GLENDALE MEMORIAL CEMETERY NEWSLETTER

Spring - 2008

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift; that's why they call it the present"

The above quote was from Eleanor Roosevelt and was printed in an advertisement to the cemetery, from the Neptune Society.  A very appropriate quote for a cemetery newsletter - we don't know how many "gifts" we have left. 

This will not be your usual "care of the cemetery" newsletter because as promised, all the board members will be "introduced", as opposed to the usual first-names only.  Not a one of us ever thought we would be managing a cemetery - !  It has been - and continues to be - a DEFINITE EXPERIENCE.  Situations arise that are unheard of, outside those cemetery gates.  Disputes due to the lack of old records are common - grave sites that were sold more than once; a road put over grave sites that had been sold years ago; AND what to do if a grave is dug where there are NO records and there WAS a burial.  (That is Harvey's worst nightmare!!) 

There seems always, to be  problems to solve and we would like to, once again, thank members of the Hull family and people associated with Hull and Hull Funeral Directors and Hawthorne Memorial Gardens in Grants Pass.  They are always ready to answer questions we may have and of course allow us to order plaques through them, at their cost.  When the need for physical help arises, such as the military burial last year, some of the Hull group is always here and we ALL appreciate them......

And now - a brief run-down of the Glendale Memorial Cemetery Association:

PRESIDENT - Vickie Hayes Stewart  - a Glendale native and daughter of a Glendale native, Dick Hayes.  Mother was Melba Laubach.  Husband is James Stewart (son of Sam and Tiney Mae Stewart)  James and Vickie are always at the cemetery when needed. 

VICE-PRESIDENT - Rose Shepherd - long-time Glendale resident, widow of J.D. Four sons, 8 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.  (Put a weedeater in this woman's hands and you cannot stop her!)

SECRETARY/SEXTON - Lynne Martin Diltz - Glendale native, husband Larry - he who makes all the concrete forms for the bronze plaques, sharpens lawnmowers and makes repairs on all of the cemetery equipment.  He says he's OVERWORKED and definitely UNDERPAID.

BOARD MEMBER - Betty Ann Reasoner  - another long-time Glendale area resident - when there's cemetery work to do, Betty Ann is always there.   

BOARD MEMBER - Norma Redfield Winkelman -  a descendant of the historic Redfield family and married to Robert,  who is a descendant of the historic Barton/Winkelman families.  These two are a great asset besides being 'walking history books'.

BOARD MEMBER - Melanie Diltz Caruth - daughter of Larry and Lynne who recently returned to the area - she is always on hand to help with whatever is needed within the cemetery grounds. 

BOARD MEMBER - Harvey Schrom - responsible for opening and closing graves - and much of the heavy machine work done in the cemetery.  Wife Lynda (Gallego).  Can't praise these two enough.....

BOARD MEMBER - Jeff Goodman - he's our "newcomer", lives just outside the cemetery gates and is our "gatekeeper" and watchman - also a member of the local Neighborhood Watch. 

ALL of the above have one goal - that is the care and preservation of this little, rural cemetery.  All donate time and their own money to that end.    You have our promise, as your Board of Directors.......

This past winter seemed to be especially hard, as you will see in the following long lists of friends and loved ones.

Cemetery Burials:

REDFIELD - Harlan D. -  (cremains sent here) - born 27 Oct 1927 - Klamath Falls, Oregon; died 24 Apr 2007 - Rio Rancho. New Mexico.  Survivors include sister Norma Winkelman and one daughter, granddaughter.

FISHER - Aileen R,  - (cremains) born 6 Sep 1909 in Snohomish, Washington - died 29 Jan 2008 in Grants Pass.  Survivors include son  Robert, seven grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and numerous great-great grandchildren.  Preceded in death by husband Frank, son Richard and daughter Donna.

HAGEN - Julius "Blondie" - born  25 Jul 1911 in Canda - died 13 Feb 2008 in Roseburg.  Descendant of pioneering Hagen family, survivors include wife Betty (Hamilton), sons Larry and Bud , grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

WILLIAMSON - Patty D. - born 4 Apr 1933 in Alliance, Ohio - died 2 Mar 2008 in Roseburg.  Survivors include daughter Barbara, son Brad, grandchildren and great-granchildren.

LaROSE - Julia Hagen - (cremains) born 1 Nov 1925 in Glendale - died 5 Mar 2008 in Roseburg.  Descendant of pioneering Hagen family, survivors include husband Gerald R, son, daughter, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sister Elsie and brother Walter Hagen.

COATE - Rodney D. - (cremains) born 26 May 1950 in Grants Pass, died 7 April 2008 in Glendale.  Survivors include mother Christina Hale, sons Michael and Jason, sister Kathy, brother Michael and 4 grandchildren.

KESSLER - Carol - born 18 May 1937 in Concord, New Hampshire - died 21 Apr 2008 in Grants Pass.  Survivors include two brothers, Stuart LeClaire of Massachusetts and Nelson LeClaire of New Hampshire and a half-brother, Bruce Coombs of Medford.  Preceded in death by sister, Patricia Kelley

Other Notices:

NEEL - Earl Edward - born 11 Mar 1935 in Yuma, Arizona - died 1 Jan 2008.  Survivors include wife Betty, children Debra, Merl, Kim, Randy, Tammy and Ron; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

WEBB - Russell W. - born 20 Feb 1932 in Filer, Idaho - died 1 Feb 2008 in Glendale.  Survivors include daughters DeDri and Robin, son Wesley, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

JANTZER - Jack K. - born 22 May 1934 in Grants Pass - died 3 Feb 2008 in Grants Pass.  Survivors include wife Darla, son Gary, daughter Cynthia, brother Bill, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

PEAVYHOUSE - Shellie E. - born 8 July 1924 in Benedict, Tennessee - died 17 Feb 2008 at Fair View Transitional Health Center.  Surviviors include daughter Sheila Lee, son Mike Peavyhouse, a brother , grandchildren and great-grandchildren.   

REEDY - Walter P. "Pat" - born 15 Mar 1932 in Los Angeles - died 21 Feb 2008 in Grants Pass.  Survivors include wife

Margaret, four sons and step children John Gutierrez, Loretta Shak, Susan Sheppard, Herb and Mark Byrd and Sarah Bickell, two sisters, a brother, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

BITTLE - Thomas S. - born 5 Mar 1958, graduated Glendale High School 1976 - died Glendale 21 Mar 2008.  Survivors include wife Elsie, son and daughter

BARRY - John W. - born 18 Aug 1947 in Grants Pass, died Glendale 28 Mar 2008.  Survivors include wife Peggy, son Rob, daughter Shawna, sisters, brother and granddaughter

MURPHY - Arleigh N. - born 27 Mar 1917 at Enterprise; died 8 April 2008 in Grants Pass after a long battle with cancer.

Survivors include wife Betty; daughter Arlene, sons Jeff, Mike and Chris Murphy and Rick Brady, seven

grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

CAUSEY - baby Ava Leigh - born 1 Feb 2008 in Medford - died 1 Apr 2008 in Portland.  Survivors include parents

Kameron and Jamie Causey, grandparents Kevin and Kristy Causey and Steve and Vickie Ryder.

JANTZER - Leslie W. "Bill" - born 27 Jan 1932 in Grants Pass - died 1 Apr 2008 in Grants Pass.  Survivors include wife Colleen, four daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Cemetery "winter damage" was minimal.  One large fir tree in the old section, had to be removed due to many broken limbs, leaving the tree ugly and the few remaining limbs very dangerous.  One of those huge limbs crashed down at an angle between two old, tall and slender tombstones and dislodged one stone but did not break it.  To prevent further trouble, we had Jensen's Tree Service remove the whole tree.  Phil Jensen and his crew are so very careful; they removed the tree piece by piece and cleaned up every big of the mess, leaving only rounds of wood for us to remove.  We hate to see any of those big, old trees removed from the Original section but when one thinks of possible damage to the precious old headstones, the decision to remove a tree, is not difficult to make. 

ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2007, the school district was winding down its' celebration of Spirit Week.  One of the high school classes was cleaning the cemetery when we heard sirens below us, in what everyone thought was the vicinity of Mill Creek apartments, across the street from the grade school.  No one paid much attention until a school bus arrived at the cemetery earlier than planned, to pick up the students.  A short time later everyone learned that emergency vehicles went to the elementary school but personnel - and those at the school, were unable to save the life of 54 year old Craig Stafford, who died of a heart attack about 30 minutes after walking into the school office at about 8:20 a.m.  Students were dismissed for that day and there was no school on Friday, due to in-service.

Stafford was a special-education teacher and respected by staff and students.  He was transported to his family's hometown of Burns.

The Community Clean day has been set for May 17^th, from 10 a.m. until 12 or 12:30.  There will be a "pavilion potluck" immediately following and all who plan to attend are asked to bring a favorite dish.  Turkey and ham, drinks and table service will be furnished by the Association.  (AND - jugs of water and hand-sanitzers for washing up after cleaning..)

If you have any questions, feel free to call one of the numbers on the bottom of the page.

Lastly, our heartfelt THANK YOU to all who donate each year, to make our work possible!!!

Respectfully,

Vickie, Rose, Betty Ann, Norma, Melanie, Jeff, Harvey, Lynne and families

GLENDALE MEMORIAL CEMETERY ASSOCIATION

POST OFFICE BOX 309

GLENDALE, OREGON 97442

Phones: 541-832-2525 or 541-832-2819 (answering machine)

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