Obituaries
May 7
Robert Marion Christensen
Dec. 6, 1942-April 22, 2008
Robert Marion Christensen died on April 22, 2008, at age 65.
He was born on Dec. 6, 1942, in Twin Bridges, Mont., and had lived off and on in the Metro area since childhood. For the last six years he had lived in Aloha and Clackamas.
He was in the Army during the Vietnam War and was employed as a finance manager for a car dealer in Washington, before becoming disabled.
He is survived by his wife, Christine Christensen and brother, Art Holmgren.
A memorial service was held on May 3, 2008, at the Clackamas Ward of LDS Church in Milwaukie.
Arrangements: Crown Memorial Center-Milwaukie.
Ricardo Phillip Cule
Jan. 28, 1940-April 23, 2008
Ricardo Phillip Cule died on April 23, 2008, at age 68.
He was born on Jan. 28, 1940, in Portland to Dick and Marjori Cule. During his lifetime he was an artist, craftsman and carpenter.
He is survived by his wife, Cheryl Lynn Cule, brothers, sisters, numerous children, grandchildren and friends.
Arrangements: Crown Memorial Center-Milwaukie.
Van Aubrey Gibson
Feb. 10, 1923-April 27, 2008
Van Aubrey Gibson died on April 27, 2008, at age 85.
He was born on Feb. 10, 1923, in Huntsville, Mo., and came to Oregon in 1940.
He was a retired Lt. Cmdr. in the Navy, and had been self employed as a safety engineer.
Survivors include: wife, Ruth Ellen Gibson; daughters, Sharon A. Schwietert and Karen M. Ducham; sons, Van, Gary, Gregory, James, Jeffrey and Kevin Gibson; 19 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on May 1, 2008, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.
Remembrances may be sent to Legacy Hospice in Portland.
Arrangements: Stehn Family Chapels Milwaukie Tribute Center.
Judge Patrick Daniel Gilroy
Aug. 31, 1932-April 10, 2008
Judge Patrick Daniel Gilroy died on April 10, 2008, at age 75.
He was born on Aug. 31, 1932, in Portland and was raised and educated in the area. He was a graduate of Holy Redeemer Grade School and Central Catholic High School. He did his undergraduate work at Oregon State University and the University of Portland and received his law degree from the University of San Francisco.
He was an Army veteran and served over 30 years as a Circuit Court judge in Clackamas County.
He was a member of St. Agatha Catholic Church for over 50 years.
He is survived by: wife, Donna A. Gilroy; daughter, Catherine Portwood; sons, Patrick, Michael, Brian, Kevin, Daniel and John Gilroy; and 21 grandchildren.
A Celebrated Mass of Christian Burial was held on April 19, 2008, at St. Agatha Christian Church.
Remembrances may be sent to Central Catholic High School or Friends of St. Agatha.
Arrangements: Riverview Abbey Funeral Home.
Wayne Mortimer Graham
May 4, 1928-April 26, 2008
Wayne Mortimer Graham died on April 26, 2008, at age 79.
He was born on May 4, 1928, in Oregon City, and spent his life in the area.
He was a retired major in the Army, and had been employed as a manager for Parr Lumber.
He is survived by: son, Steve Graham; daughters, Denise Boyer and Debbie Ralph; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. His wife, LaVonne, preceded him in death in 1999.
A graveside service was held on May 1, 2008, in Oregon City.
Remembrances may be sent to Zion Lutheran Church.
Arrangements: Holman-Hankins-Bowker & Waud.
Marla Holmes
Jan. 20, 1958-April 30, 2008
Marla Holmes died on April 30, 2008, at age 50. The cause of death was cancer.
She was born on Jan. 20, 1958, in Dreux, France, to George and Martha McAdara. She grew up as a military child and spent the first several years of her life in France.
As a child, she and her family moved to the United States, and when she was in middle school, they moved to Bend, where she graduated from Bend High School and worked as an orthodontic assistant.
She continued this work for nearly 23 years, and ended up moving to the Portland Metro area, where she worked many years for both Dale Rhoney and Gary Chapman.
In the summer of 1987, she met Craig Holmes while working in Lake Oswego. As it turned out, the two lived in the same community and began spending a lot of their free time together. In 1990, they married.
A couple of years later, they had their first son, Kyle, and two years after that, their second son, Kevin.
At this time, Craig was working with the Army National Guard, and his wife helped out by being a Family Program Coordinator over the course of about 10 years.
Some of her happiest moments include being around kids, enjoying her family, doing outdoor activities, being a member of her church, West Linn Lutheran and volunteering with schools. Over the past year, she volunteered with Willamette Young Life in West Linn.
She is survived by: husband, Craig; sons, Kyle and Kevin; brother, Larry McAdara and wife Kathy; and brother, Joe McAdara and wife Priscilla.
A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, May 8, at 2 p.m., at the West Linn Lutheran Church, 20390 Willamette Drive.
Remembrances may be sent to Willamette Young Life.
Arrangements: Crown Memorial Center, Tualatin.
Beverly June Jones
Oct. 2, 1931-April 28, 2008
Milwaukie resident Beverly June Jones died on April 28, 2008, at age 76.
She was born Beverly June Goodridge on Oct. 2, 1931, in Montebello, Calif., and had lived in the Metro area since 1976.
She was a beautician, the owner of Creekside Carousel and president of the Ladies Auxiliary at the VFW.
She is survived by: husband, Larry Jones; daughters, Kathy Kasma, Lisa Bunnell and Cheryl Paul; stepdaughter, Kelly Jones; stepson, Scott Jones; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Her son, Charles Boughner, preceded her in death in 2006.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on May 8, 2008, at the VFW post 4248, in Portland.
Remembrances may be sent to the VFW.
Arrangements: Crown Memorial Center-Milwaukie.
David “Butch” L. Neely
Sept. 26, 1948-April 23, 2008
David “Butch” L. Neely died on April 23, 2008, at age 59. The cause of death was liver failure.
He was born on Sept. 26, 1948, in Long Beach, Calif., and moved to Oregon about 35 years ago.
He lived all over the Portland area and had lived in Milwaukie for 12 years.
He was in the Army from 1968 to 1970, and had been self employed as a painter.
He is survived by: wife, Kathy Wood; sons, Joseph and Josh Neely; brother, John Neely; sister, Judy Spargo; and two grandchildren.
A graveside service will be held at Willamette National Cemetery on May 9, 2008, at 3 p.m. Remembrances may be sent to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Arrangements: Peake.
Bonita (Bonnie) Marie Richardson
March 19, 1932- April 28, 2008
Bonita (Bonnie) Marie Richardson died on April 28, 2008, at age 76. The cause of death was cryptogenic liver failure.
She was born Bonnie Marie Barnes on March 19, 1932, in Portland, attended Washington High School in Portland and then graduated early from Newberg High School. She also attended George Fox College, Reed College, the Portland Museum Arts School and Clackamas Community College.
She was an artist, poet and writer and was employed by Milwaukie’s Dutch Cupboard Deli in the 1970s, as well as by various Old Town shops and businesses.
She spent most of her childhood living with her aunt Vernie Little, and her grandmother Annie May Barnes, on Lake Road in Milwaukie. Married in Portland, she and her family lived briefly in Bandon, then moved to Milwaukie where she and her husband resided at the former general store located at the Evergreen Trolley Stop on Park Avenue. In 1959, they moved to Helena Street in Milwaukie where they built an Asian-inspired house together. In 1964, they moved to a new home in the Cedar Crest housing development in Milwaukie.
The family moved to Colton in 1973. In the late ’70s, they returned to Portland, to reside in the Buckman neighborhood.
She was on the Tucker Maxon Oral School fundraising committee (1960s), had an independent water color art show at Ledding Library (1968), was published in Guidepost Magazine (1971-2), was a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society - CCC, was published in various literary magazines, had independent art shows in Portland and Lincoln City, was a blue and champion ribbon winner for her paintings at the Clackamas County and Oregon State Fairs, had a Book Arts display and world tour of her handmade books in Wexford, England.
Her youngest great-granddaughter, 17-month-old Gioia (Joya), flew all the way from Itri, Italy, to meet her great-grandmother for the first time, four days before she died.
She is survived by: husband, Donald Ray Richardson; daughter, Daphne Anne; sons, Christopher Robbin, Laird Ian, Steffan Leif, Forrest Craig, and Sean Vincent Adam; son-in-law Dennis Rice; daughters-in-law, Rosalia Cognilio Richardson, Taffy Richardson and Dotty Richardson; cousin, Betty Mowery;10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by: father, Harvey Morton Barnes; mother, Valli Esther Brewer; stepfather, Alan (Uncle Burt) Burton Compton; and grandmother, Annie May Barnes.
A family Celebration of Life was held on May 4, 2008, in Colton. Remembrances may be sent to: Northwest Medical Team (Medical Teams International www.nwmedicalteams.org), Oregon Public Broadcasting, or Providence Hospital Passage Quilt Program: Heart to Hand, Inc., 412 Beavercreek Road, Suite 607, Oregon City, OR 97045. Arrangements: Family Memorial Services.
E. Bryan Shaner
Aug. 25, 1915-April 28, 2008
E. Bryan Shaner died on April 28, 2008, at age 92.
He was born on Aug. 25, 1915, in Sedgwick County, Kansas, and had lived for 72 years in Portland and Milwaukie.
He served in the Army and worked for 39 years for Pacific Northwest Bell Telephone Company as a personnel manager.
He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and was a Shriner.
He is survived by: wife, Betty Burris Shaner; sons, Gary and Dr. Gregory Shaner; daughter, Lynne Olson; 11 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
A Memorial Service was held on May 2, 2008, at the Moreland Presbyterian Church.
Remembrances may be sent to the Shriners Children’s Hospital.
Arrangements: Peake.
Eileen Margaret Wilson
Nov. 2, 1935-April 27, 2008
Milwaukie resident Eileen Margaret Wilson died on April 27, 2008, at age 72.
She was born Eileen Margaret Downey on Nov. 2, 1935, in Yakima, Wash., and spent her whole life in the Portland area.
She was a homemaker and loved the beach and spending time with her grandkids.
Survivors include: daughter, Mattie Earl; sons, Robbie and Timothy Wilson; brothers, John, Patrick and Bill Downey; sisters, Katie Thorp and Ellen Wolfe; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
A Memorial Mass was held on May 2, 2008, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.
Remembrances may be sent to any beach clean-up association.
Arrangements: Peake.