NICHOLAS ATKINS
Nicholas Jay Atkins, 35, Muscoy, Calif., died Saturday, June 2, 2007, in San Bernadino, Calif., following a gasoline explosion at his work.
Funeral service was at 11 a.m., Monday, June 11, at United Methodist Church, White Salmon. Burial followed at Glenwood, in Mt Adams Community Cemetary.
Atkins was born May 9, 1972, at Homestead AFB, Fla., to Alan and Sue Atkins. He was fortunate to have attended public schools in San Rafael, Calif., Augsburg, Germany, Severna Park, Md., Camp Zama, Japan, and Central High School in San Angelo, Texas.
He was proceeded in death by his paternal grandmother, Leota Atkins; maternal grandmother, LuEllen Ward; maternal aunt, Juanita Rolph; and two special cousins, Timothy Ward and Laurie Ann Rolph.
Survivors include his parents Alan and Sue Atkins, San Angelo, Texas; sister Tamra Deckers, San Angelo, Texas; paternal grandfather J. F. Atkins, Richmond, Ind.; maternal grandfather Frank Ward, Gresham, Ore.; uncles Dr. Darold Ward, White Salmon, James Atkins, Richmond, Ind., Kenneth Atkins, Greenwood, Ind., and Daryl Atkins, Noblesville, Ind; very special niece and nephew Jessica and Jared Deckers of San Angelo, Texas; and great aunt, Hazel Parsons, BZ Corners.
Memorials may be sent to Set Free Ministries, 2180 Darby Street, Muscoy, Calif., 92407.
MAKI HAMADA
Maki Grace Hamada died at her residence in Hood River on June 15, 2007, at the age of 96. A service and reception to honor her life was held at Anderson's Tribute Center at 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 21, 2007, followed by a private burial at Idlewild Cemetery.
Mrs. Hamada was born in Oakland, Calif., on Oct. 5, 1910, to Matsuo and Kiyoji Okubo, and moved to Livingston, Calif., the Yamato Colony, in 1920 where she graduated as valedictorian from Livingston High School in 1928.
She enrolled at the University of California at Berkeley and studied music (piano and voice). She met and married her husband of 61 years, Takumi "Horace" Hamada on Dec. 31, 1933. They resided in San Francisco where their two sons, Robert Seiji and Paul Masaru, were born.
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the couple moved their family back to Livingston to be with her parents. The whole family was interned at Merced Race Track in California and Amache Internment Camp in Granada, Colo., from 1942-1944. When released from the camp, the family moved to New York, where the Hamadas lived for 30 years in New Rochelle.
Mrs. Hamada worked her entire adult life as a bookkeeper. Upon retirement, she and her husband moved to Hood River in 1975 to be with their son, Dr. Paul Hamada. They enjoyed the valley immensely, making friends, participating in community activities and spending time with their family. Mr. Hamada died on Jan. 14, 1994.
Mrs. Hamada moved into Providence Down Manor in 2002, and spent her last years sharing stories and playing games with many friends. Her greatest joy was her family. She was immensely proud of her sons, her four grandchildren and her eight great-grandchildren. She was the eternal optimist. A great sense of humor and love for everyone kept her young until the day she died.
In addition to her sons, she will be greatly missed by her grandchildren Debbe, Dan, Matthew and Janet; step-grandchildren Anna and Stephen Thompson; and great-grandchildren Monica, Jordan, Jacob, Miriam Grace, Kiana Grace, Marisol, Melanie and Elana Maki.
Memorials may be made to Down Manor Senior Village, in care of Anderson's Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, Ore. 97031.
HELEN WRIGHT
Helen Ruth Wright died in Hood River, Ore., on June 18, 2007, at the age of 85. She was born in Seattle, to Helen Meek (Rodgers) and Franklin Samuel Johnson on Dec. 6, 1921.
She was raised in Seattle and attended college at Washington State University, where she earned her teaching certificate. While at WSU, she met James C. Wright and the two married in Seattle in 1945. Mrs. Wright left her teaching job in Battle Ground to move with her husband to San Francisco. After the war the couple returned to Pullman where he continued his education and she worked for PP&L. After college, they both took positions at Stevenson where she taught home economics until her retirement. Mr. and Mrs. Wright moved to Ocean Park and six years ago came to White Salmon to live near family.
Mrs. Wright loved to play games and enjoyed clam digging, but family and friends were most important to her. She especially enjoyed her time living on Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson.
Survivors include her children, Carolyn Curry, White Salmon, Elizabeth Acton, Poulsbo, and Margaret Norelius, Ocean Park; sister Catherine Martin, Olympia; seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Mrs. Wright was preceded in death by her husband, James, in 2001.
A private memorial will be held. Memorial contributions may be made to the Stevenson High School General Scholarship Fund in care of Gardner Funeral Home, PO Box 390, White Salmon, Wash. 98672, who handled arrangements.
MARGARET SMITH
Margaret Sylvia Smith, Hood River, died May 21, 2007, at Providence Hospital. She was five days from her 90th birthday. Mrs. Smith was born May 26, 1917, to Earl and Ruth Ramharter in Oaks, N.D., where her parents taught school. Her family moved to Lake Chelan where she graduated from Chelan High School. She then attended Whitman College where she met Bob Mansfield of White Salmon. They were married in 1936. The couple had two boys, Mike and Flip. Widowed in 1948, she married Tony Smith of White Salmon in 1949. He had three boys, Tony Jr, Richard, and Ivan.
There was never a dull moment for Mrs. Smith raising five boys. Sports, cars, car wrecks, girlfriends, and broken hearts were part of the mix for her. The couple always encouraged the boys to bring home their friends and since Mrs. Smith was superb a cook the table was filled with friends at dinner time.
Mrs. Smith belonged to the Elks Emblem Club, traveling and serving in many offices including Supreme Marshall from 1964-1965 where she traveled to meetings in all 50 states. She was Emblem Club State President 1982-1983 and Mt Adams Emblem club President three times.
During her retirement in Trout Lake, she began "The Tourist Trap" a store that featured homemade bakery goods and native arts and crafts. At Trout Lake, the Smiths started the "Great Huckleberry Camp Out." Friends and family would come from all over the United States to camp at their ranch and pick huckleberries.
When asked about her longevity she said that she always looked forward to each new day and wondered what kind of adventure the day would bring.
She is survived by sons Tony Smith, Jr., Medical Lake, Ivan Smith, Battle Ground, and Philip Mansfield of Poulsbo; nine grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Tony Smith, children Richard Smith and Michael Mansfield and grandchildren Terri Mansfield and Tina Smith.
A life celebration will be held at Kris and Shelly Kreps Ranch 449 BZ Glenwood RD, White Salmon on Saturday June 30, 2007, at 1 p.m. Main course will be provided for a potluck, guests should bring a side dish or dessert.
Memorials may be made to the Emblem Club "I Care" project c/o Jan Flournoy, 9520 - 26th Ave. N.W., Seattle, Wash. 98117-7011.
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