Donald Lee Stichler, 77, formerly of Chattanooga, Tenn., passed away at home in Saint Augustine, Fla., on Nov. 5, 2007. A loving husband and father, he was born April 6, 1930, in Ord, Neb., to Everett and Evelyn Stichler.

He was preceded in death by his parents and three wives: Beverly Whidden, of Juneau, Alaska, Rebecca Carter, of Fairbanks, Alaska, and Clara Brackett, of Chattanooga, Tenn.

Don’s life journey touched many lives. He grew up in Hood River, Ore., where he spent time as a logger and a policeman before joining the U.S. government in Oregon, eventually transferring to Alaska. After many years with the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Juneau, he moved to the Bureau of Land Management in Fairbanks, where he retired in 1996.

During his tenure with the federal government, he was instrumental in helping establish the radio communications systems linking the many remote villages across the vast state. Retirement took Don to Maryville and Chattanooga, Tenn.

Don’s passion was amateur radio (HAM) communications. He was known around the HAM world as W7NTN, KL7EBK, and KL4D. It was this passion that allowed him to help with emergency communications during the Great Alaskan Earthquake of 1964.

He leaves behind lifelong friends and acquaintances from many different countries. Don was also an avid pilot.

Don is survived by his brother, Robert Stichler, of Cottonwood, Ariz.; daughters Marjorie Chalker, of Clovis, N.M., Susan Crohan, of Saint Augustine, Fla., and Sandy Stambaugh, of Albuquerque, N.M.; son, Jeffry Stichler, of Knoxville, Tenn.; grandchildren: Nick and Kate Chalker, of Clovis, N.M., Mattison Young, of Mesquite, Texas, Benjamin, Savannah and Molly Crohan, of Saint Augustine, Fla., Tiana, Ryan and Ross Skjold, of Albuquerque, N.M., and Tosha, Amanda and Justin Stichler, of Knoxville, Tenn.; and great-grandchildren Mario, Xavier, Angel , Nathan and Lanae.

Don was a deeply spiritual man who loved the Lord. He was a member of many churches during his life; most recently at East Ridge United Pentecostal Church in Chattanooga, where his memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, with Pastor Terry Arnold officiating.

The family is asking that memorial contributions be made in Don’s name to the American Stroke Association in lieu of flowers.

Marjorie McClure, 72, passed away Nov. 7, 2007, in Spokane, Wash. She is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law, Bob (Kate) McClure, Minneapolis, Minn., Terry (Sally) McClure, San Diego, Calif., and Dave (Maryrose) McClure, Hood River, Ore.; one daughter and son-in-law, Brenda (Mike) Worley, Elk, Wash.; one sister, Muriel Bent, Spokane, Wash.; numerous grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and brother.

Marjorie enjoyed gaming with family and friends and will be missed by many people.

Services will be private at a later date. Memorial contributions can be sent to the Shriners Hospital for Children, P.O. Box 2472, Spokane, WA 99210.

Arrangements are under the direction of Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home, 2203 N. Division, Spokane, WA 99207; (509)-328-2600.

Marjorie Irene Reed Higgins died at home Oct. 23, 2007, with her daughter, Rachel, and son-in-law, Bill, at her bedside. She was 95 years old.

Marjorie was born Dec. 30, 1913, in Burns, Ore. Her mother was a nurse and fifth-generation Quaker, and her father a hay and cattle rancher. At the age of 9, she started her nine-month life in Salisbury, Mo., with her aunt and banker uncle and her older sister, Rayberta, returning to Burns every summer. This arrangement created interesting educational opportunities for her developing personality.

She attended Christian College in Columbia, Mo., and Hoerner Conservatory of Music. She became a PEO at the age of 19. She and Rayberta sang duets in churches and schools in Missouri, Oregon and California. Later she met her husband, Richard, in Portland, where they married and made their life.

Marjorie sang in the KEX Studio in the Benson Hotel in the early days of radio. She was also in a PEO Women’s quartet that performed frequently in Portland.

In 1945 they moved to the Hood River Valley, where they had a pear ranch in Parkdale. They were active in the Parkdale Community Church and the Hood River Chorus under Boris Sirpo.

In addition, Marjorie was one of the founders of the first Migrant Children Head Start program in the valley, was president of her Hood River chapter of PEO, and was soloist in several musicals and comic operas performed in the Parkdale High School auditorium, and in the fall worked in the packing house sorting apples and pears. She also wrote poetry.

Most of all, Marjorie was deeply spiritual and morally true to her principles and values. She was also a lot of fun, daring, dramatic and charming. Her daughters, Ruth, Mary and Rachel, and her sister, Rayberta, will greatly miss her as well as her six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her son, Dick Higgins, who died at the age of 21, and her younger sister, Eileen, who died in 2005. Marjorie had been living in the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Rachel and Bill Johnson, for the past seven years of her life.

Private services are planned in the spring.

Ronald Dean Bolyard, 64, died Nov. 8, 2007, in beautiful Mariposa, Calif., with his daughter at his side. He was born May 26, 1943, in Cedar City, Utah.

Ron was diagnosed with terminal cancer in August 2007, and much thanks to Hospice of the Gorge and also John C. Freemont Hospice, he was comfortable and happy until the end.

As a young boy, Ron was involved with Future Farmers of America and also was a member of the City of Oklahoma City Junior Police.

He graduated from John Marshall High School in Oklahoma City, Okla., and attended Brigham Young University for 2 years.

He worked for the Union Pacific Railroad as a young man, working in the yard and also in the office, for approximately 13 years. He also worked for the Hood River News for approximately 10 years and loved the Hood River area and all of his friends there.

Ron loved the outdoors, camping, hunting and fishing. At one point in his life, he lived in Alaska. He loved to travel, especially on his motorcycle.

Preceding him in death were his father, Perry S. Bolyard, and his mother, Helen J. Green.

Survivors include his children, Donya Evans of Mariposa, Calif., Nancy Alkema, of Sacramento, Calif., Ronald Bolyard, of Elk Grove, Calif., Michael Bolyard, of Stockton, Calif., Shauna Burden, of Merced, Calif., Jason Bolyard, of Merced, Calif., and 21 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at the LDS church in Mariposa, Calif., Nov. 17 at noon.

The family suggests that remembrances may be made to Hospice of the Gorge, in Hood River.

Ruby Edith Paddock, 91, passed away Nov. 14, 2007, at Brookside Manor in Hood River, Ore.

Committal services will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 19, at Idlewild Mausoleum. Dr. David Presley will officiate.

Ruby was born Jan. 19, 1916, at North Loup, Neb., to Noble B. and Bernice E. (Clement) Stewart. She grew up and attended school in Nebraska and graduated from North Loup High School in 1934.

On Dec. 15, 1934, Ruby married William “Bill” Paddock and to this union were blessed two sons. In the fall of 1940 the family moved from western Colorado to Hood River, where in partnership with Otis and Grace Farnsworth, they opened the Gamble/Western Auto Store at 101 Oak St. When the Farnsworths retired, the business was sold to the Western Auto Company.

In 1955 Ruby and Bill opened Paddock Builders Supply on 12th and Belmont. They operated the business for 17 years before closing it in the 1970s. Bill passed away Sept. 27, 1986.

Ruby was very much involved over the years in community functions, was a competitive golfer and bowler. She was a Den mother for Cub Pack 382, and support mom for the Hood River Junior Rifle Club. In later years, including this year, Ruby enjoyed riding in her Model T truck during the Fourth of July parade.

While growing up in Nebraska, she spent summers camping with her extended family in the camper built for the truck (early motor home). The Model T is on loan to the WAAAM museum on Tucker Road.

Survivors include two sons, Russel and wife Betty Paddock, of Hood River, Ore., and Dennis and wife Karen Paddock, of Spokane, Wash.; three grandchildren: Rod and wife Lorna Paddock, of Hood River, Lee Paddock, of Seattle, Wash., and Christie and husband Chris Berg, of Spokane, Wash.; and three great-grandchildren: Zachary Paddock, of Seattle, and Lauren and Evan Berg, of Spokane; plus a large extended family of nieces and nephews, other family and friends.

Ruby was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bill; brothers Verne, Denzel (Pat) and Everette Stewart; stepbrothers George and John Burrows; and stepsisters Donna and Arthelia Burrows.

The family suggests that memorials be made in memory of Ruby to the Valley Christian Church in care of Anderson’s Tribute Center.