All Obituaries

Betty Viola Demarest November 12, 1920 – June 24, 2020   A memorial service to celebrate the life of Betty V. Demarest, 99, of Coos Bay, will be held on Saturday, August 22, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at the College Park Community Church, 2548 Newmark Avenue in North Bend. A private interment was held at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery in Coos Bay. Betty was born on November 12, 1920 in Marshfield, Oregon to Thomas Roy Leaton and Mary Viola ( Landers ) Leaton. She passed away on June...

Harry Edmund Hudson, 87, of Lakeside, passed away August 4, 2020 in Reedsport. Arrangements are under the care of Myrtle Grove Funeral Service-Bay Area, 541-269-2851. www.coosbayareafunerals.com    

Jennifer Jo Ritter (Gunnell) was born April 9, 1971 in Coos Bay, Oregon to Gary Alfred Gunnell and Karen Marie (Anderson) Solomon.  She passed away peacefully March 31, 2020, after bravely battling cancer for over 2 years.  She was surrounded in love by her family and close friends at her home in Solana Beach at the time of her passing.  Jennifer, the baby of the family, was number 4 of four girls. If asked about growing up with 3 older sisters, Jennifer was quick to quip...

Alan Brockway was born in Hebron, NH on August 21, 1936 and was living in Bandon, OR when he died on July 16, 2020. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy (Seaman) Brockway, sister Barbara (Brockway) Perey, son Joseph Brockway, daughter Lesley Hoppert, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter Priest Brockway and Eleanor Duncan Brockway, brother Duncan Brockway and sister Gerry (Brockway) Perrin, first wife Barbara (Fink) Fuller, and...

Gracie “Earline” was born June 20, 1927 in Goldthwaite, Texas to Almer and Belle (Doggett) Knowles. She was one of four children, Buddy Knowles, Nina Knowles Wilson and Aleene Knowles Brawley. Earline met and married the love of her life, Marvin “Mark” Atwell October 18, 1945 in Comanche County, Texas. They moved to Oakland, California, when Mark was discharged from the Army after World War II. It was in Oakland where their only child, Norma, was born in 1947. In...

Our beautiful mother and grandmother, Vi Williamson, 86, of North Bend, passed away peacefully July 6, 2020, with her daughter by her side.   Mom (Violet Jane Hunt) was born Tuesday, April 17, 1934 in Clear Lake, South Dakota, along with her twin brother Vernon.  Her parents were Mortimer M. and Fred L. (Peterson) Hunt.  She graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1952.  In an adventurous move, she moved to Oregon to help her sister Fae with her growing family....

At his request, no services will be held for Gordon Piburn, 66, of Coos Bay. Gordon was born April 25, 1954 to Sarge and Margaret Piburn. He passed away peacefully at his home July 30, 2020, from lung cancer. Gordon enjoyed hunting, fly fishing, always tying his own flies or going down the Coquille River trying to catch the next big “hawg “. He also enjoyed riding his motorcycle and was always willing to ride rain or shine.  Gordon was a quiet gentle soul and...

David Duane Ham, 36, of Winston, formerly of Coos Bay and Myrtle Point, passed away July 20, 2020 in Winston. A graveside service will be held at 1:00 pm, Wednesday, July 29 at Ocean View Memory Gardens, 1525 Ocean Boulevard NW in Coos Bay. Arrangements are under the care of Coos Bay Chapel, 541-267-3131. www.coosbayareafunerals.com    

Private inurnment for Jeannie L. Ring, 68, of Coos Bay will be held at a later date at Ocean View Memory Gardens in Coos Bay. Jeannie was born July 7, 1952 in Mena, Arkansas. Her parents, Arthur and Lena Grantham were so excited to have their first beautiful daughter. In 1956 they came to Coos Bay to visit family. The family remained in Coos Bay the rest of their life. Jeannie married and had a son, Marky Cossette. She later met the love of her life, Rex Ring who had three sons. Jeannie...

A celebration of life for Benjimen Howard Sams, 93, of North Bend, formerly of Coos Bay, will be held at noon, Sunday, July 26 at the Bastendorff Beach County Park (the kiosk). All those who knew Benjimen are invited to attend and share a story about him. Cremation rites were held at Ocean View Memory Gardens with private inurnment to be held at Sunset Memorial Park in Coos Bay. Benjimen “Howard” was born July 18, 1926 in Broken Bow, Nebraska to Chester Arthur Sams and Sarah...