 14, 2013.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to Pacific Home Health and Hospice.

Published in Eugene Register-Guard on July 7, 2013

I have been living in Cottage Grove since moving from Reno, NV, 9 years ago. Two years ago I lost one of my youngest grandsons and a year ago, my oldest grandson got married and he and his wife are now expecting their first baby in July.

Orval & Julie live in Walker, CA where Orval works the land and moves rocks to build stairs, patios and retaining walls.  He enjoys working his garden and canning the produce form 14 fruit trees.  It is with great pleasure that he shares with the neighbors and the church people his harvest.

He is involved with the Lions Club and other community organizations.  In April of 2011 Orval was appointed as the Lay Pastor of the Antelope Valley United Methodist Church. It is his goal to help people develop their relationship with God.  Julie his wife of 20 years enjoys working as a teacher?s aid at the Coleville Elementary School and visiting her grandchildren.

This will be the 15th year that Orval has lead a group of boys and men backpacking into the Immigrant Wilderness east of Sonora, CA.  This trip, with Sequoia Brigade Camp, is designed to introduce boys to backpacking preparing them for more advance trips over the Sierras.   They are also encouraged in their development as young men to honor God in their daily lives.

Orval has two children and six grandchildren living in Concord, CA and Prescott Valley, AZ.  The oldest grandson is a graphic artist in Santa Monica, CA.   

Great knowing our classmates will be getting together again.  Gosh, another five years have flown by!

As seems "the usual" for Darrell and me, we will again miss another reunion.  It's a shame as the King Estate Winery looks amazing.  If all goes well, this June will find us visiting family and friends in Oregon

This year is our 7th living in a Senior RV Resort east of Temecula, California.  Darrell and I spend 5-6 months here to avoid the Wyoming winders.  Three days before we left in January, the temperature was -35?.

Yes, I would be interested in receiving a newsletter.  The following info should b ring us up to date:

Darrell's son, Craig, married a lovely young lady, Lynne, who he was fortunate to find during a class reunion.  They live in Indio, CA and are coming upon their 3rd anniversary.  

Cameron, my son, lives with his girlfriend, Beatrice, and continues to manage the Pawn Shop for the Starr in Los Angeles, California.

Darrell's daughter, Laura Kelly and her family have spent 14 years in Kodiak, Alaska, but they may be looking for a new life experience.  Their sons, Ian, almost 14 and Tucker, 11, may be spending the summer in Pinedale, Wyoming making their grandparents very happy!

We still love traveling and have visited the following places in the past five years:  Greece, Crete and Turkey, Panama and Costa Rica; Morocco, an exceptional country.  The summer of 2012, Darrell and I spent 4 months driving to Alaska.  Out of the trips, this was the most different and disappointing, however, Darrell got to check another one off his bucket list.  While in Valdez, Alaska, he bagged a big beautiful black bear.  Very exciting!