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A service to honor and celebrate Katharine’s life is planned for 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at Anderson’s Tribute Center. Pastor Vicky Stifter of Riverside Community Church will officiate. Interment will follow at Idlewilde Cemetery.

Katharine, an only child, was born at home to Joseph and Bernice Frazier Jr. in Hood River, Ore., Feb. 20, 1915. She was a fourth-generation Oregonian, as her great-grandfather Foley had come to Oregon by the Applegate Trail in 1852.

By the time she graduated from Hood River High School in 1932, she was an accomplished pianist and organist. As a youngster, she traveled by bus weekly to Portland to further study her craft under Dr. Frederick W. Goodrich. Her love of music enabled her to spend many years as organist for Riverside Community Church in Hood River.

For a time she accompanied the chamber choir and was sought-after to play music for many weddings, as well. In more recent days, with a smile, she stated that for her, music was “addictive.”

During the 1930s she lived for nine years in Dyersburg, Tenn., where she met and married Woodrow W. Smith. They were later divorced and he has since passed away.

Katharine was a bookkeeper for Diamond Fruit Growers for many years. Her retirement in 1980 was the year to take the trip of her dreams to Europe. She was an accomplished seamstress, and loved working crossword puzzles. For many years she followed with relish the Portland Trail Blazers and on occasion would attend games.

In her early years she was a member of Pythian Sisters, Four-Leaf Clover Club, the Riverside Afternoon Guild and a Blue Bird leader. She also had a passion for researching her family history. Many hours were spent volunteering at the Hood River Museum which she found satisfying.

By the late 1980s Katharine moved to Portland to be near her children and grandchildren. She continued playing piano for the retirement home choir. Her zest for learning continued through those years as she participated in a writing class.

Surviving children are Linda Bussey and her husband, Bill, of La Pine, Ore., and Betty Jo and her husband, Jim Eason, of Happy Valley, Ore. She is also survived by grandchildren Sam and Brandy Eason, Matt and Gina Eason, and Roy Eason, and one great-granddaughter, Alee Eason. She is preceded in death by two sons, David R. and Daniel A. Smith.

The family gratefully acknowledges the compassionate loving care our mother and grandmother received from her caregiver, Maria Grimes. Her days were spent happily napping with kitties and having tea with her fresh-baked cookies. We thank Maria for making her final days simply grand.

Family suggests that memorial contributions be made in Katharine’s memory to Helping Hands Against Violence and sent care of 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. Please visit www.ander-sonstributecenter.com to sign the family guest book.

Harry Sponnoble

Harry Sponnoble, 87, a resident of Hood River, Ore., passed away at a care facility in The Dalles, Ore., on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008.

He was born in Manistee, Mich., on March 21, 1921, the only child to Aubrey Hess and Mildred Sponnoble. He grew up in Michigan, where he graduated from high school. After high school he attended the University of Michigan where he graduated with a degree in chemical engineering.

Harry married Roxanne Yost in Puerto Rico 30 years ago and has lived in Hood River for the last 20 years. He worked as a pharmaceutical plant manager in Puerto Rico, St. Croix, New Jersey and New York.

He also was the treasurer for the Lions Club of Hood River, was honored as Lion of the Year and did volunteering for many years. He was everywhere that the Lions Club needed help. He loved to work in his shop and was quite the handyman.

Harry is survived by his wife, Roxanne, of Hood River; his daughters, June Towne, of Underwood Wash., Debbie Sargent and Lynne Flemming, of California, Rachael Griffin, of Australia, and Jeannette Griffin, of Florida; and his grandsons, Kirby and Brian McAdams, of Underwood, Wash. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Private cremation was held at Win-Quatt Crematory in The Dalles with Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Alice E. Harper

Alice E. Harper, age 97, died Feb. 2, 2009, at Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 1 p.m. at Anderson’s Tribute Center. Pastor Rinya Frisbie of the Asbury United Methodist Church, where Alice attended, will officiate.

Visitation will be Monday, Feb. 9, from 4-7 p.m. at Anderson’s Tribute Center.

Alice was born in Portland, Ore., Aug. 15, 1911, to Gustav and Anna (Gradine) Roberg. She was raised and educated in Portland. She lived in Sweden from age 7-10, she then returned to Portland.

On June 11, 1934, she and George Harper were married in Stevenson, Wash., and then moved to the Harper homestead on Trout Creek Ridge in Parkdale. Alice had worked seasonally at Duckwall Pooley Fruit for more than 25 years.

Alice was involved with Jobs Daughters, enjoyed playing Yahtzee, the neighborhood card club, growing flowers and vegetables and canning.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, George, in 1970; three grandchildren and two step-children.

Alice is survived by two daughters, Joyce Gilbertson and her husband, Rollie, of Hood River, Ore., and Barbara Roper, of Kilgore, Texas; a son, Edward Harper, and his wife, Mary, of The Dalles, Ore.; grandchildren Todd Roper, Kim and Bruce Larsen, Sandra and Brad Williams, Greg Gilbertson, Jill and Warren Dick, Jona and Robert Awmiller, Brad and Rick Cyphers, Ryan and Katie Cyphers, Gene and Brenda Meyers, Rick and Denise Meyers, Dow Martin and Janet and Joe Fischer.

Thirty great-grandchildren and numerous great-great-grandchildren also survive.

Interment will be at Upper Valley Cemetery in Parkdale, Ore.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association or the American Heart Association in care of Anderson’s Tribute Center (Funerals, Receptions, Cremations), 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031; (541) 386-1000. Please visit www.andersonstribute-center.com to view and print the obituary and sign the guest book for family.

Mary Lingren

Mary Agnes Lingren passed away at her home in Odell, Ore., on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009. She was born April 16, 1916, to William and Margaret (McIlwain) Ramsay in New Liskeard, Ontario, Canada.

A service to honor and celebrate her life will be at noon Friday, Feb. 20, at Anderson’s Tribute Center. Pastor Larry Ward of the Odell Methodist Church will officiate. Committal will follow at Idlewilde Cemetery.

Mary grew up in northern Ontario with her two brothers and a sister. After high school Mary’s dad would accompany her each day for a short train trip to her normal school which she completed at age 19, and immediately started her teaching career.

After her teacher training, Mary taught kindergarten through 12th grade in both public and church schools. When she retired from full-time teaching she remained active during her lifetime as a teacher.

Mary married in 1941 and her son, Randy, arrived in 1944. The family moved from a mining community in Ontario, Canada, in 1959 to Southern California.

During the 1960s and early 1970s Mary and Randy’s father served in the hospital and education fields both in the Peace Corps and as missionaries in the Philippines.

In the middle 1980s Mary renewed a friendship with George Lingren, and they enjoyed a loving marriage for 11 years. Mary and George were very active in the Odell community in church and volunteer work.

Mary was a member of the Odell Methodist Church. Throughout her life she often played the organ in church and sang in the church choir. For many years Mary taught piano lessons. Her love of music was unsurpassed. Teaching Sunday school was always a joy for her.

Mary is survived and will be dearly missed by her son, Randy; daughter-in-law, Susan; granddaughter, Jill, and close family members of George Lingren’s family.

In addition to her parents Mary was preceded in death by her sister, Jesse, and brothers Walter and Charles.

The family suggests that any contributions be made in Mary’s memory to either the Odell Methodist Church or Hospice of the Gorge and sent in care of Anderson’s Tribute Center.