Sharon Whitlow Argo

April 12, 1939–Jan. 10, 2012

Sharon Whitlow Argo of Morton, Wash. passed away January 10, 2012 of complications associated with Cancer and Diabetes.

Sharon was born April 12, 1939 at McMinnville, Ore. to Robert L. Whitlow and Gertrude J. Smith.

The Whitlows of Yamhill County are a well-known name in the annuals of Oregon’s Logging Industry.  Sharon grew up in her family’s logging camp near Elkton, Oregon.

She attended grade school in Elkton, Ore. and graduated from Yamhill High School in 1957.

In 1957 she married William Larrabee. She married Donald Argo in 1962.

She was preceded in death by her son, Steven Argo, and husband Don Argo.  She is survived by a daughter, Jann Larrabee Smith; son, Robert Larrabee; and a sister, Debra Whitlow Tompkins. She also leaves six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews who will miss her.

She also leaves behind her beloved life companion, Gary Reynolds, who brought her great joy and love for the last years of her life.

She found great satisfaction with her work in the care of the Elderly.

Sharon had a great love of horses, dogs, cats and the great outdoors. She loved horseback riding, camping and highway and off road motorcycle riding. For many years, she was the President of the Oregon Motorcycle Riders Association.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. on February 11, 2012 at the Ballston Community Center, 915 Community Club Road, Amity.

Bob Hemstreet

June 22, 1924–Jan. 16, 2012

Bob Hemstreet died on January 16, 2012 in Palm Springs, Calif.  Memorial services will be held on Friday, January 27, at 2 p.m. at the Chapel of Macy & Son, McMinnville with interment at Finleys Sunset Hills, Portland.

Bob Hemstreet was born in Laclede, Idaho on June 22, 1924 the son of Sherman and Mildred Hemstreet. He moved to Oregon and attended Pleasant Valley and Ardenwald grade schools, and Milwaukie High school. He bravely and patriotically volunteered for the army in 1944 where he served on the front lines under General Patton and General Bradley’s  83rd Division. At the end of the war he was honorably discharged with numerous medals for acts of bravery.

He met his wife Mary Jean Dover at a dance in Jantzen Beach, Ore. on January 19, 1946; they were married one year later-to the day-and have remained married until his passing, Jan. 16, 2012, three days before their 65th wedding anniversary.

Bob worked hard with Mary by his side in their building business; they built over 3,000 homes in the Portland area over a forty year span. Bob and Mary attended St. Andrews church in Portland and First Christian Church in Sheridan, Oregon. Bob enjoyed hunting, fishing, traveling, horseback riding and working heavy equipment and cattle on his Sheridan farm.

He is survived by his wife Mary; daughters “Jeani” (Billie Jean) Stevens and Jodie Lanier; son Jon Hemstreet; six grandchildren and one great-grandson.

Bob will always be remembered as a devoted husband, a patriotic, American soldier, a caring father and grandfather and a loving “Uncle Bob.”

To leave private online condolences, please visit www.macyandson.com.

Rosalie Gay Smith

Nov. 26, 1948–Jan. 24, 2012

Rosalie Gay Smith, known as Rosie, left this earth on January 24, 2012 surrounded by her family at her home.

She was born on November 26, 1948 to Harold and Mavis Anderson in Clearwater, Minnesota. With her mom and dad they left Minnesota and headed west to Oregon. She attended school in Willamina, Oregon and graduated from Willamina Union High School.

She stayed rooted in the Willamette Valley while working and attended college courses. On July 4, 1970, she married her high school sweetheart James Smith III in Grand Ronde at the St. Michaels Catholic Church. Her daughter, Jodie was born in 1971 and her second daughter, Jolene in 1975.

She was an active supporter of the Girl Scouts of America since 1977 while her daughters made their way through elementary to high school to both receive their Gold Awards. Rosie continued to be active with the Girl Scouts and lead many troops, girls and other activities which assisted other girls in obtaining their Gold Award.

She worked for the United States Postal System starting in 1977 as an on call rural carrier, and soon after accepted the offer of full time position on the route. She retired from the USPS in the early 2002s.

She volunteered for the Yamhill County CASA program and started this journey when she was sworn in during 1997. Over her 10 plus years with CASA she assisted with 9 cases and helped 21 kids; and volunteered many office hours.

Rosalie touched the lives of all she came in contact with and left her selfless mark upon this earth.

Rosalie is survived by her daughters, Jodie Kraemer and Jolene Smith; sister, Sandra Kephart; brother, Warren Anderson; nieces, Cheri Pinson, Kim Pinson, and Audrey Anderson; nephews, Erick Reinecker and Warren Christian Anderson; son-in-law Vince Kraemer; and her “Ladybug Club” Karen Mode, Mary Herzberg, Rita Baller and Mary Cook, whom she loved with all her heart. She is also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at the Chapel of Macy & Son. A Private Family Interment will be at Greencrest Cemetery in Sheridan, Oregon. There will be an open gathering at the McMinnville First Assembly of God to celebrate Rosie’s life at 1 p.m. and everyone is welcome to stop in.

To leave private online condolences, please visit www.macyandson.com.

Carol Sue Jenkins

April 20, 1952–Jan. 14, 2012

Carol Sue Jenkins died January 14, 2012, attended every minute by her loving circle of family and friends, in the kind care of the staff at the Willamette Valley Medical & Cancer Center.

Carol was born in Pennsylvania on April 20, 1952. She married her life’s love, George Martin Jenkins III, on July 30, 1977. Together, they later moved to Winterset, Iowa, to take over George’s grandfather‘s weekend farm, where their love for each other and nature continued to grow. In the late 80’s, they moved to Grand Ronde, Oregon, where they added a love of Oregon country and Oregon people.  Eventually, they bought and reforested 40 acres in Willamina, where they have lived ever since—continuing to grow in love, watching meteor showers and nature, picking berries, making friends, caring for family, and taking in large dogs needing homes. As Carol always said, they were not transplanted Oregonians, they were “transported” Oregonians!

Carol loved people. Working at the Strawberry Patch, the Berry Patch, and the Sheridan Select Market, she treated each co-worker and each person coming into the stores as a friend.  Even in her jobs, Carol always gave her heart and her best.

Carol was very inventive and creative.  Among her many crafts, she was known for making beautiful corn dolls that she gave away to family and friends and that, even as long as 20 years later, grace display cabinets in the homes of those who received them.

Being inventive and creative, Carol knew how to make everything fun and added thoughtful touches to even the little things she did. Her sense of fun was contagious; it was easy to join in!  Friends would send her off to

Ohio with funny airplane-travel packages when she returned every year to visit her mother and brother. Time spent with Carol was always special, like the “flamingo” 85th birthday party she threw for her mother-in-law, Jane, at Valley View, or like the pond swims in Ohio at her sister-in-law’s.

Carol was too young at age 59 to be claimed by melanoma that so suddenly metastasized to her liver and brain. Even during the short period left to her, she lived life to the most, Christmas caroling and delivering cookies two weeks before she died and healing hurts with her loving heart.

Sweet Carol was so very loved! Her friends and family will always miss her, but will smile while remembering.

Carol is survived by her adoring husband, George Martin Jenkins III, brother Paul Hague and his wife Debbie (Ohio), mother-in-law Lois Jane Hunt, sister-in-law Grace Jenkins (Jim Paul) (Ohio),brother-in-law Jeff Jenkins (Jackie) (Colorado), brother-in-law Mark Harbert (Debbie) (Texas), sister-in-law Cheryl Mason (Bryan) (Ohio), step-grand and great-grandchildren (Marty, Kathy, Caitlin, Alex, and Nicole Jenkins,) and  best friends, Jane Buswell, Nanette Denny, Anne Riley (Ted), and Lisa Talley (Carl),  too many friends to name, and her adopted Newfoundland, Big Dog.

Preceded in death by her mother and father, Pearl and Paul Hague, father in-law and mother-in-law,  George Martin Jenkins Jr. and Nancy Jenkins.

To leave private online condolences, please visit www. macyandson.com.

There will be a life party and refreshments (Carol always loved to make a party!) at the Valley View-Rock of Ages Chapel and Activity Center overlooking the pond at 3 p.m. on January 21, 2012.  The address is  15600 SW Rock of Ages Road, McMinnville.  Please come.