Deceased Members of the Class of '61
K -N
KALDAHL DALE (1997)
KILLIAN SHARON (1960s)
Kirk Squire, Erla
(2008)
Erla died Dec. 15, 2008 of causes related to cancer. She was 65.She was born Oct. 3, 1943, in Cottage Grove to Harold and Velma Myers Kirk. She graduated from Thurston High School in 1961.Survivors include three sons, John of Lowell and Andy and Ron, both of Springfield; a daughter, Lynn of Springfield; six sisters, Neva, Myrna, Gail, Darla and Ronda, all of Springfield, and Velda of Albany; three brothers, Darrel of Dexter, Royce of Redmond and Tracy of Springfield; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Dave Strom Kivela
(2009)
David Allen Kivela of Springfield died Oct. 21, of complications from a stroke. He was 67. No service is planned.
He was born Dec. 19, 1941, in Spokane, to Elmer and Ruth Kivela. He married Marilyn Lyons Nov. 25, 1985, in Reno, Nev.
He served in the U.S. Navy, and worked at Georgia Pacific.
Survivors included his wife; two sons, Scott and Brian, both of Springfield; a sister, Bev Sager of Springfield; and three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
LA FLEUR BONITA (1994)
Bonnie died September 21, 1994, of liver cancer at the age of 51. She had allegedly been a “cancer survivor” having had breast cancer at the age of 39, but it came back with a vengeance and took her life only 3 weeks after diagnosis. She was born in Minnesota and her family moved to Springfield in 1952 with Bonnie graduating from Thurston in 1961. She graduated from Sacred Heart Hospital School of Nursing in 1964 and moved to Seattle and then to Berkeley, California, in search of adventure and good nursing jobs. She loved being a “hippie” during the 60’s and often referred to herself as “Berkeley Bon.” She married in 1971 and divorced in 1983. She returned to Springfield in the mid-1970’s and eventually took a nursing position with McKenzie-Willamette Hospital where she worked for 11 years in Women’s Care/Labor and Delivery which she absolutely loved, and her co-workers and patients loved her too. She also loved to try new things and took up sailboarding, skiing, piano, harmonica, writing and dancing. She didn’t really care if she excelled or was even good at her endeavors, she just enjoyed trying new things. Her family was priority to her and she took good care of all who knew her. She left behind a son, Seth, who is living in Belgium with a new son of his own, and a daughter Corie who is in her 3rd year of naturopathic school in Portland. She would be so proud of both of them. We miss her every day. submitted by Cindy La Fleur-Widmer
2001
Jerry Lee Lakey of Eugene died Dec. 17, 2005 of cancer. He was 62.
Lakey was born March 16, 1943, in Coquille, to Thomas and Nettie Bailey Lakey. He married Peggy Breske on July 10, 1976, in Dexter.
A lifelong resident of Lane County, Lakey grew up in Springfield and graduated from Springfield High School in 1961. He had lived in Eugene for the past 44 years. He served in the Navy as a radarman. He held a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Oregon and an associate's degree in computer science from Lane Community College.
Lakey worked as a firefighter and wilderness guard for the U.S. Forest Service and also had worked for Southern Pacific Railroad. He enjoyed spending time with his son and with his friends, writing, going to the beach, and reading history, comparative religion and science fiction.
Survivors include his wife, Peggy Breske; his mother of Eugene; a son, Kyle of Eugene; a brother, Robert Lakey of Gresham; and a sister, Delores Stuve of Eugene.
Langdon Dowell, Pat
LYDAY WARTENBEE DARLENE (1996 or 97)
MART KEN (2004)
"Kenneth Mart of Pleasant Hill died June 7 at the age of 61. His family chose not to list the cause of death.
Mart was born Jan. 19, 1943, in Eugene to Raymond Raney and Olive Johansen Gibson. He married Sharon Halladay in Springfield in 1963; they later divorced. He lived for a time in Gilchrist and graduated from Thurston High School in 1961. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years. He worked in the timber industry and enjoyed camping, fishing and playing pool in his leisure time.
Survivors include his mother; two sons, Gary and Dean, both of Kelso, Wash.; a daughter, Michelle Mart of Oakridge; a brother, Guy Gibson of Springfield; a sister, Kaylene Rolfe of Veneta; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. A daughter, Carla Mart, died previously
MASSEY LARSON ELIZABETH (2001)
7th grade photo
McBride, Gary (Feb. 2009)
A graveside service will be 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, at Rest-Haven Memorial Park and Funeral Home for Gary E. McBride of Springfield, who died Feb. 11 at age 65. The family chose not to list the cause of death.
He was born May 25, 1943, in Marshfield to Ed and Mary Ellen Diehl McBride. He married Sherry Isitt on Aug. 1, 1964, in Reno, Nev.
He graduated from Thurston High School in 1961 and served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Aludra from 1960 to 1964. He worked as a flight instructor and was a logger and equipment operator for Weyerheuser.
Survivors include his mother; his wife; two sons, Danny and Brian, both of Springfield; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
MCCULLOUGH JOHN (1994)
