Obituaries for Dec. 5
Max Dudley Fagg
Aug. 12, 1922-Dec. 2, 2009
East Portland resident Max Dudley Fagg, 87, died Wednesday, Dec. 2.
A private graveside service will be held in Mabton, Wash.
Max was born Aug. 12, 1922, in Norton, Kan., to Clarence and Maud (Saunders) Fagg. Max grew up on a farm and graduated from Norton High School in 1941. In 1942, he joined the Army and was sent to Europe, serving in World War II. He was honorably discharged in December 1945 and settled in Portland.
Max got a job with the Housing Authority of Portland, where he worked for 36 years. He retired as director of maintenance.
Max was a member of the Elks Lodge and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He enjoyed gardening and loved his yard. He also liked playing cards. He was very hospitable. Spending time with his family and friends was very important to Max, and he kept in touch with many friends from work after he retired.
Survivors include his companion of 25 years, Charlotte Curran; her daughters, Paula Hall of Newberg and Stephanie Campion of Lake Oswego; and sisters, Bobbi Wilkinson of Sunnyside, Wash., and Betty Ware of Grandview, Wash.
Visit Max’s page at www.mem.com to sign the guestbook.
Bateman Carroll Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Selma Louisa Pierson
Sept. 15, 1917-Nov. 23, 2009
Former Gresham resident Selma Louisa Pierson, 92, died Monday, Nov. 23, in Puyallup, Wash.
A service will be held in spring 2010. Interment was at Rose City Cemetery in Portland.
Selma was born Sept. 15, 1917, in Audubon, Iowa, to George Alt and Lennie Dell Hays. She was raised on the family farm.
On Jan. 9, 1939, she married Ralph Edward Pierson in Des Moines, Iowa.
Selma moved to the Pacific Northwest and lived in Portland from 1951 to 1953, in Gresham from 1953 to 1972 and in Beaverton from 1972 to 2003. She later moved to Enumclaw, Wash.
Selma worked for JC Penney in Gresham. She enjoyed riding and caring for her horses on her farm in Troutdale (at Troutdale Road and Stark Street), and she once competed in an all-female jockey race at Portland Meadows. She also enjoyed sewing.
She was preceded in death by her husband on May 31, 2003; by her brothers, Harley Alt, George Alt, Halbert Alt and Albert Alt; and by her sisters, Ruby Alt and Marjorie Alt.
Survivors include her sons, Ralph Douglas Pierson of Seattle and Gil Pierson of Enumclaw; daughter, Pamela Alt of Scottsdale, Ariz.; sister, Rosalie Patterson of Gresham; seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Rose City Cemetery & Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Jerrell “Jerry” Leon White
July 9, 1934-Dec. 1, 2009
Jerrell “Jerry” Leon White, a resident of Boring, died Tuesday, Dec. 1, in Clackamas. He was 75.
A funeral service was held Friday, Dec. 4, at Bateman Carroll Funeral Home. A committal service with military honors was held at Skyline Memorial Gardens in Portland.
Jerry was born July 9, 1934, in Dustin, Okla., to Sidney and Lola (Norris) White. He moved to The Dalles at age 9 and attended school. At age 16, following his mother’s death, Jerry moved to Texas to be closer to his brothers. He enlisted in the Army in 1953 and was honorably discharged in 1956 with the rank of sergeant.
Jerry moved to the Portland area in the 1960s and worked for Reliable Refrigeration. In 1977 he partnered as owner and operator of Atlas Refrigeration. He was also a partner with Econo Max and the Troutdale Thriftway. He retired in 1993.
On May 9, 1982, he married Gina Lemon in Reno, Nev. They moved to Boring in 1994.
Jerry had many hobbies. He was a classic car enthusiast and spent much of his free time collecting and restoring classic cars. He also enjoyed traveling. He wintered in Yuma, Ariz., and had a cabin at Lake Billy Chinook. He was known as a softhearted man who adored his wife and treasured his family.
He was preceded in death by his twin sister, Jewell White; and by his brothers, Maurice White and Sid White.
Survivors include his wife; sons, Steve White of Arizona, Jerry White Jr. of Arizona and Richard Schmitt of Gresham; daughters, Tami White Kuto of Portland, Dodie Glover of Fairview, Rhonda Rose of Idaho and Linda Nelson of Tigard; sisters, Mildred Hunt of Gresham, Leta DeGood of Yakima, Wash., Marie Remington of The Dalles, Freda Knight of The Dalles and Meda Atkin of Medford; and seven grandchildren.
Memorial contributions can be made to a hospice of choice.
Bateman Carroll Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Mitchell “Mitch” Dean Joy
March 4, 1958-Nov. 30, 2009
Gresham resident Mitchell “Mitch” Dean Joy, 51, died Monday, Nov. 30.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, at Good Shepherd Community Church, 28986 S.E. Haley Road, Boring.
Mitch was born March 4, 1958, in Hays, Kan., to Marion and Amelia (Gottschalk) Joy. The family moved to Oregon in 1959, and Mitch attended grade school in Gresham and David Douglas High School, where he met Karen Brooks. They married in 1979.
Mitch was a certified diesel mechanic and worked for Consolidated Freightways for 22 years and at Penske Truck Leasing for six years. He was a well-respected and sought-after mechanic who could fix or build anything. He built dune buggies, dirt bikes and cars – many from the ground up. He was always happy and eager to help friends or family when his expertise was needed.
Mitch was also an avid hunter and fisherman, and his spare time was always spent hunting, fishing or working on cars. After his divorce in 2005, Mitch remained in the family home and could always be found working in his garage on his 1967 Chevrolet Nova, which was his pride and joy.
His brother, Marion “Butch” Joy, preceded him in death.
Survivors include his ex-wife, Karen Joy of Gresham; son, Cody Joy of Gresham; daughter, Hayley Joy of Gresham; brothers, Tim Joy of Boring, Terry Joy of Vancouver, Wash., James Joy and Glen Joy of Anchorage, Alaska; and sisters, Joyce Hanson of Estacada, June Robinson of Sandy, Jill Huffman of Canby, Janet Leiker of Hays and Jackie Maharg of Gresham.
Gresham Memorial Chapel is handling arrangements.
Robin Joyce Wilson
Jan. 22, 1964-Nov. 30, 2009
Gresham resident Robin Joyce Wilson, 45, died Monday, Nov. 30, at her home.
A recitation of the rosary will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, at Mt. Scott Funeral Home, 4205 S.E. 59th Ave., Portland. A funeral service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9, at St. Henry Catholic Church, 346 N.W. First St. Interment will follow at Lincoln Memorial Park in Portland.
Robin was born Jan. 22, 1964, in Oregon City to Rodney and Virginia Erickson. She attended Holcomb Elementary School and graduated from Oregon City High School in 1982.
On Aug. 15, 1992, she married Larry K. Wilson at St. Henry Catholic Church.
Robin was a former model for Meier & Frank, a nail technician and mother. She attended St. Henry Catholic Church. She enjoyed water skiing, camping and spending time at the Oregon coast with her family.
Survivors include her husband; son, Jacob Wilson of Gresham; mother and stepfather, Virginia and John Mustion of Woodburn; father and stepmother, Rodney and Lori Erickson of Arizona; sister, Rachelle of West Linn; and half-sister, Chris of Portland.
In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Jacob Wilson can be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, 4800 S.W. Macadam Ave., Suite 205, Portland, 97239.
Mt. Scott Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Roy Lee Stratton
June 22, 1938-Nov. 19, 2009
Roy Lee Stratton, a resident of Boring, died Thursday, Nov. 19, at his home. He was 71.
No services will be held.
Roy was born June 22, 1938, in Union, Neb., to Robert and Flossie (Eaton) Abbott. He was raised in Percival, Iowa. At age 17, he jumped on a train and came to Oregon where he lived ever since, including the last 22 years in Boring.
He married Geneve James. They later separated.
Roy was self-employed in lawn services and as a landscaper. He retired in 2006. His interests included collecting cards, hiking and traveling the states.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Denny Abbott, Glen Abbott and Bill Abbott.
Survivors include his sisters, Betty Abbott Martin of Arizona and Shirley Durr of Nebraska.
Memorial contributions can be made to any local homeless shelter.
Holman-Hankins-Bowker & Waud is handling arrangements.