Covering Dallas, Monmouth, Independence, Falls City and surrounding areas since 1868

3/3 OBITUARIES

*Pearl Elaine Vann*Joseph 'Joe' Frank Matteo*Ruth M. Buhler*Joseph R. Stemkoski*Audy Fay Watts*Richard I. Garrett*Julie Kay Tamayo*Lyle Warren Addison*Corrine Hetrick

Pearl Elaine Vann

June 11, 1918 - Feb. 23, 2010

Pearl Elaine Vann

Pearl Elaine Vann, 91, a longtime Dallas resident, died Feb. 23 in Longview, Wash.

She was born in Salem to Peter J. and Mabel Davis Schoppert.

Elaine married Jack Vann on May 17, 1944.

Elaine worked for many years at Dallas Floral.

She loved music and dancing, craft items, sewing and especially decorating ostrich and emu eggs.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack; daughter, Elaine Vann; and a grandson, Dean Houston.

Survivors include her son, Ben (Faye) Vann of Cathlamet, Wash.; daughter, Anita (Richard) Houston of Vancouver, Wash.; brother, Gail (Ruth) Schoppert of Hartford, Conn.; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Service was March 1 at Adamson's Sheridan Funeral Home. Vault interment followed at Green Crest Memorial Park in Sheridan.

Joseph 'Joe' Frank Matteo

Feb. 10, 1927 - Feb. 23, 2010

Joseph ‘Joe’ Frank Matteo

Joseph Frank Matteo, 83, of Independence died Feb. 23.

He was born in Bronx, N.Y.

Joe and his family moved to Oregon in 1966 from New Jersey, settling in Dallas then later in Independence.

He worked as a machinist on printing equipment, sawmill and farming equipment. He managed the Independence Nursery and Water Gardens from 1985 to 2004.

Joe enjoyed watching television, including "Judge Judy" and "Judge Joe Brown," and shows dealing with nurseries, ponds, and building things. He also enjoyed talking to people, concrete work and his favorite cats. He was always busy doing something.

Joe is a past member of the Machinist Union and the Elks Lodge.

Survivors include his wife, Marylou of Independence; daughter, Mary (Bob) Gardner of Oxnard, Calif.; sons, Joseph (Nin) Matteo of San Diego and Ed (April) Matteo of Independence; eight granddaughters; and three great-grandchildren.

Memorial service was March 2 at Farnstrom Mortuary in Independence.

Contributions are suggested to Salem Friends of Felines, P.O. Box 12453, Salem, OR 97309.

Ruth M. Buhler

May 7, 1921 - Feb. 25, 2010

Ruth M. Buhler

Ruth Buhler, 88, of Salem, formerly of Dallas, died Feb. 25 of age-related causes.

She and her siblings were all born at home on the farm to Cornelius and Martha Aebi Buhler.

Ruth walked the mile and a half to the Salt Creek grade school and went every Sunday to Salt Creek Baptist Church, riding snugly in the family car. She was a piano player at church and played the pump organ at school.

Dallas High School was an 8-mile ride on the bus early morning and late afternoon. After high school she attended Oregon College of Education in Monmouth, graduating with a teaching certificate. She later went back for her bachelor's degree.

Ruth taught the lower grades in Noti, then in Vanport (built for shipyard workers during World War II), Dallas (her hometown), Bend, Corvallis and Salem, from where she retired.

Survivors include her sisters, Bernice Ebert of Roseburg and Elva Shorack of Eugene; brothers, Paul Buhler of Temecula, Calif., Harland Buhler of Falls Church, Va., Clarence Buhler of Dallas and Verne Buhler of Sandy.

Visitation is from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday, March 4, and 9 to 10 a.m. Friday, March 5, at Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center. Graveside service is at noon Friday, March 5, at Salt Creek Cemetery, followed by a memorial service at 1:30 p.m. at Salem First Baptist Church.

To send an online condolence: www.dallastribute.com.

Joseph R. Stemkoski

Feb. 6, 1934 - Feb. 23, 2010

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Joseph "Joe" R. Stemkoski, 76, of Dallas died Feb. 23.

He was born in Shenandoah, Penn., to Joseph Robert and Helen Krawezon Stemkoski.

Joe graduated from Mahanoy City High School in 1951. He then joined the Navy. While visiting Portland for the Rose Festival, he met his wife to be, Patricia. After a short courtship, they married and raised four children. They were married for more than 50 years.

During his military service, he served aboard the USS Helena CA/5 during the Korean War and aboard the USS Caddo Parish 1SR 515 during the Vietnam War. After his retirement from the service he and his family built a home in Alsea in 1982 and moved to Dallas in 2004.

He was preceded in death by a son, Kenneth, in 2000.

Survivors include his wife, Pat of Dallas; daughters, Patricia Jo Bernhard of Bremerton, Wash., and Jill (Rodney) Tabberer of Lone Tree, Colo.; son, Joey Stemkoski of Corvallis; and five grandchildren.

Memorial service was Feb. 27 at St. Philip Catholic Church in Dallas.

Contributions are suggested to the Union Gospel Mission in Salem or Sable House in Dallas in care of Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center, which handled arrangements.

To send an online condolence: www.dallastribute.com.

Audy Fay Watts

July 8, 1929 - Feb. 27, 2010

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Audy Fay Watts, 80, of Salem died Feb. 27.

He was born in Bear Creek, Ark., and moved to Independence in 1943.

Audy attended school in Independence. In 1950 he joined the Army and served three years during the Korean Conflict.

In 1955 he married Joann in Fresno, Calif., and in 1958 they settled in Salem. Audy worked for the railroad service.

Audy enjoyed working on cars and hunting.

Survivors include his wife, Joann Watts of Salem; sons, Robert Watts of Vancouver, Wash., James (Robin) Watts and Brian (Shelly) Watts, all of Salem; daughters, Susan (Bob) Tarter and Sally Watts, all of Salem; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Private graveside service will be at Hilltop Cemetery.

Farnstrom Mortuary, Independence, handled arrangements.

Richard I. Garrett

Dec. 5, 1944 - Feb. 27, 2010

Richard I. Garrett

Richard I. Garrett, 65, of Independence died Feb. 27.

He was born in Salem and graduated from North Salem High School and Chemeketa Community College.

In 1969 he married Marla Tichrob and together they lived in Independence for the last 32 years.

Richard enjoyed playing cards, fishing, hunting and camping. He was an all-around outdoorsman.

Survivors include his wife, Marla Garrett of Independence; daughter, Tracy (David) Steckmann of Salem; son, Robert Garrett of Independence; and two grandchildren.

Graveside service is at 3 p.m. Thursday, March 4, at Fir Crest Cemetery in Monmouth.

Contributions are suggested to the American Heart Association, 1200 NW Naito Parkway, Suite 220, Portland, OR 97209.

Farnstrom Mortuary, Independence, handled arrangements.

Julie Kay Tamayo

Sept. 14, 1962 - Feb. 21, 2010

Julie Kay Tamayo

Julie Tamayo, 47, of Dallas died on Feb. 21.

Memorial service is at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 6, at Valley Life Center in Dallas.

The full obituary was published in the Feb. 24 issue of the Polk County Itemizer-Observer. It can also be viewed at: www.dallastribute.com, where condolences may be sent.

Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center handled arrangements.

Lyle Warren Addison

May 8, 1943 - Feb. 23, 2010

Lyle Warren Addison, 66, died Feb. 23 in Niland, Calif.

He was in Yakima, Wash., and moved to Independence in 1960 and then to Marysville, Calif., in the 1980s.

Lyle and his family continued to return to Independence to celebrate the Fourth of July at his sister Charlotte's place.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Addison; daughters, Lorena Pette and Loretta, both of California; sisters, Linda Harris of Oregon, Charlotte Matson of Independence, Doris Hurst of Missouri and Rita Lopez of California; brothers, Oville Addison and James Addison, both of California; and 12 grandchildren.

Corrine Hetrick

Oct. 8, 1933 - Feb. 20, 2010

Corrine Hetrick

Corrine Hetrick, 76, of Dallas died Feb. 20 in Salem from organ failure.

She was born in Iola, Kan., to Melvin and Grace Mewhinney Nevels.

Corrine was known to many in the area as the row boss in the crop fields. Corrine and her sister Betty also operated Falls City Cafe for a period of time around 1973.

She enjoyed arts and crafts, sewing, genealogy and people. Corrine was a friend to everyone she met and always greeted others with a smile and a "howdy-do."

She was preceded in death by a son, Paul Hetrick, and a brother, Gene Nevels.

Survivors include her son, Bruce Hetrick; sister, Betty Hammers; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Celebration of her life will be held in July. To be notified of the date and location, call Bruce at 503-480-4017.

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