Deceased Members of the Class of '61
E - J
David Don Ficke was born October 28, 1942 to Melvin Carl and Gertrude Della Ficke. Dave went to meet his Lord on November 11, 2008. He is survived by his wife Sharon, only daughter Shelley and her husband Rich, one brother, three stepsisters and twin grandchildren, Richelle and Riley. He was the middle child of three boys. Jim was his older brother who passed on as well as Dave's parents. Mike, his younger brother, lives in Springfield, Oregon. He also has three stepsisters, Michel Ronning of Springfield, Taresa Mogle of Salem and Mari Kircher of Federal Way, Washington.
Dave was born in Milford Nebraska and moved to Springfield with his family when he was seven. He always told stories about life on the farm, like having his own Shetland pony to ride to school, enjoying helping his dad with the animals and getting into trouble influenced by his brothers. He attended Springfield High School, then enlisted in the Air Force and was discharged to take care of family at home when his father passed away of complications of surgery.
Dave met Sharon Lewis and they dated for about a year and a half. They were married for 45 years. As a young man, he loved to play pool, go fishing and hunting, visit the coast and get together with friends. He really enjoyed cars, especially detailing them. He enjoyed being a father, taking longer lunch hours because he wanted to spend more time with his family. As a family he loved to go camping around Oregon and always camped around a lake or river to go fishing. Dave's grandchildren nicknamed Dave "Papa" and he just bragged about them to everyone. If you knew Dave you knew about his twin grandchildren.
Dave began his work career with two jobs, washing cars for a car lot and at Atlantic Richfield gas station. His career path took him to Eugene Planing Mill, R.C. Cola (a beverage company), became a long haul truck driver before driving locally for Panoco Oil which he really enjoyed. When an opportunity arose he worked for Jerry Brown Company, hauling fuel products which also allowed him to be home very night. Dave worked for Jerry Brown up until his retirement. He had a good work ethic everywhere he worked and made friends easily. He was loyal, genuine, honest, capable and respected by all. He always made people feel welcome and had a word of wit to share, most likely causing his friends to laugh. Most of Dave's friends and neighbors were able to see and help him through his battle with cancer. Dave was a Christian and was a member of Santa Clara Church of Christ. Matt. 5:16.Dave attended his sophomore year with us.
FOX ARNOLD (1980s)
FOX JOHN (1997)
FOX RONALD (June '82)
Gardner, DeWayne
Dewey DeWayne Gardner, was born Sept. 25, 1942, in Burlington, Wash.
Son of Dewey & Fern Gardner (deceased). Dewey passed away Jan. 03, 2009. Dewey is father to Stacy (deceased), Jennifer, Christie and Paula. Brother to Shirley (Ken) Crabb, Glenda (Ray) Praus. Grandpa and Uncle to many. Vern Fitzgerald was a dear friend and Earlene Jones, a special friend.
Dewey was loved by all - his sense of humor amused everyone who knew him.
He was never a complainer, although he had many health problems.
Dewey spent his last few years in the wonderful care of all at Creswell Care Center (a wonderful care home). The family sends love and thanks.
Dewey will be missed by us all.
Gates Meyer, Agnes
Agnes lived in Neotsu, OR for many years.
Aggie had been dealing with Lou Gehrig's disease which was just recently diagnosed. She recently went back to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and they said that she was too far advanced and they could not do anything for her. Recently she took a turn for the worse. Agnes passed away Thursday evening, March 18th at 5:05 p.m. in Anchorage, AK. She had been living in Anchorage with her sons with hospice care. It's very sad how fast her disease progressed. She will be buried in Springfield, next to a child she lost many years ago.
Agnes May Meyer
died peacefully March 18, 2010, after a courageous battle with ALS. She was 66.She was born May 15, 1943, in Seaside to Jerry and Violet Gates. She graduated from Springfield High School in 1961 and completed nursing school at Chemeketa Community College in 1982.
Agnes then relocated to Lincoln City, where she began a 25-year career as a Registered Nurse at the Lincoln City hospital, which is now Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital.
She is survived by sons Jerry Ralston, Mike Ralston and Jack Meyer; daughters-in-law Michelle, Monica and Tammy; two grandsons; four granddaughters; brother Jerry Gates; sisters Katheryn Haines and Violet Bryan; many nieces and nephews; and countless friends. Agnes was also loved by an extended family through the marriage of Jerry and Michelle Ralston.
GINTER ROBERT (1994)
GRAHAM DARLENE (1993)
HALVORSON CATHY (1980s)
HANSEN BILL (1998)
HAYNES RAYMOND (2004)
ROSEBURG - A memorial service was held, Oct. 16, for Raymond Lloyd Haynes of Roseburg, who died Sept. 16 of heart failure. He was 61.
Haynes was born Oct. 3, 1942, in Pasadena, Calif., to Harold "Scott" and Edith Haynes. He served in the Army from 1967 to 1976.
He lived in the Eugene-Springfield area from 1945 to 1980 before moving to Roseburg.
Survivors include his father of Rockaway and a sister, Casey Bischke of Gresham.
Hurd, Danny
Danny (2009)
Danny Joe Hurd, who died Feb. 4 at age 65. The family chose not to list a cause of death.
He was born June 7, 1943, in Ontario to Grant and Helen Wenda Hurd. He married Diana Schmidt on June 25, 1966, in Myrtle Point.
He graduated from Springfield High School and attended Eugene Business College. He worked for L&M Sheet Metal and Clark’s Sheet Metal and in a post-polio unit for Easter Seals.
Survivors include his wife; his mother, of Eugene; a brother, David of Eugene; and a sister, Mary Phillips of Happy Valley.
JACOBSON WAYNE (1992)
JUDISH WALTER (2004)2001
Walter Edward Judish died Dec 26 from a stroke. He was 62 years young.
Judish was born June 23, 1942 in Rochester NY, son or Charles and Gisella Judish. Having been raised in Springfield, he graduated from Thurston High School in 1961. Later he moved to Northern California, but returned to the Eugene/Springfield area in 1985 to be with his family. He was a hard worker with a good work ethic. Most of his life was spent working in either the mill industry or tree service. Not a year passed in which he missed hunting season. In fact, he made it a year-round tag free sport. Garage sales were the place to be on a Saturday day, but come Saturday night you could find him shaking his tail on the dance floor at the local Moose or Eagles lodge, both of which he was a member.
He was full of life and full of laughs and could always make you crack a smile. He touched the lives of everyone and was ready to lend a hand to anyone and was ready to lend a hand to anyone who needed it, even without them asking.
He was a man who lived by his own rules and got away with it - and if he didn't, he sure didn't let it ruin his day. As a father, he taught his children to be mischievous and how to get themselves out of a tight spot; he also taught them how to love unconditionally. He was a sharp-witted smooth talker, which is why the women loved him and he loved the women (he made us write this).
Survivors include four daughters, Tamara Pierson of Largo, Florida, Casandra Rhay, Tobi Bess and Shayleen Judish all of Eugene; three sons, Tony Bilderback of Baltimore, Maryland, Bryan Conley and Daniel Conley both of Springfield; two brothers, Carl Judish of Portland and Robert Judish of Springfield: three sisters Sharon Kintzley of Lowell, Susanne Chalker of Terrebonne, and Sharlene Lisenby of Springfield, and 14 grandchildren. Brother Gary Judish died previously.
