Don F. Gibbs

Don F. Gibbs, 81, a longtime Cave Junction resident, who was an active community supporter and businessman, died Tuesday, May 27, 2008, at a Grants Pass care facility.

Visitation was held Monday, June 2 at Illinois Valley Funeral Directors chapel in Cave Junction.

A funeral service was conducted Tuesday, June 3 at Community Bible Church in Cave Junction with Pastor Dan Robinson of Takilma Bible Church officiating. Private interment for Mr. Gibbs followed at Laurel Cemetery in Cave Junction.

Remembrances may be made to American Parkinson Disease Association, 135 Parkinson Ave., Staten Island, NY 10305. Condolences may be made to the family at www.since1928hull.com.

Mr. Gibbs was born on July 5, 1926, in Humboldt, Ariz. to Fredric & Emily Pearl Gibbs. In 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was honorably discharged in 1947. He attended the University of Arizona, and in 1946 graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles. In June 1946 he married Sheryn Kimball.

He worked for General Electric Co. in New York, Pennsylvania, and San Diego, until 1951. That year he moved to Illinois Valley to purchase and operate Redwoods Telephone Co., where he was president and manager until the sale of the company in 1974.

For five years he owned and operated Valley Ready Mix & Gravel in Cave Junction until 1979. He then established Gibbs Enterprises, a family corporation, which remains active in local real estate investments.

His many memberships included serving as a board member and vice president of Oregon Independent Telephone Association, board member of Illinois Valley Golf Association; a board director for Rogue Community College District; past member of the budget committee for Josephine County Unit School District; past member of Josephine County Unit School District Transportation Committee; Josephine County Road Specifications Committee; board member of Laurel Cemetery Association; and a founding board member of Home Valley Bank.

He was a generous supporter of numerous local individuals and of many charitable organizations, most notably Community Christian Academy.

Surviving are four sons, Randy Gibbs, of Eureka, Calif., Wayne Gibbs, of Austin, Texas, Bruce Gibbs, of Grants Pass, and Allan Gibbs, of Eugene; two daughters, Cynthia Munson, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and Donyne Bell, of Cave Junction; 10 grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his former wife in 2001 and an infant grandson in 1990.

Merle Orval Drake

Merle Orval Drake, 90, of Cave Junction died at his home on Monday, May 26, 2008.

A private family service will be held. Interment will be at Eagle Point National Cemetery. Chapel of the Valley/L.B. Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Mr. Drake was born on March 24, 1918, near Fairbanks, Ind. to Paris & Katherine (Hayhurst) Drake. On March 29, 1941, in Reno, Nev., he married Marcella Austin, who died March 10, 2006.

During World War II, from 1943 to 1946, he served with the U.S. Army’s 1299th Engineer Construction Battalion in the Philippines and Japan. After the war, he continued his work as a carpenter, assisting with the construction of many dams, as well as numerous other construction projects. He belonged to the carpenter’s union in Washington, California and Arizona. After retiring, he moved to Cave Junction in 1980.

He was a member of Waitsburg Masonic Lodge 16 in Waitsburg, Wash.

Survivors are a daughter, Dian Klicker, of Cave Junction; a son, Gene Drake, of Cave Junction; one sister, Lucille Weber, of Oakridge, Ore.; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

John Harry Wegner

Kerby resident John Harry Wegner, 61, of Kerby, died Sunday, May 25, 2008 at Three Rivers Community Hospital in Grants Pass.

A memorial service was held Friday, May 30 at First Love Christian Fellowship in Cave Junction with Pastor Bob Kurko officiating. Illinois Valley Funeral Directors took care of arrangements.

Remembrances may be made to the John Wegner Memorial Fund, c/o SOFCU Community Credit Union, account 106719.

Mr. Wegner was born on May 19, 1947, in McMinnville, Ore. to John & Freda Wegner. On Nov. 20, 1964, in Glide, Ore. he married Mary Ann Bowen. He was a heavy equipment operator for 30 years, working for Wegco and Ralph Bean, both in Fort Bragg, Calif.

He also worked for several years for the U.S. Forest Service in Denny, Calif. He moved 13 years ago from Fort Bragg to Kerby, where he assisted friends as a handyman.

He was a 13-year member of First Love Christian Fellowship where he served as a deacon. His hobbies included vegetable gardening, camping, fishing, and hunting. He loved animals, especially dogs, cats, and horses that he had as pets. He was a beekeeper, had a portable sawmill and loved the outdoors. His greatest joy in life was living for the Lord and spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Besides his wife, Mary Ann Wegner, of Kerby; he is survived by a son, Robert “Bob” Wegner; and a daughter, Margo Arellano, both of Ukiah, Calif.; his mother, Freda Wegner; and a sister, Carol Kongiser, both of Coos Bay; a brother, William “Bill” Wegner, of Glide; and seven grandchildren.

A son, Donald Wegner, died in 1967.

David Henry Zimmer

David Henry Zimmer, 81, of Cave Junction, died Tuesday, May 27, 2008, at home. Arrangements by Illinois Valley Funeral Directors are pending.