Death Notice: LaVern "Bernie" Allen Morris, 87, The Dalles

LaVern "Bernie" Allen Morris, age 87, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away on August 14, 2024.

A Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

Obituary: Patricia Mae (Ellis) Young, 87, Husum

Patricia Mae (Ellis) Young of Husum, Washington passed away on August 15, 2024. She was 87 years old. 

Patricia (Pat) was born on June 8th, 1937 in Yakima, Washington as the first of five children to Gordon and Mabel Ellis. She was preceded in death by many loved ones, including her husband Boyd Vonn Young. 

Pat leaves behind her sons Michael (Jennifer) of The Dalles, Oregon, and Robert (Samantha) of Blairsville, Georgia, her granddaughters Brittany, Mary, and Cory as well as her great-granddaughters DaiseyMae, Vivian, Penelope, and Zara. 

Pat was an avid member of the Hood River Jazzercise community for many years. She was also a champion of lost and abandoned animals. Pat adopted several cats and dogs and made a safe and loving home for them. 

No service is scheduled at this time; a private interment will be held in the fall

Spencer, Libby, and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

Death Notice: Sidney Allen Miller, 77, Hood River

Sidney Allen Miller passed away on August 14, 2024, in Hood River, Oregon. He was born May 18, 1947, and was 77 years of age at the time of his passing. 

Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center • 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031.  Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.

Death Notice: Linda Gayle Rocha, 77, Maupin

Linda Gayle Rocha, age 77, a resident of Maupin, OR, passed away on August 12, 2024.

Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

Death Notice: Clifford Dwain Wirtz, 89, Dufur

Clifford Dwain Wirtz, age 89, a resident of Dufur, OR, passed away on July 3, 2024.

Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

Death Notice: Shirley Lou Colf, 80, The Dalles

Shirley Lou Colf, age 80, a resident of The Dalles, OR, Passed away on August 1, 2024.

A Celebration of Life will be held on August 16, 2024, at 1:30 PM at the Mid-Columbia Senior Center in The Dalles, OR. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

Death Notice: Rosemarie Catherine Barlett, 98, The Dalles

Rosemarie Catherine Barlett, age 98, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away on August 11, 2024.

A Memorial Service will be held on October 5, 2024, at 11:00 AM at the Redmond Christian Church in Redmond, OR. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

Death Notice: Judy Leona Magill, 78, Yuma

Judy Leona Magill, age 78, a resident of Yuma, AZ, and a former resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away on August 11, 2024.

A Funeral Service will be held Monday, August 19, 2024, at 1:00 PM at the Wamic Community Church with a reception to follow and a private family burial. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

Death Notice: David Alan Baldwin, 70, The Dalles

David Alan Baldwin, age 70, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away on August 7, 2024.

A Graveside Service will be held on August 17, 2024, at 12:15 PM at the White Eagle Memorial Preserve in Goldendale, WA. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

Death Notice: Michael Jeffery Houser, 63, The Dalles

Michael Jeffery Houser, age 63, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away on August 10, 2024.

Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

Death Notice: Lorinda “Jeanie” Jean Addleman, 75, The Dalles

Lorinda “Jeanie” Jean Addleman age 75, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away on August 2, 2024.

Spencer, Libby, and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

Death Notice: Janet E Sparling, 81, The Dalles

Janet E Sparling age 81, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away on August 2, 2024.

Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

Death Notice: Patricia Ann Price, 66, The Dalles

Patricia Ann Price age 66, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away on July 20, 2024.

Spencer, Libby, and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

Death Notice: Charles LeRoy Overmyer, 80, The Dalles

Charles LeRoy Overmyer age 80, a resident of The Dalles, OR, Passed away on July 18, 2024.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Spencer, Libby, and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

Obituary: Mona Nell Longmore Wilson, 79, Odell

Mona Nell Longmore Wilson from Odell, Oregon passed away at the age of 79, due to a long illness, she was born February 23, 1945, in Blackfoot, Idaho to Hyrum Jesse Longmore and Irene Wanda Smith. She returned to her heavenly home into the Lord’s loving arms on July 28th, 2024.

Mona was raised in South-Eastern Idaho in different little communities around Idaho Falls, Idaho. With her 1st marriage to Rick Lee, she lived in Las Vegas, NV for several years. They later divorced and she moved back to Idaho Falls, ID and worked at an Electrical Company. Mona & Ralph Wilson were married in the Idaho Falls temple and they moved to Ogden, UT, where she worked for several different doctors. When they retired, they moved to Odell, OR.

Mona was a very loving, kind, and generous person to everyone she came in contact with, she loved spending time with her family and friends playing games and visiting. Everyone always felt welcome in her home, she would always make sure you didn’t go away hungry. Mona was always giving you homemade zucchini bread or homemade jam, at Christmas she made lots of candies to be given out. She was the picture taker for years at our yearly family reunions and was always very organized. Some of her hobbies were reading, sewing, puzzling, diamond art and tri-chem.

Mona was very active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She loved teaching in the Nursery, the Sunbeams as well as the older children. Mona loved doing genealogy and keeping track of all her siblings and their families’ history records. She enjoyed going to the temple and doing work for her ancestors. Everyone loved receiving little notes in the mail with a message of encouragement.

She is survived by her husband Ralph Wilson, and children Sonya Stewart (Wayne), Jay B Owen Lee, Robin Gajefski (Aubrey), Heather Hosking (Jon), David Wilson (Melanie), and Jody Wilson (Kari). Nineteen grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and two great, great-grandchildren. Siblings are Anita Cottrell, Lois Meikle (Val), Elna Loa Hale (Jim), Susan Brandt (Roy), Wayne Longmore (Chris).

Preceded in Death by her parents, Hyrum Longmore, and Irene Elliott, and 3 brothers Jim Shane, David Longmore, Doyle Longmore, and brother-in-law Bill Cottrell, and daughter-in-law Lydia Lee.

A celebration of life for Mona will be held at 1:00 P.M., Thursday, August 8th, 2024 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (1825 May Street, Hood River, Oregon 97031) with a reception to follow. Mona will be laid to rest at White Salmon Cemetery following her services.

Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center • 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031. Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.

Death Notice: Sharon Lee Simantel, 84, Moro

Sharon Lee Simantel age 84, a resident of Moro, OR, passed away August 1, 2024.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Spencer, Libby, and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Death Notice: Cheryl Linn Atkins, 72, Goldendale

Cheryl Linn Atkins age 72, a resident of Goldendale, WA, passed away on July 31, 2024.

A viewing will be held on August 7, 2024, from 6 to 7 PM at Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

Death Notices: Michael Lynn Sexton, 77, The Dalles; Ernest Owen Murphy, 80, The Dalles

Michael Lynn Sexton age 77, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away on July 29, 2024. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

Ernest Owen Murphy age 80, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away on July 30, 2024. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

Obituary: Helen Mary Rose Zwick, 102, The Dalles

What a life! 

Helen Mary Rose Zwick was born at home in the Bronx, in New York City, on March 25, 1922, to Anna Silinski Zwick and Nicholas Zwick, both immigrants to this country. Helen passed peacefully in her sleep on July 10, 2024, at the age of 102. 

Helen and her younger sister Millie were avid skaters, and one day in 1941, Helen met a young man in uniform at the skating rink; Hobart Lynch. Shortly before Hobart shipped out to fight in WWII, Helen and Hobie became engaged. 

He made arrangements with a local florist to deliver one dozen roses to Helen every month while he was overseas. By the time Hobart returned home from Europe in July, after the war ended, Helen had received 39 dozen roses. Hobart and Helen married on August 26, 1945, and began their life together in New York. 

Their first child Patricia, arrived in July 1946. Michael was born in July the following year. From then on, another child arrived about every year and a half or so, until by 1964 there were ten! For several years the growing Lynch family traversed from New York to Oregon, then back again to Massachusetts, New York, and Florida, until finally they returned to the best place: Oregon.

Hobart was a carpenter and The Dalles was a bustling place in the 1950s and 60s with the building of The Dalles dam, new housing, and a big aluminum plant. They put down roots. While Hobart worked as a skilled carpenter, Helen worked at jobs with hours that allowed her to be home when the kids got home from school. She may have worked a graveyard shift at a nursing home, but when the kids got off the bus, there would often be warm cake or cookies waiting for them as an after-school snack. 

By the 1980s her kids were mostly grown and Helen was able to give more time to the community doing what she did best; helping others. She worked with the Community Action Project, helping people find jobs, housing, home weatherization, and other basic human needs. In 1983 The Dalles was one of many communities suffering through a recession and some people had difficulty getting food. Her experience with her children and the example of Jesus gave Helen the simple insight that when people are hungry, you feed them! 

Helen and several other people organized a community meal, provided, cooked, and served by local groups that welcomed everyone who needed a good hot meal. It became a regular feature. Helen volunteered to help cook and serve the meals until she was well into her 90s. She was able to join in as the Community Meal celebrated its 40th Anniversary in October 2023. 

Helen was a dedicated member of St Peter’s Catholic Church in The Dalles, beginning when it was in the original landmark church in town. She volunteered for years with several community-based groups including St Vincent de Paul. Helen practiced her faith daily with love, patience, kindness, and nonjudgmental acceptance of people as they are. 

When Helen was mostly retired, she spent lots of time with her grandkids, especially in the summers. Highlights included swimming at Horsethief Lake, picking huckleberries on the slopes of Mt Adams, canning cherries, making fruit dumplings, enjoying leisurely pancake breakfasts, and even wading up Oneonta Creek to the waterfall! 

Helen and Hobie raised ten pretty decent human beings, and they all, with their amazing partners, survive her: Patricia, Michael (Fran), Maureen, Gail (Steve), Carol (Paul), Richard, Timothy (Lisa), Christine (Kevin), Nicholas (Tara) and Millie. They live mostly in the Pacific NW in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. 

Helen embraced an ever-changing number of biological, borrowed, adopted, step-grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even great-great-grandchildren! 

Helen survived the loss of her parents, sister Millie, husband Hobie, and grandsons Philip and Eric. Hobie passed away in 1994, not quite 50 years after they married. 

Helen faced this major change in her life by volunteering even more hours to community and charity work. Helen could be counted on to be calm in the midst of chaos. She was kind and loving, even when people disappointed her. Her outlook was positive and upbeat when others found reason to be discouraged. 

When asked if she wanted to try something new, her response was “Why Not?” (except for jalapeños) Helen’s daughter Christine and her son-in-law Kevin in Vancouver WA provided loving and devoted care for Helen as she required more assistance and care. They opened their hearts and opened their doors to Helen and her entourage of visitors. 

Kevin crafted a connection between Helen and a large following on Facebook and Instagram by posting Helen’s latest adventures and advice under the hashtag #belikeHelen. Her trusty four-legged sidekick Tor was with her every step of the way. Helen’s many family, friends, and fans will miss her. And perhaps Tor will miss her most of all. Helen donated countless hours to organizations that provide support and dignity to people. Volunteers are the heart and soul of these organizations, and they are also grateful for donations of items and monetary contributions. Helen’s favorites include The Dalles Community Meal, St Vincent de Paul, and Meals on Wheels in The Dalles; and A Caring Closet, Clark County Food Bank, and Meals on Wheels People in Vancouver WA.

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Peter’s Catholic Church on August 6, 2024, at 10:00 AM. Burial will follow at the IOOF Cemetery 2565 Three Mile Rd, The Dalles, OR. A reception at St. Peter’s Catholic Church will follow the burial.

Spencer, Libby, and Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

Obituary: Mary Ann Meyer, 94, The Dalles

Mary Ann Meyer (Schlichting), aged 94 years, peacefully passed away in her home, on July 20, 2024.  She was born in Minot, North Dakota, on September 29, 1929, to Adolph and Bessie Schlichting (Carlson), which was the first year of the twelve-year-long Great Depression.

Her family moved several times for her father’s job opportunities, which varied from businessman to teacher and education administrator. The family moved to The Dalles just before Mary Ann’s senior year of high school.

Mary Ann came from a musical family and was blessed with a beautiful singing voice.  She was untrained until a junior high music teacher recognized her talent. After school, they worked together to improve Mary Ann's breathing techniques. This teacher was a gift to her future.  After graduating from The Dalles High School, she entered St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, where she earned her degree in Home Economics. She was the only freshman invited to sing in the renowned 75-voice St. Olaf Choir, the premier traveling a cappella choral ensemble at St. Olaf, and was a member of the choir all four years of college.   This was truly an honor!

 She taught home economics formally for one year in Minnesota after graduating, but then in 1952, returned to The Dalles to marry the love of her life, Wilson J. Meyer-- an orchardist who had many visions and was a Jack-of-all-trades. They had three children together:  Pam, Caryl, and David.  All married, all had children, and over the years they enlarged Mary Ann's role from mother to grandmother to great-grandmother. Wilson predeceased her in 1994, at the age of 81.

 Mary Ann was a full-time farmer’s wife and mother taking on all the duties thereof with energy and joy. She had a work ethic and a knack for an organization that was second to none. She was interested in community and was an active member for many years of the local chapter of the AAUW (American Association of University Women), serving as President for two of the years.

 She was also, throughout her life, an active member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church and took pride in her and Wilson being the first couple to be married in the newly constructed building at 10th and Union. In the early years, she directed the children’s “Carol Choir.” Along with her husband, Wilson, they initiated and piloted the teen church youth group in Bible studies with various projects and activities in the new church. She led the church in putting on glorious “Mother/Daughter Teas” for several years with inventive and complex programs to entertain the attendants from the church and community. Later, she presided through the church over the local organization of WELCA (Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America) and was accepted as a lifelong board member. She also presided over the Women’s Mt. Hood Cluster of the ELCA Oregon Synod. She sang with her beautiful voice everywhere and all the time, including in the church choir, continuing to sing throughout the rest of her life up to and including the choir’s monthly performance this past March.

She was an excellent cook and had a Scandinavian background, lefse, flatbrod, Swedish pancakes, and Krumkake were “traditions” and treats all the family enjoyed. Mary Ann had many other interests, hobbies, and talents as well, including swimming, exquisite sewing, and quilting, gardening, the interior design for the two homes she lived in, both constructed by Wilson, and lastly, a new hobby of drying flowers and using them for cards to send for special communications.  Everyone loved receiving those beautiful cards and the wonderful handwritten letters they always contained.  Mary Ann was a gifted and treasured correspondent to many. She wrote as she spoke – her warmth, wit, and love of life and others rang through in every phrase.

 Above all else, her faith and trust in the Lord filled her every day.  She relished Bible study, church services, and daily devotions, and believed in the power of “LOVE.”  From a brief memoir she wrote of her life for Zion’s newsletter, The Voice, in 2020, she stated:  “Love has no bounds.  I pray for Christ's continued guidance through the challenges that we, all of us, face today.  And I pray for LOVE of, and peace for our families, friends, and -- all humanity.”

 Mary Ann was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Fred and Jim, and her beloved husband, Wilson. She is survived by her children Pam (Mike) Riise, Caryl Brewbaker, and Dave (Dana) Meyer; her grandchildren Tanya, Matt, Kelsey (Jake), Erin (Aaron), Dayna (Tom), Brita, Brenna (Bryan), and Luisa (Jaydn); great-grandchildren Kaley, Donovan, Thea, Roslyn, Lara, Liam, Emery, and Rowan; and numerous nieces and nephews.

 Mary Ann, you have lived life fully and have been faithful to Christ to the end. You will be forever loved and admired for what you have given us.  Thank you. Rest in Peace.

 A memorial service for Mary Ann will be held on Saturday, August 10, 2024, at 2:00 pm at Zion Lutheran Church, 101 W. 10th Street, The Dalles, Oregon. Memorials in Mary Ann’s honor may be made to Zion and designated towards the music program or quilting group.