When he was 6 the family moved to Traver, Calif. He moved his family to Oregon in 1964 and resided in Odell; and most recently in White Salmon, Wash.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Silven Irene Davis, in 2001; his great-granddaughter, Olivia Hepner, in 2004; brothers Pete, Alex, Fred, Henry and Albert; and sisters Marie, Mollie and Pauline.

George is survived by one sister, Elsie Davis, of Fresno, Calif.; his sons and their wives: Richard and Susan, Don and Etta, Doug and Rose and Clifford, all of White Salmon; and his daughter, Dorothy, and her husband, Tom Matulovich, of Hemlock, Wash.

Also surviving are grandchildren Laurie Wangelin, Shellie Banks, Mike Hepner, Nicole and Becky Hepner, Darin Hepner, Lisa Pacheo and Dwayne Matulovich; and great-grandchildren Brittney Wangelin, Katelyn, Emily and Sydney Banks, Colton and Courtney Smith, Judah Hepner, Taniah Hepner and Charlotte Matulovich.

Graveside services will be held April 26 at 3 p.m. at the Wind River Memorial Cemetery in Carson, Wash. Gardner Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Christopher “Chris” Merrill, an avid outdoorsman and lover of life, passed away as the result of a tragic accident on April 13 at the age of 24.

Chris was born Aug. 27, 1983, in Portland, Ore., to Jim and Kathy (Woodruff) Merrill. After his mother and brother’s untimely deaths in 1983 and 1984, Jim’s sister, Jeri, and her husband, Larry, helped in the raising of Chris.

It was at this time that he moved to Hood River, Ore. Chris always maintained a special relationship with his father, Jim.

Growing up in the Hood River area, Chris attended Baptist Christian School, Parkdale Elementary, and Wy’east Middle School, graduated from Hood River Valley High School in 2002, and attended Mt. Hood Community College.

Chris most loved to spend time with his friends and family. Whether it be hiking in the Gorge, snowboarding on Mount Hood, playing music, photography, or cooking, he was enthusiastic about everything he attempted.

Life for Chris was a quest for meaning and purpose. He sought a unique niche that he might experience a sense of connection and the ability to contribute significantly to the lives of those around him.

Chris, compassionate and protective of those he loved, always had a ready smile that brightened any room. It is that sparkling smile — followed up with a bear hug — that will be missed most by those who love him. Those lucky enough to know Chris should carry that spirit to those now unable to meet him.

Chris was preceded in death by his mother, Kathy (Woodruff) Merrill, brother, B.J. Merrill, and grandfather, Ted Merrill. He is survived by his father, Jim Merrill, of Boring, Ore., parents Larry and Jeri Rector, of Parkdale, Ore.; sister, Alyssa Merrill, of Seattle, Wash.; brothers Jimmy Rector, of Omaha, Neb., and Eric Rector, of Crimmitshau, Germany; grandparents Katherine Merrill, of Hood River, Ore., George and Aimee Woodruff, of Trout Lake, Wash., and Dean and Gilda Rector, of Portland, Ore.

He is also survived by aunts and uncles Terry and Peggy Merrill, of Albany, Ore., David and Debbie Woodruff, Diane and Fred Paxson, and Karen Woodruff, of Trout Lake, Wash., Tom Rector, of Oregon City, Ore., Daryl and Tracie Rector, of Gresham, Ore., Bruce and Shaun Rector, of Troutdale, Ore., and Bonnie Anderson, of Oregon City, Ore.; and numerous cousins and countless friends.

Chris’ family and friends have agreed that his love for music, drums and guitar was a love song for life. A memorial in his name has been established for the music department at Hood River Valley High School and can be sent to Anderson’s Tribute Center. We ask that you remember Chris in this way, rather than in a floral donation.

Services are planned for 11 a.m. Saturday, April 19, at the Parkdale Community Church, 4910 Baseline Drive, Parkdale, Ore. Special note pages will be provided for you to share your stories and memories of Chris, with his family.

Please visit www.andersons
tributecenter.com to sign the family guest book and share your stories there as well. All of the memories will be bound in a book.

David was born on Dec. 27, 1954, in Hood River, Ore., to George T. Lyons and Betty (Rhoades) Lyons. David passed away at his home on April 13, 2008. A public celebration of David’s life will be held at Anderson’s Tribute Center Saturday, April 19, at 3 p.m.

David was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents Loyal and Hildren Rhoades, George T. Lyons Sr. and Alice Jackson Gardner; aunt, Sandra (Rhoades) Wood; uncle, William “Bill” Rush; and cousins Eddie Rush, William “Billy Bob” Rush and Pamela Lyons.

Surviving are his children: daughter, Kari Lynn Lyons, 23, and son, Dustyn Thomas David Lyons, 16; granddaughter Katlyn Rilee Marie Lyons, 4, and grandson Tyler James Lyons,e 2; ex-wife and good friend K (Karen); brother, Randy Lyons and sister-in-law, Amy, of Rolla, Mo.; sister, Melanie Wood, of Odell; nephew, Jason Lyons, and his two daughters, Brittany and Madison, of Centralia, Mo.; also many aunts, uncles and cousins.

He was educated in Odell, Ore., and graduated from HRVHS in 1973. In 1972 he was elected to attend Beavers Boys State at Oregon State University.

David was an excellent cook, and had many “secret” recipes. The family is sure he is whipping up one of his famous cheesecakes and all family before him are enjoying it.

During his life David enjoyed playing football and golfing, and he joined a bowling league with his father.

David worked throughout the Columbia Gorge within the food industry. His most recent position was a cook at Parkhurst House Assisted Living. David was a very caring and passionate individual and working for Parkhurst House and assisting the residence was very rewarding for him.

David also loved watching and being actively involved in his son’s lacrosse games. If there were a fund to be raised for the HRVHS lacrosse teams David had the connections.

He also loved to take drives with his daughter up the valley just to have some one-on-one talks together.

Donations in memory of David can be made to Anderson’s Tribute Center.

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

Lori Dee (Miller) Williams died Jan. 30, 2008, in El Paso, Texas. She was born Nov. 9, 1976, in White Salmon, Wash.

Lori attended District 9 schools from kindergarten through fourth grade. From fifth grade through 12th grade she attended District 12. She was a 1994 graduate of The Dalles High School.

Lori is survived by her husband, Tony; three children and two stepchildren, of El Paso, Texas; her parents, Carol (Jon) Thompson, of Salem, Ore., and Lonnie (Lori) Miller, of White Salmon, Wash.; a sister, Sheri Miller, of Salem, Ore.; a brother, Matt Miller, of Milwaukie, Ore.; grandparents Loren and Kate Miller, of Parkdale, Ore.; aunts and uncles Mike and Marilyn Miller, of The Dalles, Ore., Andy and Barb Gabaldon, of Salem, Ore., and Tom and Dorothy Wishart, of Oregon City, Ore.; and very dear friend Lonnie Opp, of El Paso, Texas.

A memorial service is scheduled for May 24 at 11 a.m. at the Valley Worship Center on Highway 35 near Parkdale, Ore.

Betty Lee Penny passed away at her Hood River, Ore., home with family by her side on April 16, 2008.

A time to celebrate her life is planned for 1 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at the family’s home at 2540 Riverview Drive.

Betty was born May 11, 1927, at Statesboro, Ga., to Harold and Lucille Lee.

Betty met Doug on Christmas Day, 1943 when her father had invited two young naval fighter pilots to their home for Christmas dinner. Betty married Doug and her sister, Marcia, married the second dinner guest, Doug’s flying partner and best friend, Jonsey.

On July 12, 1944, Betty and Douglas were married in Snowhill, Md., and to this union was blessed three children: Richard, Dawn and Copper.

After Doug was out of the service and finished dental school, the family made its way out to Grants Pass, Ore., in 1952. Betty maintained their home and cared for her family through all of their school days. The Penny home was the favorite of all the kids and their friends (chocolate chip cookies!).

Betty lived a very full and wonderful life with their many friends. She loved to entertain and her gourmet cooking was superb. Golfing with her closest friends was her greatest joy. No one put together a golf tournament like Betty.

In 2000 Betty and Douglas moved to Hood River to be near their family. She loved sitting on the patio and enjoying the gorgeous views of the Gorge. Betty continued to golf and help with the planting of the gardens until her breathing became too difficult to do so.

Betty is survived by, her husband, Douglas Penny, of Hood River, Ore.; children Richard and his wife, Cathy Penny, of Olympia, Wash., Dawn and her husband, Jerry Brown, of Hood River, Ore., and Copper and her husband, Steve Runyon, of Chiloquin, Ore.; grandchildren Kelly Richardson, of Spokane, Wash., Kimberly and her husband, James Darling, of Spokane, Wash., Jerry Brown Jr., of Klamath Falls, Ore., BZ Brown and his wife, Joshi Clare, of Savannah, Ga., and Tara Brown, of Portland, Ore; and great-grandchildren Kealy, Marley, Cole, Chloe, Dylan, Bella and Calvin.

In addition to her parents Betty was preceded in death by her sister, Marica, and her brother, Harold.

The family would like to encourage memorials be made to Hospice of the Gorge and sent in care of Anderson’s Tribute Center (Funerals, Receptions, Cremations), 1401 Belmont Avenue, Hood River, OR 97031; (541) 386-1000; www.andersonstributecenter.com.