Emma Jean (Eakin) Smith passed away early in the morning of Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at the Columbia Basin Care Facility in The Dalles, OR, following complications from a stroke.

Emma Jean was born January 3rd, 1925 to Dell and Vesta (Newton) Eakin on their family farm in Grass Valley, OR, the youngest of four children.  Following two major accidents, one which claimed the life of her brother, Walter, and another which took the leg of her father, Emma Jean had to help with the animals and garden on the farm.   

She met her future husband, Myrle Smith in the summer of 1937 when he worked for her father on the family farm. She and Myrle were wed on October 3rd, 1942 in St. Francis, KS.  They spent a short honeymoon with his parents near Eckley, CO.  She then followed Myrle from one base to another for the next three years as he completed his service in the US Army Air Corps.  They came home to the Eakin family farm in Grass Valley, OR in 1945, where they made their home.

Emma Jean and Myrle enjoyed traveling and visited many worldwide locations.  They took 10 overseas trips and enjoyed something unique about every adventure.  A few locations they particularly enjoyed visiting were the Scandinavian Countries, Africa and China.  In addition to traveling internationally, they traveled within the United States extensively, finding that Branson, MO was among their favorite spots to go.  In addition to traveling together, Emma Jean and Myrle enjoyed gardening, growing a significant portion of their own fruits and vegetables in their large green house and garden.

Emma Jean loved to sew, making most of her and Myrle’s clothing, her Granddaughter Melanie’s wedding and bridesmaids dresses, and countless other garments.  She greatly enjoyed passing this skill on to interested children.  She led the Sherman County 4-H sewing club for over 50 years, and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2009. 

She was also well known for giving back to her community; she joined the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Celilo Chapter in 1989 and held numerous leadership positions, including Registrar where she was instrumental in registering 64 new members to the organization.  She donated extensively to the fundraising efforts to benefit the scholarship opportunities managed by the group.

Emma Jean’s interest in history and specifically genealogy was a never-ending quest.  She extensively mapped the Eakin family genealogy and coordinated and led the Eakin Family Reunion for many years.  It was this same interest and skill that she leveraged into helping DAR gain all those new members.

She was predeceased by her parents Dell and Vesta Eakin, sisters Leta (Eakin) Boitnott and Gertrude (Eakin) Van Metre and brother Walter Eakin.  Myrle also preceded Emma Jean in death in 2012 after almost 70 years of marriage.  She is survived by her sons, Lowell who continues to live on the family farm and Gordon of Post Falls, ID.  She has five grandchildren, Melanie (Smith) Morris and spouse Phillip of The Dalles, Jason Smith & spouse Michelle of Tualatin, Luke Smith of Walla Walla, WA, Cara (Smith) Rullman and spouse Nick of Richland, WA and Laura Smith of Everett, WA.  She has six great grandchildren Kayla, Sydney, Kailee, Cayden, Althea and Emma.  She is also survived by Sheri Elligsen of Alaska, whom she considered a daughter.  Her beloved dog, Lady Bug, who was her constant companion following Myrle’s death, has been adopted by Jason and his family.

A memorial service will be held at Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home on April 9, 2022 at 11am.  A celebration of life and potluck will follow at the 4-H Pavilion located at the Sherman County Fairgrounds, Moro, OR. at 2pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the following charities which were special to Emma Jean:

Sherman County 4-H Association

Care of: OSU Sherman County Extension

66365 Lonerock Rd., Moro, OR 97039

National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Celilo Chapter

Att: Julie Cantrell

710 Henderson Rd., Hood River, OR 97031

(Please make checks payable to Celilo Chapter, NSDAR)

Sherman County Historical Society (where Lowell continues to volunteer)

P.O. Box 173, Moro, OR 97039

Denise Ernestine Riggs, age 67, a resident of Wasco, OR, passed away March 29th, 2022. A graveside service will be held April 2nd, 2022 at Wasco Sunrise Cemetery at 1:00 pm. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Bob D. Thomas, age 76, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away March 24, 2022. A service will be held at Spencer, Libby and Powell Gathering Hall April 9th, 2022 at 2:00 pm. With mingling and remembering immediately following at the Riv, 410 E 10th st. The Dalles, OR. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Marcelino Perez, age 74, a resident of Pendleton, OR, passed away March 19, 2022. A Rosery service will be held at Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home March 31, 2022 at 7:00pm. A Funeral service will be held at the St. Peter Catholic Church in The Dalles Saturday April 2, 2022 at 1:00pm with a Cemetery service to follow at St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

William Henry Parke, age 90, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away March 17, 2022. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Dr. Alfred “Dennis” Alleman, 79, passed away on Wednesday, March 16th in his home in The Dalles, Oregon.  Dennis was born January 1943 in Seattle, WA to Myrtle Hope Alleman and Alfred Joseph Alleman.  Dennis lived with his mother and father and his brother, Darryl and sister, Marilyn in Unalaska, AK and Las Vegas, NV during his childhood and graduated from Rancho High School, Las Vegas in 1961.  He attended UNLV for a year before he was accepted into the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD where he was a proud Navy Orsman graduating in 1966.  He served in the Navy as a fighter pilot for several years after graduation from the Naval Academy.

After leaving the Navy, Dennis attended the Medical College of Georgia and graduated to become a distinguished dentist and Fellow of the American Academy of Dentistry.  After serving as a dentist in the Indian Health Service in Oklahoma and Pendleton, OR, he established his private dental practice in The Dalles, OR and retired after almost 30 years of practicing dentistry in The Dalles. 
Dennis was a wonderful man who loved his family, his Alaskan Native heritage, his Catholic faith and adventure.  He enjoyed hiking, biking, scuba diving, rowing, golfing, paddling in his rowboat, and looking for the next great viewpoint.  He loved to travel and explore.  He was a lifelong learner, always curious and eager to understand more of the world and challenge himself to try new things.  His appreciation of the beauty of nature and savoring all those little and big moments in life are definitely passed on to all who love him.

Dennis met and married Carolyn Estelle Horton in 1966. In addition to his wife Carolyn Horton Alleman, Dennis is survived by his daughter Alice Hope Alleman (Kristy Fleming) of Portland, OR Daughter Wendy Alleman Denham (David Denham) and their 2 daughters (his granddaughters) Lauren Hope and Rachel Ellen of Tigard, OR and his son Alfred Charles Alleman of The Dalles, OR.  

Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Lloyd Eldon Rambo, age 69, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away March 17, 2022. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Mary Luann Wickwire, age 86, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away March 14, 2022. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Ann Klinkhamar, age 71, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away March 12, 2022. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Marvin, age 88, of The Dalles, Oregon, passed away peacefully Thursday evening, February 3, 2022 at his home, surrounded by his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

            Marvin was born August 24 1933, in Tenino, Washington and was preceded in death by his parents, Otto Frederick Leo Polehn and Emma Delinda Spieckerman, his brother Leo Frederick Polehn (2019) and sister Margarette Ann Polehn Chisholm (2017).  Marvin was baptized at the home of his parents on October 8,1933. He attended The Dalles schools and spent his youth on Millcreek, working on various family farms including Millcreek, Dry Hollow, Three Mile, Five Mile and Sherman County. He also worked as a mechanic for the local Ford garage. Enlisting in the US  Army February 19, 1953 he was assigned to the motor pool as a wheeled vehicle mechanic.  After serving 3 years, 3 months, 13 days, of which 1 year, 4 months and 28 days in Korea, Marvin was honorably discharged. 

            He married his bride Donella Potter in Linden, California, on April 14,1956. Immediately after her high school graduation, Marvin and Doni loaded up what little possessions they had and headed north to The  Dalles, Oregon, as cherry harvest was just days away. They lived in a farm labor camp on Skyline Rd. Marvin helped his uncle farm until they could move to a small home on Otto and Emma's property on Dry Hollow Rd.  Marvin worked as a Journeyman carpenter and roofer while farming the homeplace. Within a few years he and Donella were able to grow the farm enough to become full time orchardists. In 1972 he bought 300 ewes to support the family and shepherd them for 10 years, eventually establishing Polehn Farms Inc. in 1983. They went on to build a cherry packing house just outside the city limits on Dry Hollow Rd. In 1989.

            Marvin was a true leader and innovator in the orchard community all his adult life. His property received the first water delivered through The Dalles Irrigation District from the Columbia River and among the first orchardists to establish a permanent cover crop to prevent erosion. He was well respected among his fellow orchardists, making himself available to help repair equipment and sharing his wealth of knowledge about best horticultural practices. 

Marvin was a lifelong member of Zion Lutheran Church and The Wasco County Farm Bureau. He served his community in many ways including The Dalles Irrigation District Board of Directors, Wasco County Soil & Water Conservation District, The Dalles Cherry Growers Board of Directors, Fort Dalles Museum, Wasco County Republican Central Committee and Zion Lutheran Church Council. 

            Marvin delighted in restoring broken cars and equipment back to working condition and was willing to teach anyone who was willing to learn mechanics, carpentry, or anything else he was passionate about.  What Marvin enjoyed the most was fixing and driving old Caterpillar equipment and reminiscing about his family and friends who inspired him. He was also generous in donating his time,    talents and financial support to community and church projects.  Marvin also had a deep love and appreciation for animals, horses, cows, sheep, cats and especially his dogs. He went out of his way to make sure all his children and grandchildren had the opportunity to raise livestock and participate in 4-H and FFA.

Marvin is well known for his strength and large hands. He knew how to be gentle and caring with animals and people in need of kindness and strength. He was a quiet man who didn’t seek       attention or to boast about his accomplishments.

            Community awards include FFA, Honorary Chapter Farmer Degree 1974, The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce Farmer of the year 1974, Senior Ambassador, "KING BING" The Dalles Cherry Festival 1996, Wasco County Fruit & Produce League, award for outstanding contributions to the sweet cherry industry 2004.

            He was a dedicated husband of 65 years, father, teacher, Orchardist, Mechanic, Carpenter, shepherd, and friend.

            Marvin is survived by his wife Donella Polehn, his children Delinda Jane Polehn Anderson, Kenneth Marvin Polehn, Molly Ann Polehn Lapsley and Timothy William Polehn, 12 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren with one on the way and was preceded in death by Daughter Karen Marie Polehn (2019).

In lieu of Flowers donations can be made to either the Zion Lutheran Church Trust fund or the Fort Dalles Museum.

Jack Morrell Gillis, age 92, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away March 8, 2022. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Guillermo Flore-Pacheco, age 50, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away March 6, 2022. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arranmgents.

Victoria Ann Loudd, age 67, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away February 22, 2022. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Sammy Allen Benson, age 61, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away February 18, 2022. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

George Benson, age 87, a resident of Sherman County, OR, passed away February 21, 2022. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Ben Adam Munoz, age 74, a resident of Wamic, OR, passed away March 2, 2022. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

James David Frakes, age 65, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away March 2, 2022. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Laura Hollzner, age 58, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away February 14, 2022. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Jason Paul Weaver, age 51, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away February 22, 2022. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Dalles Vestal Denton, age 79, a resident of The Dalles, OR, passed away February 24, 2022. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.