A Celebration of Life for Gary Dean Wellbaum, 56, of Arago, will be held at 11:00AM on Monday, December 21, 2009 at the Arago Community Church. Pastor Tom Morris will officiate. Gary was born on June 1, 1953 in Oregon City. He died December 16, 2009 in Arago. He attended Southern Oregon University and received his Master’s Degree in Education. Gary was in the U.S. Air Force for three years, being stationed in Taiwan and at Edwards A.F.B. He married Penny Mitchell on May 2, 1981. A few years later, he began his teaching career in Special Education.

He taught in Gresham, Central Point, Gold Hill, Bandon, and Myrtle Point and was currently teaching at the Harding Learning Center in Coos Bay. Gary was a very passionate teacher. He and his students worked very closely with the O. D. F. & W and the Noble Creek Fish Hatchery in impacting the Oregon Fisheries. He was also very active in Northwest Youth Corps in sponsoring youth to attend summer work programs.

 He was just recently named Educator of the Year from S.O.L.V. In his spare time, he loved to go fishing, camping and playing golf with his family and friends. Gary is survived by his wife Penny of Arago; son Keith of Salem and his children Kaiana and MaKenna; son Kevin and his wife Amber of Talent and their children Nash and Kemper; parents Irv and Dorothy Brunner of Talent; brothers, Robbie Wellbaum and his wife Shannon of Colorado, Kevin Wellbaum and wife Maki of Seattle, and Jim Brunner and his wife Jen of Bend; sister Tracy Burns and her husband Vern of Eagle Point; best friend, Doug Litwiller of Medford; he also has many surrogate sons and daughters, and numerous other relatives and close friends. He was preceded in death by two sons, Sean and Jeremy, and his grandparents.

 The family suggests memorial contributions to Northwest Youth Corps, 2621 Augusta, Eugene, OR 97403 or to Noble Creek Fish Hatchery, 93638 Green Acres Lane, Coos Bay, OR 97420. Arrangements are under the direction of Amling/Schroeder Funeral Service – Coquille Chapel, 396-3846.¤

A memorial service will be held for Roy Dale Dimmitt, 68, of Coquille at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday the 23rd of December at the Bible Baptist Church in Coquille. Roy was born in Sargent, Nebraska on December 30, 1940 to Hazel and Hobart Dimmitt and died at his home in Coquille on December 12, 2009.

Roy graduated from Sargent High School in 1960 and married his wife Betty on December 24, 1969. He has four children, eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. He worked 16 years for Earl M. Jorgenson Steel in Seattle, WA and moved to Coquille in 2001. Roy loved watching football and wrestling, and growing his own tomatoes and going to Senior Meals.

Roy was very strong in his faith and will be remembered by many in his neighborhood as the “oxygen waving man on 10th Street.” Roy is survived by his wife, Betty Dimmitt of Coquille; a son, Derick Stone of Carson City, Nevada; daughters, Stacy Patrick and family of Elmira, OR, Shannon (Dimmitt) Harlow of Eagle River, Alaska and Stephanie (Dimmitt) Bohn and family of Coquille; son-inlaw, Jason Bohn of Coquille; and grandsons, Tim Patrick, Jr. and Allen Dale Dimmitt, both of Coquille. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to South Coast Hospice, 1620 Thompson Rd., Coos Bay, OR 97420. Services are under the direction of Myrtle Grove Funeral Service, 396-3158.¤

Betty Annette Tkac, 64, of Coquille, died December 9, 2009 in Coquille.
Arrangements are pending with Myrtle Grove Funeral Service, 396-3158.¤


Elsie Biescke, 100, of Coquille died December 11, 2009 in Coquille. Arrangements
are under the direction of Myrtle Grove Funeral Service, 369-3158.

Roy D. Dimmitt, 68, of Coquille died December 12, 2009 in Coquille. Arrangements
are under the direction of Myrtle Grove Funeral Service, 396-3158.¤

A Memorial Service will be held for Rosa Lillian Lewis, 95,of Bandon (formerly of Coquille), at 11:00 am Friday, December 18, 2009, at Nelson’s Bay Area Mortuary, 405 Elrod Ave., Coos Bay. Pastors Mary & Dan Wilson will officiate. Cremation rites have been held under the direction of Nelson’s Bay Area Mortuary.

Rosa was born December 1, 1913 at Tillamook, Oregon, the daughter of Alfred and Lina (Hunziker) Kellenberger. She died November 30, 2009 at Bandon, Oregon, one day shy of her 96th birthday. Rosa’s parents were farmers from Switzerland, who immigrated to Tillamook, Oregon, where Rosa was born. They later moved to Norway, Oregon, where Mr. Kellenberger was the “McNess Man.” Rosa graduated from Myrtle Point High School in 1933 and had played on the girls’ basketball team. Rosa worked as a nanny for the Arthur Berg family in Coquille. She worked in cartography in Los Angeles during WWII. Rosa also worked as a waitress for many years all around the country.

She moved back to Coquille, where she lived for many years before moving to the West Wind Court Care Home in Bandon seven years ago and where she received wonderful and loving care. Rosa loved Russell Stover Candy, and until she moved to Bandon, she loved her cigarettes. Rosa is survived by a nephew Lonny Kellenberger of Bakersfield, California and many dear friends. She lost a baby boy “Mark” and a baby girl as infants. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Lewis; a brother, Alfred; and sisters, Martha and Gertrude, and two other sisters who died in infancy. Arrangements are under the direction of Nelson’s Bay Area Mortuary, 541/267- 4216.¤

A celebration of life will be held for Vera Gill, 80, of Bridge, on Saturday, December 19th at 11:00 a.m. at the Oaks Pavilion located at the Myrtle Point Fair Grounds in Myrtle Point. A reception will follow. Pastor Lee Taft will officiate. Private burial will be at Myrtle Crest Memorial Gardens.

Vera was born in Bakersfield, CA in March 1929 to Bud and Della Hackett. She died December 12, 2009 in Coos Bay. She graduated from Eugene High School in the Willamette Valley and then moved to Portland, where she worked for Rodda Paint Company. While living in Portland, she met her husband of 56 years, Jim Gill. They were married on March 19, 1953. Jim and Vera moved to Coos County in 1953. They lived on their ranch at Bridge, where they raised three children. Vera worked for Security Bank of Myrtle Point for approximately 26 years.

She was a room mother, a 4- H leader, and served as the Secretary/Treasurer of the Bridge Rural Fire District for many years. She is survived by her husband Jim, of Myrtle Point; daughter, Leslie Wilson and her husband Tom of Springfield, OR; sons, Gillen Gill and his wife Stephanie of Keizer, OR, and Pete Gill and his wife Donna of Myrtle Point, OR; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Vera was preceded in death by her parents, Bud and Della Hackett and her long time friends, Darlene Waterman and Betty Ray. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to St. Jude’s Hospital in lieu of flowers. Arrangements are under the direction of Amling/Schroeder Funeral Service – Myrtle Point Chapel, 572-2524.

Charlize Ellen “Charli” Arriola, 2 months old, died November
21, 2009 in Myrtle Point. Arrangements are under the direction
of Myrtle Grove Funeral Service, 396-3158.¤