With family near, Robi Lee Fleming, 55, of Lakeside died Jan. 14 in Coos Bay after a 10-year battle with inflammatory breast cancer.

Fleming was born May 13, 1956, on Mother’s Day.

Fleming’s family moved to Tillamook County in 1965. She graduated from Tillamook Catholic High School in 1974.

During her life journey, she lived in various places around the United States, including Michigan, Illinois, Washington and Arkansas, before coming home to settle in Lakeside. She loved the green forests and the desert area as well. She was a hard worker and worked at Tillamook Care Center, Williamsburg Bank, Tillamook Country Smoker and, lastly, at the University of Arkansas.

Fleming never met a stranger and was loved by all her family as well as her friends through her work, home in the trailer hood (her joke), medical care and the Lakeside Senior Center. Some of Fleming’s interests were four-wheeling, card playing, garage sales, geocaching, camping, barbecues, and most of all her precious friends, family and kitties (Maggie, Muffin, Baby Kitty and Charlotte).

She recently celebrated her favorite holiday, Christmas, with her family and friends.

Fleming is survived by her parents, Dick and Luella Torrey of Lakeside; children, Rick Darr of Bay City, Dean Darr of Orlando, Fla., Debi Weiss of Nortin, Mass., and Natilie Ladewig of Chicago, Ill.; siblings, Bob Varner of Lebanon, Patsy Lane of Tillamook, Rick Forrest of Netarts, Shirley Waldow of Lakeside, Terry Varner of Tillamook, Tim Varner of Prineville, Cindy Olds of Lodi, Calif., and Juli McKean of Carson City, Nev.; aunt Susie Kleiven of Lakeside; uncle, Bill Nipper of North Bend; grandmother, Bettie Inabnit of North Bend; her life partner, Mike Torrey of Burns; and many nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her brothers, Ray and Jim Varner; and sister, Betty Baughman.

Memorial contributions may be made to a favorite animal shelter or the American Cancer Society, 31 W. Sixth St., Medford, OR 97501.

Cremation rites were held for Fleming at Ocean View Crematory in Coos Bay. A memorial gathering is planned around the time of Fleming’s birthday at Golden and Silver Falls in Coos County.

Arrangements are under the direction of North Bend Chapel, 541-756-0440.

Florence Alice Duncan, 87, of Hines died at her home Sunday, Jan. 29.

A memorial service will be held in the spring on April 14.

LaFollette’s Chapel is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Betty Jean Brown, 88, died Saturday, Jan. 14, at Willow Creek Assisted Living Facility in Heppner.

Brown was born on May 9, 1923, in Burns to Austin and Mary Goodman.

Following graduation from Burns High School, Brown entered the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1943 where she served in Washington, D.C., and the Pacific Theatre during World War II. Upon returning from service Brown reunited with World War II P.O.W. Paul Brown and they married on Feb. 4, 1946.

They settled on the Brown Family Farm near Heppner where they raised their two sons. As well as being an accomplished artist, Brown was an active member of her community, participating in political, social and charitable organizations throughout her entire life.

Brown was preceded in death by her husband, Paul.

She is survived by a brother, Auttie Goodman of Pahrump, Nev.; sons, U.S. Army COL Chris Brown (retired) and wife Kathy of Pendleton, and Island County Sheriff Mark Brown and spouse Kathi of Oak Harbor, Wash.; and grandchildren, Christian Brown of Salem, U.S. Army Sgt. Kyle Brown currently serving in Afghanistan, and U.S. Navy Lt. Robert Danielson of San Diego, Calif.

A memorial service will be held Friday, Jan. 20, at 10 a.m. at the Heppner Masonic Cemetery with a reception to follow at the Heppner All Saints Episcopal Church.

Memorial contributions may be made to Willow Creek Assisted Living Facility, 400 Frank Gilliam Drive, Heppner, OR 97836

Sweeney Mortuary of Heppner is in charge of arrangements.

Melvin T. Allen, 91, died Jan. 7. He was born Dec. 23, 1920, in Cloud Chief, Okla.

When Allen was about 5 years old, his family moved to Cottage Grove. He was one of 10 children.

In later years he went to work for Bohemia Lumber Company in Cottage Grove and then became truck boss for Elkside Lumber Company in Lakeside. He worked for them until 1985, when he retired.

Allen moved to Burns in the early 1990s. He lived on Newton Road for more than 20 years. He raised cattle and horses and loved the desert.

Allen loved playing country music and teaching his grandson Howie Roozeboom a song or two.

He is survived by his sister, Willow Hoops of Cottage Grove; daughters, Laura Allen of Crescent and Bobbi Roozeboom and husband Jim of Hines; granddaughters Jamma Allen of Tigard, Dawn Yutze and husband Lyle of Rawlings, Wyo., and Paula Sheen and husband Aaron of Hines; grandsons Howie Roozeboom and wife Christina, and John Roozeboom and friend Paulina Chinnery; eight great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his sons Arleigh Allen and John Allen, his parents and many siblings.

Herbert Gayle Davis, 62, of Princeton died Dec. 28 at Oregon Health & Science University Hospital in Portland.

Davis, the first of five children, was born Jan. 25, 1949, in Ontario, where his brother and sister Joe and Louise were also born. Later, his father, Herb, sold the dairy in Vale and moved to Homedale, Idaho, where his brother Tom was born.

The family then picked up and moved to Princeton, where Davis’ youngest sister, Barbie, was born.

Davis grew up on the farm helping out wherever was needed and being a mentor to his little siblings. At the age of 14, he worked out on other ranches in the summer months, starting with the Spurlock Ranch then on to Gerard Perkins over in the Double O country. He started a permanent job for Western Union working all over Oregon, California, Idaho and Washington taking down old power lines.

While working in Albany, Davis met the love of his life, Valorie Currieri, and in August 1967 they were married.

Herb was then drafted into the army. He was recognized for his ability in pole climbing and was promoted to SP4. He instructed other men in how to climb poles and install communication lines. Davis was transferred to Germany, where he and Val resided until 1970.

Davis went to work for Harney Electric Co-op as a lineman in Orvada, Nev. While working there, he and his wife became the parents to two sons, Herbert Michael and John Benjamin, and were involved in a community church.

Davis’ dream was to farm. In 1977, he and his wife moved back to Princeton and joined the partnership with the family. Herb Davis and Sons purchased more property and developed the land and built a bigger cow/calf operation.

In the spring of 1997, Davis was bucked off his horse at a branding, breaking his back. With Davis’ dad also recovering from an aneurism the partners decided to put the place up for sale.

When the ranch sold in March 1998, Davis was ready to slow down. He and his wife bought property and installed one pivot and built a shop. All the neighbors benefitted from his knowledge of farming, electrical work, and mechanics. They could go to Davis, and he would help them. During this time he enjoyed helping his son Herbie start his farming career and teaching his grandsons to run the equipment.

Davis began a new adventure in 2008. Jim Gilmour bought the property next to Davis and the two of them joined together in the raising of mint. Davis was excited about bringing this new crop to Harney County, and it was very successful.

Davis was very active in the community. He served on the Harney County Farm Bureau from 1986-1990. At the time of his death, he was president of the Harney Electric Board and the Crane Cemetery Board. He also served on the Greater Oregon Federal Credit Union board.

Davis was preceded in death by his parents, Herb and Jennette Davis, nephew Jesse Davis and brother-in-law Gary Colvin.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Valorie Davis; sons, Herb and wife AnnaRuth and John and wife Helen; grandchildren Dustin, Hayden, Shae Lynn and Sierra Davis; sisters Louise Colvin of Portland and Barbie and Tim Carr of Fergus Falls, Minn.; brothers Joe and Sharon Davis of Hines and Tom and Julie Davis of Princeton; stepmother Bernice Davis of Meridian, Idaho; stepbrothers Larry and Arlee Coppinger of Boise, Idaho, and Norman and Debbie Coppinger of Davis, Calif.; stepsister Glenda and Rick Schultz of Twin Falls, Idaho; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Contributions in Davis’ membory may be made to the Crane Cemetery Fund in care of LaFollette’s Chapel, Box 488, Burns, OR 97720, or www.lafolletteschapel.com

Peter Roland Clemens, 73, died Dec. 29 in Portland.

Clemens was born Aug. 17, 1938, in Olympia, Wash., to Peter Wesley and Beatrice (Betty) Clemens.

Raised in Burns, he grew up on the family ranch. As a boy, he was active in Boy Scouts and was an altar boy at Holy Family Catholic Church. In high school, Clemens enjoyed playing center for the football team. He was a Hilander Letterman and Clansman and served one year as varsity basketball manager. He was a member of the cast in the play “Ten Little Indians.”

Clemens was well known for his warm smile, gentle manner and sense of humor. He was a kind, compassionate and loyal friend.

Following graduation from Burns Union High School in 1956, Clemens attended his first year of college at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. Wanting to be closer to home, he transferred to the University of Portland, graduating in 1960 with a degree in business, after which he began his banking career.

Clemens married Sharon Lucarelli in 1960. He delighted in the births of his three daughters and four grandchildren.

He is survived by his former wife, Sharon Clemens; daughters, Terri Loudermilk, Annie Watt and Kathy Clemens; grandchildren Nicholas and Michael Loudermilk, Sara Watt and Daniel Beaton; sister, Joanie Henry; and brother, David Clemens.

Burial will be held in Walla Walla, Wash. Contributions in Clemens’ memory may be made to a charity of one’s choice.

Arleta Sophia Connor, 92, died Jan. 2 at the Illinois Knights Templar in Paxton, Ill.

She was born July 10, 1919, in New Haven, Ill., to George and Minnie June (Johnson) Karmenzind. She married Melvin Glen “Tex” Connor April 8, 1941, in Palmyra, Mo.

Connor was a member of the Bartonville Christian church and worked as an assistant manager with Gross Garment Manufacturing Company in Canton and then opened Arleta’s Beauty Shop, which she ran for 12 years before retiring in 1971. She enjoyed travel and touched many lives in the time she spent in Bullhead City, Ariz., and Burns.

She was preceded in death by her husband (1982); her parents; four brothers, Martin Wilford Karmenzind, Roderick Clayton Karminzind, William Pasco Karmenzind, and Larry Galen Karmenzind; three sisters, Evelyn Blanch Karmenzind, Dorothy Deava McIninch and Freida Hollenstenier; and her dear friend, Loren Miller
She is survived by one brother, Gordon Ray Karmenzind of Beverly Hills, Fla.; two sisters, Lois Fay Brown of Edgar Springs, Mo., and Betty June Peers of Paxton, Ill.; and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, at the Davison-Fulton Bartonville Chapel, with visitation one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. The reverend Jack Thompson will officiate. Burial will follow the service at Parkview Cemetery in Peoria.

Memorials may be made to the OSF Hospice Program or to the Bartonville Christian Church food pantry. See Connor’s story at: www.davison-fulton-bartonvillechapel.com

Melvin T. Allen died Jan. 7.

An obituary will run at a later date.

Patsy Romona Thomas, 83, of Burns died on Dec. 23, 2011, at a care facility in Payette, Idaho, following a short illness.

Thomas was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and caring friend. She was a homemaker, but also worked outside the home periodically at various types of employment. She enjoyed needlework, cooking and baking, and especially her large flower garden for which she was once given special recognition by a local organization. She loved family reunions and other such cheerful family gatherings.

Thomas is survived by her sons, Doug Thomas of Payette, Idaho, and Gregory Thomas of Burns; daughter, Audrey Reeder of Eugene; three sisters; nine grandchildren; and 10 great- grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, a sister, her first husband, her second husband and a son.

Funeral services were held on Dec. 28, 2011,  at Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel in Payette.  Condolences may be made to the family at: www.shaffer-jensen chapel.com.

Contributions in her memory may be made to the American Heart Association, in care of Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, P.O. Box 730, Payette, ID 83661.

Della Fae Steele died in her sleep Dec. 26, 2011, in her apartment at Valley View Assisted Living.

Steele was born Aug. 16, 1920, in Mt. Vernon at the Fletcher ranch to George & Mae Belle Hammons (Fletcher).

She grew up and attended school in Mt. Vernon through the eighth grade. She quit school to go to work and help with family finances.

The family moved to Burns in 1939.

In 1942, Steele and sister Ruth traveled by bus to Los Angeles to find jobs. They worked at a restaurant for three months and returned home to Burns due to an illness in the family.

She married John Eldon Steele on July 6, 1946, in La Grande. They resided in Burns until his death in 1968.

They had no children. During these years she cared for and provided housing for her mother, Mae Belle Hammons. She also worked in local restaurants.

After Eldon’s death, Steele moved to Pendleton and lived there for many years. Steele worked for local nursing homes in their laundry department.

In the 1990s, Steele and sisters Ruth and Babs operated the Wagon Wheel Tavern in Mt. Vernon.

Steele was very talented. She wrote songs and mystery stories, drew and painted exceptionally well and played many stringed instruments. She loved animals, especially cats and horses.

Steele is survived by sisters Violet Yarber of Redmond, Ruth Holmes of Mt. Vernon and Norma Fry (Bob) of Dale, and brother George Hammons (Loretta) of Brooks.

Steele was preceded in death by her parents, George Hammons (1934) and Mae Belle Hammons (1982), brothers Richard Hammons (2005), Harlan Hammons (1949) and Joe David Hammons (1935), and sister Roberta (Babs) Hammons (2008).

Memorial services are planned for later in the year in Burns.

Memorial contributions may be made in her name to Blue Mountain Hospice & Home Health through Driskill Memorial Chapel, 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845.