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Jim Beals
Pastor Jim Beals, of Hood River, Ore.,
died at his home on Monday, Jan. 5, 2009, at 12:50 a.m. Jim was
diagnosed in Stage IV colon cancer in August 2002 and although
his prognosis was bleak, he fought hard to live to help his
wife, Becky, raise their girls, Sarah Jo, Juliann and Dena.
His first love, though, was to Whom he
devoted his life — his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Born Sept.
29, 1960, in Sioux City, Iowa, to Ken and Joyce Beals, Jim had
one brother, Steve. Jim graduated from high school in Sioux City
and then went off to college at Mid-America Nazarene University
in Olathe, Kansas.
His call to ministry began when he heard
a gentleman speak in chapel about coming to serve for a summer
at Golden Bell Ranch, a church camp in Colorado. That gentleman
would eventually become Jim’s father-in-law, as he and Becky
were later married at that camp in the mountains of Colorado on
Nov. 26, 1982.
He finished his schooling at Southern
Nazarene University, where Becky was attending, and received his
master’s degree at Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City,
Mo. His ministry years began in Livermore, Calif., as an
associate pastor; Grants Pass, Ore., as a senior pastor; and
then Jim and his family came to Hood River in March of 1997. He
was privileged to pastor the Hood River Church of the Nazarene
for nearly 12 years. Jim’s heart for leading people to the
Lord led him to tell the Lord that he was willing to do whatever
it took to win people for Him, even if it meant losing his life.
He always felt like his cancer diagnosis was a response to that
prayer and he used his cancer journey to touch the lives of
people literally across the world.
He had a passion for missions and it
inspired him to go on several work and witness trips to Africa,
Russia and Fiji. He was able to take each of his girls on some
of those trips to instill in them a love of people around the
world.
Mostly his hobbies included something to
do with electronics, as he was always interested in the latest
gadget.
He is survived by his wife of 26 years,
Becky; and his children, Sarah Jo and John Bechtold, of Olathe,
Kansas, daughter Juliann, a junior at Southern Nazarene
University in Oklahoma City, and daughter Dena, a senior at Hood
River Valley High School.
He is also survived by his parents, Ken
and Joyce Beals, of Sioux City, Iowa; his brother, Steve, and
Arika, Emory and Gwendolyn Beals, of Rapid City, S.D. Other
family includes his in-laws: Bob and Jo Green and Jan Green, of
Bothell, Wash.; Lynn and Cat Green, of Oklahoma City; Lonnie,
Christie and Scott Green, of Bryan, Texas; Rick, Marylynn, Tarah
and Ben Warren, of Oklahoma; Andrea and Marla Green, of
Brookings, Ore.; Steve, Teri and Ryan, of Washington; Rob and
Angie Green, of Bend, Ore., and a host of Beals family and Green
family members who loved him.
Jim is preceded in death by his
grandparents, uncles and an aunt and his much-loved nephew,
Spencer Green. He also leaves behind the church family, the
people of the Hood River Church of the Nazarene to whom he has
loved and devoted his time and talents.
Any memorial contributions may be
donated in his memory to this Nazarene Church. Pastor Jim’s
funeral will be held at the Hood River Church of the Nazarene
this Friday, Jan. 9, at 3 p.m. The church is located at 2168
Belmont Drive in Hood River.
Arrangements are under the direction of
Gardner Funeral Home, 1270 N. Main Ave., White Salmon, Wash.;
(509) 493-1323.
Paula Blake
Paula Mae Ruthardt Blake passed away at
her home in Pendleton, Ore., on Jan. 1, 2009, at the age of 65
after a courageous battle with breast cancer. She was born on
Dec. 27, 1943, in Red Oak, Iowa, to parents Lewis and Pearl
(Friedrich) Ruthardt.
Paula was raised in Goldendale, Wash.,
and graduated in 1962 from Goldendale High School. She was a
dedicated military wife for 22 years and was awarded the Oregon
State National Guard Spouse of the Year in 1991. Paula
worked for Western Electric and Chinese Pavilion in Vancouver,
Wash., while living there. When she resided in White Salmon,
Wash., she worked for Paris Fair and Rainier Bank.
For 20 years Paula lived in Pendleton,
where she worked for Security Pacific, Banner and Old West
Federal Credit Union. She was everyone’s favorite teller and
bank window lady, giving lollipops and doggie treats to all her
special customers.
Paula loved reading, camping, family
gatherings and John Wayne movies. She is survived by her
husband of 36 years, Robert “Bob” Blake, of Pendleton; children
Nikki Stembridge, of Hood River, Ore., Scott Blake, of
Pendleton, and Deanna Russell, of Vancouver; sister Mary Lou
Potter, of Vancouver; brother Donald Ruthardt, of White Salmon;
eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A funeral service was held at 11 a.m. on
Tuesday, Jan. 6, at Pinecrest Church of the Nazarene in White
Salmon, with a private family graveside service at the White
Salmon Cemetery.
Memorial contributions in Paula’s name
may be given to the American Cancer Society, 7325 W. Deschutes,
Suite A, Kennewick, WA 99336. Gardner Funeral Home of White
Salmon handled arrangements.
Cheree Cluff
Jan Cluff
Alabama Jim’s Café cook, Cheree Cluff,
and waitress, Jan Cluff, were taken from us on Jan. 2, 2009.
Cheree was born Oct. 21, 1984, to Harvey
Cluff and Dianne Wolfe Cluff in Stone, Idaho. Cheree loved
learning and school, where she excelled as a straight-A student.
She loved to compose music, sing and dance.
Cheree was a gifted artist and athlete.
She was very energetic — her motto was: “A girl’s just gotta
have fun.” She loved to baby-sit her brothers and sisters,
nieces and nephews, and the little neighbor boys. She enjoyed
camping and fishing with her best friend and love, Geordie
Oates.
She was easy to get along with and was a
very caring person. She loved to cook and dreamed of purchasing
the restaurant as a family business. Cheree was a sweetheart who
gave light and love to everyone.
Jan was born Nov. 1, 1992, (All Saints
Day) in Snowville Flats, Utah. She was shy, conscientious,
humorous, perceptive, and goal-oriented. She was a scrapbook
junkie. She shared the same love for school and learning and
artistic talents as Cheree.
Jan had dignity and loved and respected
herself and others. She loved to snowboard with her sisters. Her
favorite entertainment was movies. She really wanted to go to
church and she loved her teachers. Her dream was to be a
cheerleader and she indeed had the gift to cheer up everyone.
They are survived by their baby sister,
Shannon; older sisters, Angela and Wendee; brothers Robert
(Bobby), John and Ethan; and parents. Cheree is also survived by
the love of her life, Geordie Oates, of Parkdale, Ore.
Surviving relatives of the girls are
their parents, Harvey Cluff, of Elko, Nev., and Dianne Cluff, of
Parkdale, Ore.; siblings Angela (Tom Perry), of Garland, Utah,
with Brandon, Justin, Lance, Ashley, Jaden, Katie and Sarah;
Wendee (Jason Warr), of Malta, Idaho, with Kaleb and Kassie;
Robert and John Cluff, of Darby, Mont.; Ethan Cluff, of Elko,
Nev.; and Shannon Cluff, of Parkdale.
Aunts and uncles include Dolores and
George McClain, of Philipsburg, Mont., with cousins Dee, George,
Becky and Forest; Merrilan and Harold Simper, of Grand View,
Idaho, with cousins Kelly, Patra, Nathan, Tiffany, Jolene,
Melanie, Brian and Porter; John and Lorene Wolfe, of Anaconda,
Mont., with cousins Shane, Bryan, Melissa, David, Laura and
Julie; and Randy Wolfe, of Los Angeles, Calif.; Charolette and
James Given, of Anaconda, Mont., with cousins David, Wayne,
Brent, Bryce and Jamie; Marylyn and Clyde Biggs, of Orem, Utah,
with cousins Warren, Mark, Brad, Scott and Kelly; Sharon and
Darwin Johnson, of Peoria, Ariz., with cousins Kevin,
Julie, Keith, Steven, Tyler and Brian; Larry and Denise Cluff,
with cousins Travis, Ryan and Alisha; and Susanne and Randy
Shinkle, with cousins Kari, Danielle and Nikki.
A funeral service to mourn the passing
and celebrate the lives of Cheree and Jan is planned for 2 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 7, at the Hood River Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints, 18th and May streets. Services will be led by
Bishop Gary Hornbeck of the Hood River Ward, and Bishop John
Wolfe, Cheree and Jan’s uncle. Graveside rites will follow at
the Parkdale Cemetery as soon as the weather permits.
The family suggests that donations be
made to the Cluff Memorial Fund and sent in care of Anderson’s.
Arrangements are under the direction of
Anderson’s Tribute Center (Funerals, Receptions, Cremations),
1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031; (541) 386-1000.
Please visit
www.andersonstributecenter.com to sign the family guest
book.
Clarissa Ortiz
Clarissadon Elizabeth Ortiz was born on
Jan. 25, 1995, in Hood River, Ore., to Andres and Sarah Ortiz,
of Parkdale. She was raised and home schooled in Parkdale. From
the moment she was born, she was a delight to all her friends
and family.
Clarissa was the oldest of eight and was
an angel for her dad and mom. From an early age she naturally
cared for her siblings and cousins. She did everything —
schoolwork and chores — happily, and even without being asked.
She was a bright student and excelled in her work. She was in
eighth grade.
Clarissa’s life showed a tremendous
faith even at an early age. She was baptized and had her 1st
Holy Communion at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. She faithfully
attended Mass with her family. Clarissa prayed the Rosary every
morning with her family. She enjoyed going to youth group as
well as family nights and youth group at Parkdale Community
Church.
On Feb. 18, 2008, Clarissa, Shannon
Cluff and Jan Cluff made a Purity Commitment in front of friends
and family. She was and will continue to be a virtuous example
to all.
Clarissa looked forward to the annual
Hood River County Fair. She was excited to go on the annual trip
with all of her extended family, to Uncle Dan and Aunt Bonnie’s
in Astoria, where she camped, swam and played on 80 acres for a
week. She had a wonderful time going to Mexico with her family
in 2002 where she was blessed to meet her father’s family.
Clarissa enjoyed Mexican folk dance for
three years along with her sister, Liliana, and her best friend,
Shannon. She had fun learning swing dancing with her friends,
Cheree, Jan and Shannon Cluff.
She also had fun planning parties for
her brothers and sisters, swimming in the pool in the summer,
going to Laurence Lake, roller skating in the winter, riding
bikes, scrap booking, reading, movies, music, baby-sitting for
her Aunt Hannah, walking with Grandpa Don, cleaning for Grandma
Cylena, and just being with her family and friends.
Clarissa died on Jan. 3 in a tragic car
accident. She went to be with Jesus. He has another flower in
his garden. We love her and miss her and we will be with her
again in Paradise. Clarissa’s good friends, Cheree and Jan Cluff,
went to Heaven with her. We love them and miss them, too.
Clarissa is survived by her immediate
family: father, Andres; mother, Sarah; brothers and sisters
Nicolas, Benjamin, Liliana, Katherine, Anthony, Andrea and John
Paul. She is also survived by her best friend, Shannon
Cluff, and Shannon’s mother, Diane Cluff.
Her grandparents, Mary Barth, of
Portland; Donald and Cylena Schneider, of Parkdale; and Felix
and Isaias Ortiz, of Vera Cruz, Mexico, also survive.
Aunts and uncles include Jeremy Otten
and Billie, of Portland, with cousins Jeremy Jr., Christopher
and Destiny; Bunny, of Portland, with cousins Autumn and
Brianna; Moses and Anna Schneider, of Hood River, with cousins
Malia (Best Cuz Forever), Zakary and Devon; Daniel and Tonya
Forvilly, of North Dakota, with cousins Lorianne, Jocelynn,
Dana, Stephen, Aaron and Richard; Trever and Hannah McCarty, of
Parkdale, with cousins Ian, Samantha, Calvin and Natalie; Aaron
and Stefanie Weseman, of Parkdale, with cousins Desiree and
Kyle; Joseph and Rosanna Schneider, of Tacoma, Wash., with
cousin Elizabeth; Michael Schneider, of Alaska; and uncles
Elijah, Isaiah, Peter, and Donald Schneider, of Parkdale.
Tio Luis Ortiz y tia Olga, y prima Laidy;
Tia Lupe Ortiz y Tio Benjamin y primos Arnhol, Diego, Monserra;
Tia Maricruz Ortiz y Tio Juan y prima Marisa; Tia Eva Ortiz y
Arturo y primos Arturo, Roberto, Daniel, Carolina, y Eva; Tia
Paula Ortiz y Tio Emilio.
A viewing and Rosary will be Friday,
Jan. 9, at 5 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1501 Belmont
Ave., Hood River. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday the
10th at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s, followed by burial and a
celebration of Clarissa’s life in the basement of St. Mary’s.
Donations to help with funeral expenses
may be made to Anderson’s as well as Cascade Central Credit
Union.
Arrangements are under the direction of
Anderson’s Tribute Center (Funerals, Receptions, Cremations),
1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031; (541) 386-1000;
www.andersonstributecenter.com
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