Mary Una Brown, 90, passed away at her residence, Parkhurst House, an assisted living facility in Hood River, Ore., on Dec. 23, 2007.

She was born Feb. 10, 1917, in the township of New Hope, N.D., the fourth of seven children born to George M. and Julia M. (Tobin) Sinclair. Mary grew up in Timmer and Flasher, N.D., and graduated from a high school in Wisconsin in 1935.

Mary married Theodore Wellman in 1940 and moved to Michigan. They had two children, a girl and a boy. They divorced and in 1946 she married Kenneth F. Brown and moved to Newberg, Ore. They had three more girls.

During Mary’s younger years, she worked a “Rosie the Riveter” job, while in Michigan. While living in Newberg, besides raising children, Mary was a cook. After retiring, she cooked many years for Loaves and Fishes in the Friends Church.

Mary’s passion was her children, family and friends. She was a very kind-hearted and loving person who could never pass up a child or baby without coaxing a smile from them.

In addition to working with Loaves and Fishes, Mary was a Girl Scout leader for many years, volunteered at the Newberg Thrift Store and was a longtime VFW member. She never drove a car.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands; two brothers, George and Otto Sinclair; and one sister, Ellen Sinclair Fugere.

Survivors include her son, Gary Lessel, and his wife, Pat, in Clarkston, Mich.; four daughters, Carol Ann Rosen and her husband LeRoy, in Hood River, Ore., Cynthia Braun, in Portland, Ore., Candace Brown and her husband, Ron Crippen, in Portland, Ore., and Sylvia Harold and her husband, Paul, in Los Angeles, Calif.; brother, Ivan Sinclair and his wife, Loretta, in Mandan, N.D.; sisters Katherine Nelson, in Bismark, N.D., and Gertrude Yarberry, in Chula Vista, Calif.; eight grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held for Mary Saturday, Dec. 29, at the Attrells Newberg Funeral Home, 207 Villa Road, Newberg, Ore. Remembrances may be given to the VFW Newberg branch or a charity of one’s choice.

Ethical, brilliant, benevolent, generous, liberal: It would be a disservice to readers to list a string of superlatives in an attempt to describe the life of Jake Bigham, for he was a truly unique individual.

Those who knew him might first appreciate his ever-present sense of humor and ability to lift the spirits of those around him. A sense of humor that was never derisive and contemptuous but perceptive and witty, one that resulted from Jake’s completeness as a human being. He was a true leader whose absence will leave a permanent void in the lives of his family and many friends.

Jake died accidentally while windsurfing in extreme conditions off the coral reef at Cabo Pulmo, Baja, Mexico, on Dec. 22, 2007.

Beloved husband of Judith O’Connor and devoted father of Raina, Louisa, and Idabelle, Jake was born July 26, 1957, and raised in New York City. He graduated from Salisbury School, Hamilton College and the University of Oregon School of Architecture and practiced architecture in Portland and the Gorge.

Jake was a board member and former chairperson of the Oregon Investment Board for the protection and support of the Columbia River Gorge economy. He was recently appointed a trustee of the Northwest Academy in Portland, Ore.

Jake is the son of the late Rev. Thomas J. Bigham and Julia Scribner Bigham. He is survived by his sisters, Hildreth McCarthy, M.D., of New Orleans, La., Mary Binks, of Nairobi, Kenya, and Anda Hutchins, of New Canaan, Conn.

Jake and Judy moved to the Gorge from New York City in 1989, drawn to the area’s energy. They built a home in Rowena and were married there in 1992. Three lovely children followed. Over the years their home became the focal point for a diverse group of fun-loving close friends who now face the task of persevering without their leader, whose life was tragically cut short. A task that will be made easier by the memory of a man we can all seek to emulate.

A memorial service will be held in Hood River, Ore., at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 30, at the Pine Grove United Methodist Church, 2415 Eastside Road. Jake will be buried be in New Marlboro, Mass., in the summer. Donations may be made to Columbia Riverkeeper at www.columbiariverkeeper.org.

Gloria Juanita Glascoe passed away Dec. 25, 2007, at Harbor Care Reedwood of Portland, Ore.

Gloria was born July 2, 1919, in Maricopa, Calif., to Jacinto D. and Glendora G. (Butke) Reves. She graduated from high school in 1937 in Taft, Calif., and attended college at Santa Barbara State.

On Nov. 13, 1943, she married M.L. “Duke” Glascoe. During World War II she was a welder at Douglas Aircraft in California. They moved to Parkdale, Ore., in 1945.

Gloria worked for many years in the Parkdale packing house and thinning fruit in the local orchards before her 17 years at Luhr Jensen as a punch press operator.

In 1948 their daughter, Glenda, was born. The family always took yearly vacations, often going to visit relatives in Southern California. All of the family liked to bowl and were on leagues.

Gloria liked to travel, knit and work crossword puzzles. She had a dry sense of humor that would shoot over some people’s heads but that other people just loved! She was strong inside and out.

Gloria is survived and will be dearly missed by her daughter, Glenda Hawkins, of Portland, Ore.; her grandchild, Christina Rae Hawkins; and her great-grandchild, Kayla Rae Leckei; as well as other family and friends. In addition to her parents, her husband preceded her in death.

Any condolences may be sent to the family at 700 N.E. Multnomah, No. 950, Portland, OR 97232.

Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson’s Tribute Center (Funerals, Receptions, Cremations), 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031; (541) 386-1000; wwwandersonstributecenter.com.

James Michael Sinclair, 73, of Hood River, Ore., passed away Dec. 12, 2007, at the Portland Veterans Hospital.

James was born March 12, 1934, in Ardmore, Penn., to Thomas Frank and Catherine (Burns) Sinclair. He grew up in Pennsylvania, attending school there and graduating from Haverford High School. He continued his education at the University Georgia where he attended for three years before the Korean War.

James served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War.

He married Dottie in Southern California. They lived in Lake Tahoe until 1995 where they raised four children before moving to Hood River.

James worked in several capacities throughout the years but was a long haul truck driver for many.

He enjoyed sports and enjoyed coaching baseball and softball. He belonged to the American Legion for many years.

James is survived by his wife of nearly 48 years, Dottie Sinclair, at their home in Hood River; four children, Taunda Lee Thomas, of Waterloo, Iowa, James Michael Sinclair and his wife, Collice, of Parkdale, Ore., Trina Marie Walker and her husband, Richard, of Cottonwood, Ariz., and Katherine Wynn and her husband, Randy, of Carrollton, Ga.; and six grandchildren: Sonna, James III, Brandon, Andrea, Randy and Candy.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a sister, Catherine; brothers Frank and Joseph and daughter, Tracey Renee’ Cope, who died in 1989.

There are no formal services scheduled at this time but the family plans to inter a portion of his cremated remains at Arlington National Cemetery and the remainder in the family plot where his daughter is buried in Tahoe.

Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson’s Tribute Center (Funerals, Receptions, Cremations), 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031; (541) 386-1000; www.andersonstributecenter.com.

George Thomas Lyons, a longtime Hood River, Ore., resident, died Dec. 25, 2007, at his residence. He was 82 years of age.

Services will be held on Monday, Dec. 31, at 10 a.m. at Anderson’s Tribute Center. Viewing will be Sunday, Dec. 30, from 3-50 p.m. at Anderson’s Tribute Center.

George was born Oct. 31, 1925, in Little Sioux, Iowa, to George and Alice (Jackson) Lyons. He came to Hood River as a child, where he was raised and educated.

In 1944 he entered the U.S. Army where he served as a surgical tech in the Western Pacific until his discharge in 1946. He returned to Hood River and worked in construction at the John Day Dam and painting of the Hood River Bridge. He then worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 25 years, retiring as postmaster (Odell) in 1988.

George served two terms as president of the National League of Postmasters, Oregon Division, and was honored as Postmaster of the Year for the Oregon Division. He was a member of the Hood River Elks, the American Legion and the Lions Club.

He enjoyed golf (hit a hole in one), fishing, bowling (bowled a 300 game) and airplanes. He had learned to fly after returning home from his service in the army. He enjoyed traveling and had traveled by RV from 1990 until 2003.

He is survived by two sons, David Lyons, of Odell, Ore., and Randy Lyons, of Rolla, Mo.; daughter Melanie Wood, of Odell, Ore.; and siblings Betty Mills and her husband, Ken, of McMinnville, Ore., Larry Lyons and his wife, Karen, of Aloha, Ore., and Roger and Jenny Gardner of Yacolt, Wash.; and his loving life partner of many years, Theresa Gardner. Three grandchildren, Jason, Kari and Dustyn Lyons, and four great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews also survive.

Interment will be at Willamette National Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Heart of Hospice or the Lion’s Eye Bank in care of Anderson’s Tribute Center (Funerals, Receptions, Cremations), 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031;

George said he will meet all his golf buddies on the 9th green.

Ross John Kari, 65, passed away on Dec. 24, 2007, in Kennewick, Wash. Ross was born Dec. 21, 1942, in Seattle, Wash., to Eugene and Lois (Shepherd) Kari.

Ross graduated from Columbia High School in White Salmon, Wash., and Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore. He served four years in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War.

Ross took part in an apprenticeship through IBEW. His work took him to numerous locations in the Northwest. He lived in Hood River, Ore., for 23 years and moved to Kennewick after retiring in 2006.

Ross is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his son, James Kari, and daughter-in-law, Summer, of Richland; brother, Donald Kari, and sister-in-law, Deborah, of Seattle; and one granddaughter, Madison Kari.

The family invites you to sign their online guestbook at www.muellersfuneralhomes.com.