James H. Scragg, 54, a Seattle firefighter for 30 years, who survived the 1995 Pang warehouse fire that killed four of his comrades, died Jan. 17, 2008, surrounded by friends and family after a three-and-a-half-year battle with lung cancer. Though a battalion chief, everyone knew him as Jim, “Jimmy” or Scragg.

Jim graduated from Clover Park High and attended Oregon State University before joining the Seattle Fire Department. As Jim rose through the ranks within the department, he worked vigorously to implement measures to assure the “safety first” motto and was a founding member of the fire department’s technical rescue team and Puget Sound Urban Search and Rescue Task Force (USAR/FEMA).

Jimmy’s unique sense of humor and zest for life could never be duplicated and will be sorely missed. His passion for excellence and going for the extreme was exemplified in everything he did: windsurfing, mountain climbing, skiing, biking, golfing, salmon fishing, photography, music, and most importantly, caring for his precious family and beloved poodle dogs. He had a presence that could not be ignored, or forgotten, and he has had a huge impact on those left behind.

Jim is survived by his loving wife, Stacey; stepson, Mac; mother, Mary; brother, Keith; and niece, Desiree. Family and friends will be forever grateful to the staff and doctors at Swedish Hospital who took care of Jimmy during his last days.

A celebration of Jim Scragg’s life will be held on Friday, Feb. 8, 2 p.m. at the South Lake Union Armory, 860 Terry Avenue North in Seattle. All are welcome to attend. Remembrances may be made to the Northwest Burn Foundation or the Medic One Foundation. Online go to bonneywatson.com.

A memorial will be held for Gary Spaulding at the Hood River Hotel banquet room at 2 p.m. on Feb. 16.

Gary Carl Spaulding was born in Hood River, Ore., on April 19, 1953, to Marshall and Fern Spaulding. He grew up in Parkdale, Ore., with three brothers and many close neighboring friends. He graduated from Hood River Valley High School and Mt. Hood Community College. After attending Oregon State for several terms he began a life supported by work but defined by travel.

He worked many years for Hanel Lumber Company and later for Burlington Northern Railroad. To Gary, work was a means to an end; a place to make friends, have fun, and make money for his larger-than-life trips.

He got the travel bug early, perhaps on the trips to Christmas Valley to explore the Eastern Oregon desert. Trips to Hawaii and the Caribbean and to Major League baseball parks (to catch his favorite team, the Atlanta Braves) further whetted his appetite to see the world.

His first epic trip was in 1984 when he rode his bicycle from the Oregon coast to the Atlantic. A few years later he rode his bike around the world; riding through England, France, Greece, the Middle East and on to Australia and New Zealand.

Another trip he cherished was a dory boat trip down Colorado River the length of the Grand Canyon. Even after surgery for ulcerative colitis he was able to ride his bicycle from Brownsville, Texas, to Glacier National Park in Montana.

Gary could make people laugh. He had great friendships with many, many people in Hood River and wherever he lived and traveled. He always laughed at his own jokes and you couldn’t help laughing with him. Gary had a personality that people loved to be around.

Since 2001, Gary had been living in Nevada and Arizona in his motor home. During that time, Gary chose not to contact any of his numerous friends or relatives. Gary had been incommunicado before for shorter periods and those who knew him expected him to return home.

We were all stunned to find out he died of an apparent suicide on the Southern Oregon coast around Jan. 24, 2008. We expected Gary to show up at our door as he had before and bring his special joy back into our lives. It is hard to believe his laugh will now be only in our memories.

Hazel R. Wampler, of Portland, Ore., passed away on Tuesday, Feb, 5, 2008. She was 78.

Hazel was born to Ralph and Mary Wampler in Skidmore, Mo., on March 5, 1929. She was the fifth of six children.

The family moved to Hood River in 1937 and Hazel graduated from Hood River High School in 1947. She moved to Portland soon after; where she lived and worked the rest of her life.

She was employed as an office worker in the legal department of the telephone company.

Hazel is survived by her sister, Donna Salmon, and brother, Derral Wampler. She had 12 nieces and nephews and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.

Hazel is preceded in death by her parents; brothers Joe Wampler and Vernon Wampler, and sister, Mary Benedetti.

A Celebration of Life is planned for late May at the First Christian Church in Portland. Further information will be forthcoming on exact date and time.

Remembrances can be made to the American Cancer Society.

Tom Dewane, 52, died of stomach cancer at his home in Hood River, Ore., on Feb. 6, 2008. Tom was born in Menominee, Mich., and grew up in the Chicago area and in Northern California.

He earned a degree in genetics from the University of California at Davis while also working as an ambulance driver in Sacramento. Following graduation, Tom’s adventurous spirit took him hitchhiking across the United States. He came to Alaska in 1978, working first as a YACC carpenter in Moose Pass, and then at various remote sites around the state.

He married Valerie New in 1981, and their son, Jesse, was born a year later. The Dewanes relocated to Oregon in 1990 to realize their dream of having a small farm. Valerie died in 1991 after a long battle with breast cancer.

Tom embraced the work of everyday living and approached all endeavors wholeheartedly. He tackled every type of home and farm improvement project imaginable and maintained an enviable wood pile. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening, raising farm animals, and preparing delicious feasts from his harvests.

He was an accomplished zymurgist, from childhood experiments with fruit in a bottle, to crafting exceptional home brews, to troubleshooting for micro-breweries across the country. His hobbies have included chess, orchids, making fur hats and leather garments, and following the stock market.

For the past five years, he has been carving to his heart’s content, creating bowls, relief carvings, totem poles and masks inspired by Native American artists, and even a cigar store Indian, which he donated to the Hood River County Library.

Tom was patient, diligent, kind, generous, and his insatiable curiosity led him in many directions. He was an incredible mate, father, son, brother, and friend.

Tom is survived by his mate, Trish Leighton; son, Jesse, of Portland; brother, Denis (Shelley), of Anchorage; sisters Mary (Kenneth) Housley, of Fairbanks, Alaska, and Peggy (Craig) Dewane-Pope, Eileen (John) Marshall, and Patricia (Mark) Flaherty and sister-in-law Mary Stockton Dewane, all of California; 19 nieces and nephews, and many good friends and extended family members.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. James and Patricia Dewane, and his brother, Jim.

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

Henry Fredrick Julius Zweigart died of pneumonia at the age of 101 on Feb. 6 at his residence in Canby, Ore. He was born Aug. 9, 1906, in Rich Hill, Mo., to Fred and Otillie Zweigart.

In 1907, he and his family moved to Hood River, Ore. He lived in the Hood River and Parkdale area until 1954. During those years, he opened Henry’s Pennywise, the first supermarket east of Portland and west of Pendleton. The store’s motto was “Prices are born here and raised elsewhere!”

When World War II broke out, he sold his business and manufactured tent poles for the military while his son, Bill, served overseas in the Navy. Following the war, he worked as a road foreman for the City of Hood River.

In 1954, he moved to Canby, Ore., where he volunteered for 12 years as the caretaker of Canby Grove Conference Center, helping to take it from a church summer camp to a year-round conference center. He was one of the founding fathers of the Christian Missionary Alliance Church in Canby and served for many years as an elder, deacon and treasurer.

During his time in Hood River, he was a volunteer fireman and reserve police officer. He continued to own a number of rentals in Hood River until a few years ago.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 82 years, Jessie Donaldson Zweigart, of Canby; his son, Henry (Bill) Zweigart and wife, Phyllis, of Canby; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and, nine great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Dewey Zweigart, Sherman Zweigart and Clarence Zweigart; and sisters Gertrude Zweigart Nofziger and Marianna Zweigart Nofziger.

A memorial service will be held at Canby Alliance Church, Ninth and Juniper in Canby, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9. Burial services will be held at Idlewild Cemetery, 980 Tucker Road, Hood River, at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9.

Visitation is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 8, at Canby Funeral Chapel, 160 S. Grant St., Canby, Ore.