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The Good Life Senior Living Resources for the Central Oregon Coast
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LLIIFFEEThe Good
2014EDITION
Highlighting Senior Services and Stories in the Florence Area
PUBLISHED BY SIUSLAW NEWS
Burns’s Riverside ChapelFlorence Funeral Home
Back: Sam Reid and Alan Burns. Front: Kourtney Burns-Reid,Clayton Kent Reid, Hank, Kenton Burns & Karen Burns
Burns’s Riverside Chapel/Florence Funeral Home is locally owned and operated
by Alan and Karen Burns. The compassionate care that the clients receive from the family is based on their commitment to the community in which they live. Alan served as Mayor of Florence from 1998-2005. Karen is a member of the Kiwanis club.
Alan, Karen, daughter Kourtney and her husband Sam work at the funeral home. Their son Kenton is a 2014 OSU graduate with a degree in Forest Management. He is active in helping with the family business. Kenton recently became engaged to Olivia Hier , the couple have their wedding date planned for November 2015.
The warmth that welcomes visitors the moment they walk in the door continues throughout the relationship. Clients are
assisted gently and professionally through every step of the process of creating a service that honors and respects the deceased and the family.
From traditional to unconventional — military, indoor or outdoor, formal or casual — they work to ensure that all the needs are met to honor the loved ones and
families that they serve.Alan is a second generation
funeral director and a graduate of San Francisco College of Mortuary Science. Karen holds a funeral director license, and many women have found it comforting to have a woman to talk to during one of life’s most diffi cult and stressful times. Daughter Kourtney is a third generation embalmer and funeral director, continuing the family tradition along with her husband Sam, who has a certifi cate as a cremationlist.
In addition to the chapel and Pacifi c Sunset Cemetery, the family owns and operates two crematories — one for humans and one for pets. They offer products and memorabilia to honor those that have passed away and for beloved pets as well.
www.burnsriversidechapel.com2765 Kingwood St., Florence
541-997-341624 Hour Caring Service
• Siuslaw Valley Crematory & Pet Crematory• Pacifi c Sunset Cemetery
Locally Owned & Operated by the Burns Family
Your Community Friend... ...when you need one most.
A special publication of the
Siuslaw NewsP.O. Box 10
148 Maple StreetFlorence, OR 97439
(541) 997-3441www.TheSiuslawNews.com
John Bartlett PublisherJenna Bartlett General ManagerTheresa Baer EditorRyan Cronk Features EditorSusan Gutierrez Advertising DirectorCathy Dietz Office SupervisorRon Annis Production Supervisor Jeremy Gentry Press Manager
Copyright 2014Siuslaw News
Central Coast PublishingNo part of this publication may be duplicated without permission.
Cover and inside layout designed by Ryan Cronk.
LLIIFFEEThe Good�
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INSIDEHouse that Sears Built ...................... 4
Ventures Abound .............................. 6
Local Services Directory ................ 8-9
A Love that Lasts ............................ 10
A Family Affair ................................ 12
Life Through Art .............................. 14
SIUSLAW NEWS • THE GOOD LIFE 20144
HHOOUUSSEE
BBUUIILLTTthat Sears
Edwin Kyle home, now a B&B, turns 100 years old.
In 1970, theEdwin Kylehouse was
moved fromits site on
the hill nearHighway
101, whereDairy Queensits today, to
the home’spresent
location onBay Street.
Contractorshauled the
house downKingwood
Street with-out incident,according to
a SiuslawNews articlefrom March
12, 1970.
SIUSLAW NEWS PHOTOS
BY RYAN CRONK
Siuslaw News
Imagine flipping through a catalog of pre-designed houses to find the perfect homethat suits your tastes and budget. Upon ordering, precut lumber and all the materials— even the nails — are delivered with instructions, ready to be assembled. Back inthe early 1900s, Sears, Roebuck and Co. provided such an option for families, selling
about 75,000 homes through its mail-order Modern Homes program, which ran from1908 to 1940 and included nearly 450 different housing styles.
One house ordered through the programstill sits on Bay Street, though it has sincebeen remodeled and turned into a bed andbreakfast. The 1914 Sears Craftsman build-ing, now known as the Edwin K Bed andBreakfast, turns a century old this year.
“It’s important for people in Florence tohold on to some of the city’s history,” saidMarv VandeStreek, who owns the B&Bwith his wife Laurie. “I feel like that’s partof living here — to find out about the Kylefamily, Sears homes, living in Florence 100years ago — and we want to share that withpeople.”
For the past decade, the VandeStreekshave owned the B&B, which is named afterthe home’s first owner, Edwin Kyle, son ofWilliam Kyle, an early settler and entrepre-neur in the area in the late 1800s.
The Kyle family owned a general store
in Old Town, where the commercial struc-ture — later restored and placed on theNational Register of Historic Buildings —now serves as the Bridgewater Restaurant.
A sign on the building still reads “Wm.Kyle & Sons Co.”
The family also owned a cannery on theSiuslaw River as well as a shipbuildingfacility near Cushman, according to theVandeStreeks.
“The Kyle family was a very significantpart of Florence’s early history, and thishouse happened to belong to their sonEdwin Kyle,” Marv VandeStreek said.
The original house cost about $2,000 tobuild, a significant amount in 1914, andwas 1,200 square feet with two bedroomsand one bathroom. Edwin Kyle built theSears Craftsman home on a hill nearHighway 101, where Dairy Queen sitstoday.
“A lot of these homes were being builtremotely on homesteads away from anytowns,” VandeStreek explained.
Edwin K Bed and Breakfast, a 1914Sears Craftsman home, still includes
many of its original features.
SIUSLAW NEWS • THE GOOD LIFE 2014 5
“Sears wanted to make sureyou could put the whole thingtogether, so it came with all thewood, roofing material, paint,indoor plumbing — it was acomplete house,” he added.
In 1970, the house wasmoved to its current location at1155 Bay St. to make way forthe fast-food chain, whichbought the land. A SiuslawNews article dated March 12,1970, recounts the home’stransport:
“This house journeyed fromits site on the hill at the cornerof Second Street and Highway101 in Florence to its new loca-tion on Bay Street lastThursday. General ContractorRon Sauter of Florence received expertadvice from about 100 sidewalk superin-tendents, including many from the FlorenceElementary School, and the two-story homewas moved without incident.”
The Kyle house remained a single-familyresidence until 1991, when the first majorremodel took place, and the following yearit opened as a bed and breakfast.
Through the 1990s and two differentowners, the home grew to its present sizeof 5,400 square feet with eight bedrooms,nine bathrooms and two kitchens.
The VandeStreeks, who are the thirdowners of the B&B, share the home’s histo-ry with about 2,500 guests each year.
“We get guests from all over the world,which is the fun part of the business. Every
state of the union has been rep-resented in our home,” MarvVandeStreek said.
Visitors from as far away asSouth Africa, Iceland and Chinahave stayed at the B&B, but itsmost frequent guests comefrom England, Germany andCanada.
Though all the rooms havebeen updated, some of thehouse’s original features remainintact, such as the wood floor-ing, windowpanes and built-in
cabinets.When asked if they have ever considered
expanding the home with more additions,Laurie VandeStreek said with a laugh,“There’s no room left.”
Marv concurred.“We can’t go any wider, so we would
have to go up, and we’re not going up,” headded. ❖
Edwin K B&B’s current owners Marv and LaurieVandeStreek rent out thehome’s rooms to about2,500 guests per year.
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Ever wanted to visit a fish hatchery inBandon or take a road trip aroundthe county to view covered bridges?How about learning techniques to
outdoor photography or the art of flaxfiber? Or perhaps attend a class on yoga fit-ness or ballroom dancing?
Opportunities to learn something newabound at Lane Community CollegeFlorence Center, where the CommunityEducation Program continues to thrive witha variety of non-credit enrichment coursesand off-campus cultural experiences.
“The idea behind community education,whether it’s a class or an Outward Venture,is for people to connect. It’s a social thing,”said Barbara Baker, Community EducationProgram coordinator for the Florence cam-
pus. “For ouraudience,who are a lot
of seniors, it’s a way for themto get out and be among peo-ple.”
The program, which isopen to anyone, includesmore than two-dozen coursesthat range from basic comput-er classes to dance lessonseach term in addition toOutward Ventures, day trips that offer edu-cational and cultural activities outside theclassroom setting.
Baker has led the program since October2012, enlisting the community’s help inoffering classes and trips that appeal toeveryone. Local businesses have also beenasked to teach courses designed to informresidents about their company and trade.
“I’m trying to bring in more businessesto make people aware of what’s going on inour community,” Baker said. “For those
kinds of classes, they’re tuition free, sobusinesses can get the word out about whatthey do and how it’s a benefit.”
The college has partnered with suchbusinesses as PeaceHealth Peace HarborMedical Center, offering health and hospicecare classes as well as a new lecture series,and Front Desk Florence, a concierge serv-ice providing information on availableresources.
Siuslaw High School, another partner,allows the college to use its culinary class-room for special food courses.
SIUSLAW NEWS • THE GOOD LIFE 20146
VENTURES ABOUNDLCC program accentuates community
partnerships, activities.
Yaquina Head Lighthouse was the subjectof a recent Outward Ventures trip.
COURTESY PHOTOS
Students take a fitness class, part of theCommunity Education Program, at the DoreenDitzhazy Dance Studio at LCC Florence Center.
BY RYAN CRONK
Siuslaw News
“It’s life-long learning,” Baker explainedabout the benefit to enrolling in communityeducation classes. “When you stay activeand stay open to ideas and new things, Ithink you live longer, healthier lives. You’rehappier.”
Outward Ventures, an excursion program,provides transportation to culturally signifi-cant places along the Oregon coast andEugene. Lighthouses, museums and historicbuildings are common stops, though differ-ent trips are scheduled each term. The out-ings, arranged on different days of theweek, are educational experiences, withoutthe pressure of tests and assignments.
“You’re never tested. It’s for your ownself-enrichment,” Baker said.
Baker invites input from the communityfor new ideas for classes and trips.
“I want the Community EducationProgram to be open to all kinds of classes,whether it’s for information or enrichmentor getting out and seeing things up anddown the coast,” she said.
Classroom sizes vary from eight to 20students at the campus, depending on thetype of class being offered, and the vanused for Outward Ventures is limited to 14passengers. Early registration is recom-
mended.Last spring,
LCC partneredwith the OsherLifelong LearningInstitute, a non-credit communityoutreach programoffered throughthe University ofOregon AcademicExtension, tobring a series offour lectures tothe coast. Theprogram wasdesigned to serve the educational interestsof adults in their post-career years.
“As you can see, there are lots of won-derful things happening at the college,” saidMary Jeanne Kuhar, dean of the LCCFlorence Center.
She said Baker has helped the collegewith networking in the community to findout the current interests of residents, citingthe school’s technology class series as oneexample that has proved successful.
“I drove into the school one morning andthere were no parking spaces in the front
and the wholeside was taken up.I thought, ‘Whatis going on?’”Kuhar recalled.“… We had thistechnology groupwith all thesefolks bringingtheir iPods andiPads and everydevice that theyhave because theywanted to learnhow to use them.”
Kuhar wouldlike the college to ultimately become thecommunity’s resource.
“Community is our middle name, andLane Community College is here to servethe entire college district, which is the sizeof the state of Connecticut,” she added. “…If there is some way that we can help you,call us up and ask us.”
For more information about theCommunity Education Program andOutward Ventures, call 541-997-8444, goonline to lanecc.edu/florence or stop by theLCC Florence Center at 3149 Oak St. ❖
SIUSLAW NEWS • THE GOOD LIFE 2014 7
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SIUSLAW NEWS • THE GOOD LIFE 20148
• Boys & Girls Club of Western Lane County1601 15th St., 541-902-0304
• City of Florence250 Highway 101, 541-997-3436
• Florence Area Chamber of Commerce290 Highway 101, 541-997-3128
• Florence Area Coordinating Council541-902-8308
• Florence Area Humane Society2840 Rhododendron Drive, 541-997-4277
• Florence Events Center715 Quince St., 541-997-1994
• Florence Food Share2190 Spruce St., 541-997-9110
• Friends of Florence Cancer VanWillamette Valley Cancer Institute, 541-683-5001
• Front Desk Florence541-902-5122
• Habitat for Humanity2016 Highway 101, 541-902-9227
• Helping Hands Coalition1339 Rhododendron Drive, 541-833-8550
• Meals on Wheels Program1570 Kingwood St., 541-997-5673
• Memory Loss Respite Center1570 Kingwood St., 541-902-8539
• Oregon State Police Auxiliary541-997-7156
• Peace Harbor Home Health & Hospice2230 Kingwood St., 541-997-3418
• Senior Connections3180 Highway 101, 541-902-9430 ext. 7831
• Senior Center1570 Kingwood St., 541-997-8844
• Siuslaw Outreach Services1576 12th St., 541-997-2816
• Siuslaw Pioneer Museum278 Maple St., 541-997-7884
• Siuslaw Public Library1460 Ninth St., 541-997-3132
• Siuslaw School District2111 Oak St., 541-997-2651
• Siuslaw Valley Fire & Rescue2625 Highway 101, 541-997-3212
VolunteerOpportunities
FFLLOORREENNCCEE AARREEAA DDIIRREECCTTOORRYY
Health & Nutrition• Better Breathers Club
Peace Harbor Medical Center, Conference Room C, fourthWednesday, 2 p.m., 541-902-6300 ext. 5635
• Disabled American Veterans Vans to Medical CentersFlorence Elks Lodge, 6 a.m., Mondays through Fridays
• Senior Meals ProgramSenior Center, 11:30 a.m., Monday, Wednesday, Friday, $3 suggested donation with reservations, 541-997-5673
• Singing Pines CaféSenior Center, 11:30 a.m., Tuesday & Thursday, $5 with reservations, 541-997-8844
Music• Community Chorus
Cross Road Church, 10th & Maple streets, 7-8:30 p.m., every Monday, Laura Merz, 541-902-8567
• Community Concert BandSiuslaw High School music room, 6:30 p.m., every Monday, Gail Nichols, 541-999-6907
• Yachats Big BandYachats Commons, 7-9 p.m., first Thursday, $5 donation with children 12 and younger free, 541-547-4308
Social Activities• Band of Brothers Koffee Klub
Florence Elks Lodge, 11:30 a.m., every Monday, former military members of all services invited, 541-997-1677
• BingoSenior Center, 1-4 p.m., every Thursday, 541-997-3945
• Central Coast Miniatures ClubSiuslaw Public Library, 4 p.m., first Thursday
• Florence Duplicate BridgeSt. Andrews Episcopal Church, 12:30 p.m., every Tuesdayand Thursday, 541-997-2677
• Line DancingSenior Center, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Tuesdays, Pat Wheeler, 541-999-0797
• Pinochle GroupLaurelwood Community Center, 1137 Maple St., every Thursday, 9:30 a.m., walk-ins welcome
• Professionally Retired Ornery Single Seniors (PROSS)Senior Center, 5:30 p.m. social, third Thursdays, 60 yearsof age and older, 541-991-6430
• Senior Party BridgeSenior Center, 12:30-4 p.m., every Wednesday and Friday,541-997-8827
Get Acquainted
SIUSLAW NEWS • THE GOOD LIFE 2014 9
Alzheimer’s Care Unit• Elderberry Square
3321 Oak St., Florence, 541-902-8821• Regency Florence Rehabilitation Center
1951 21st St., Florence, 541-997-8436• Spruce Point Memory Care Unit
375 Ninth St., Florence, 541-902-7945Assisted Living• Elderberry Square
3321 Oak St., Florence, 541-902-8821• Enchanted Gardens
1610 22nd St., Florence, 541-997-0209• Inland Point
2290 Inland Drive, North Bend, 541-756-0176• Spruce Point
375 Ninth St., Florence, 541-997-6111In-Home Care• Peace Harbor Home Health & Hospice
2230 Kingwood St., Florence, 541-997-3418• New Horizons
398 Highway 101, Florence, 541-997-8115Nursing Facilities — Long-term Care• Peace Harbor Rehabilitation & Wellness Center
685 Highway 101, Florence, 541-902-1669• Regency Florence Rehabilitation Center
1951 21st St., Florence, 541-997-8436
Care Facilities
• Florentine Estates182 Florentine Ave., Florence, 541-997-1762
• Greentrees Village, Inc.1600 Rhododendron Drive, Florence, 541-997-8674
• Inland Point Senior Estates2290 Inland Drive, North Bend, 541-756-0176
• Munsel Park Apartments2021 12th St., Florence, 541-997-2661
• Sea Aire Assisted Living1882 Highway 101, Yachats, 541-547-5500
• Shorewood Retirement Residences1451 Spruce St., Florence, 541-997-8202
• Spruce Point Assisted Living Community375 Ninth St., Florence, 541-997-6111
• Tanglewood Apartments1956 16th St., Florence, 541-997-8817
• Terpening Terrace50 Ruby Ave., Eugene, 541-689-0619
• Windsong Apartments1365 Spruce St., Florence, 541-997-5398
• Ya-Po-Ah Terrace Retirement Apartments350 Pearl St., Eugene, 541-342-5329
Senior LivingAssistance Services• Front Desk Florence
541-902-5122• Siuslaw Outreach Services
1576 12th St., 541-997-2816Errand Services• Heavenly Helpers LLC
1720 34th Place, 541-991-7051Funeral Home, Crematory, Cemetery• Burns’s Riverside Chapel/Florence Funeral Home
2765 Kingwood St., 541-997-3416Home Health & Hospice• Peace Harbor Home Health & Hospice
2230 Kingwood St., 541-997-3418Insurance• Oregon Health Plan
800-359-9517 • Medicare (general)
800-633-4227Legal Services• Lane County
800-575-9283Medical• Lower Umpqua Hospital
600 Ranch Road, Reedsport, 541-271-2171• Peace Harbor Medical Center Primary Care
400 Ninth St., 541-997-8412 541-997-7134Medical Equipment• All-Med Medical Supplies & Equipment
1845 Highway 126, 541-997-9600Respite Care• Memory Loss Respite Center of Florence
1570 Kingwood St., 541-902-8539Senior & Disabled Services• Florence Office
3180 Highway 101, 541-902-9430Senior Center
1570 Kingwood St., 541-997-8844Senior Connections• Elder Help/Senior Companions
3180 Highway 101, 541-902-9430 ext. 7831Social Security Administration
800-772-1213Tax Aid (AARP)
888-687-2277Transportation• Rhody Express
541-902-2067Veteran Services• Roseburg — 800-549-8387• Portland — 800-949-1004
Senior Services
SIUSLAW NEWS • THE GOOD LIFE 201410
It was love at first sight — through a pair ofbinoculars — forMargaret Thorngate, a
then 19-year-old member of the4th Interceptor Command whospotted a young soldier joggingon the beach while she sat with agroup of girls on a sand dune surveying the Southern Californiacoast for signs of aircraft duringWorld War II.
“They were supposed to be looking forJapanese vessels, but as I jogged by I
noticed they were fol-lowing me,” recalledFred Thorngate, who wasstationed in Carpinteria,Calif., as a field artilleryofficer in early 1943.
The next day, the 23-year-old jogged passedthe girls again and decid-ed to introduce himself.He and Margaret datedfor a couple months afterthat until his military unitwas transferred awayfrom the coast and even-tually overseas.
They kept in touch bymail over the next twoyears. Once the warended in Europe, Fred’s
unit returned to the United States in July1945, and he and Margaret were marriedsoon after in her hometown of Carpinteria.
TheThorngates,now in their
90s, are one of the oldest — if not the old-est — veteran couples in the Florence area.They have been married for 68 years,spending the past 28 years at their home inGreentrees.
“I don’t know how much longer we haveto be together. Could be a year, could be10,” said Fred, who turned 94 years old lastDecember. “My family members are longlivers. My ancestors lived to be 100 ormore, so maybe I still have a few yearsleft.”
The year 2013, however, was especiallytough on the Thorngates, who lost boththeir sons within months of each other tocancer.
“I lost two boys almost simultaneouslyfrom the same thing I lived with — prostatecancer. They both had it, but they died fromit and I’m still here. Why? I don’t know.God knows, I guess,” Fred said with tearsforming in his eyes.
His wife Margaret, 90, also suffered astroke and, after receiving treatment at thelocal medical center, was taken to RegencyFlorence for recovery. Their daughter, wholives in Medford, Ore., returned to helptake care of her.
Needless to say, Fred decided not to cel-ebrate his birthday that December. He saidonce you reach his age, birthdays are “justanother day.”
Fred and Margaret Thorngate
PHOTO BY TERRI PENNINGTON
Thorngates,circa 1943
BY RYAN CRONK
Siuslaw News
A love that lastsThrough thick and
thin, Florence couplestays united.
SIUSLAW NEWS • THE GOOD LIFE 2014 11
Originally from suburban Philadelphia,Fred attended college for civil engineering,but after the war he wanted a differentoccupation. His father gave him a piece ofland on the coast of Maryland, where hebuilt and operated a bar and restaurant formany years.
Afterward, the Thorngates moved backto the West Coast to raise their three chil-dren in Carpinteria before retiring toFlorence in 1985. They have four grand-children and six great-grandchildren.
“We thought we would give this town a
try, and here we are 28 years later. We justlove Florence,” said Margaret, who formedthe local Coastal Women Veterans group.
In their retirement, the couple becamemembers of St. Andrews Episcopal Church,where Fred helped build a new bell towerand Sunday school rooms. They said thechurch at the time could not afford to dothe additions by itself.
“They couldn’t get money to do it. Sowhen Fred saw (the building unfinished),he did almost the whole thing himself,”Margaret explained. “He would get people
to help him from time to time, but he fin-ished the church.”
The Thorngates are also avid travelers,though not so much in recent years. Theyhave been around the world twice, visitingmore than 65 countries and every continentexcept Antarctica.
“We had a lot of good times,” Margaretsaid with a smile. ❖
This story was originally published Dec. 11, 2013, in the Siuslaw News.
Fred Thorngate passed away June 14, 2014, at age 94.
3149 Oak Street, phone (541) 997-8444www.lanecc.edu/florence
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SIUSLAW NEWS • THE GOOD LIFE 201412
Nearly 70 descendants of the Richards familyreunited in Florence thisyear to share stories from their her-
itage that dates back 65 years when patriarchFrank Richards established one of the town’s
first garbagehauling serv-ices.
They came from around the country —California, Colorado, Florida, Nevada,Ohio, Oregon, Utah, Washington, WestVirginia and Wyoming — for the reunionlast July. The weeklong gathering, plannedseveral years in advance, was the group’s
first get-together in Florenceand the first reunion ever forthe more than 30 children pres-ent. The last time the familyreunited was 20 years ago inUtah, before any of the young-sters were born.
This trip gave the children achance to learn about the fami-ly’s history.
In 1949, Frank Richardscould no longer support his
growing family, which included his wifeMargrett and children Beverly, Kathrin,Tom and Cherie, as a part-time professionalmusician. He began to look for work else-where and found that Florence neededanother garbage hauling service.
The Richards family gathers at ICM restaurant for dinner. Earlier in the week, some members went clam digging (below).
Richards familyreunites to
share Florenceheritage.
A FAMILY AFFAIR
COURTESY PHOTO
BY RYAN CRONK
Siuslaw News
SIUSLAW NEWS PHOTO
SIUSLAW NEWS • THE GOOD LIFE 2014 13
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He knew how to drive a truck and thuscreated Frank’s Sanitary Service, servingthe Florence community for the next 35years. During that time, another child wasborn, Julie, to complete the family.
All five of the children graduated fromthe Siuslaw school system.
Frank and Margrett were involved inmany of the town’s activities. He served onthe Chamber of Commerce, the BoostersClub and in local theater, while she was amember of the area’s garden club. Frankwas also a founding member of the Rhodo
Dunes golf course, now known as OceanDunes Golf Links.
The couple later moved to St. George,Utah, to live out the rest of their years.Their descendents now total 94, and thoughnone of them currently live in the Florencearea, they all still share this connection.
Several activities were planned through-out the week for the family members,whose ages ranged from 7 months to 84years old. Some went sand sledding atCleawox Lake and clam digging in theriver, while others visited such historical
sites as the Heceta Head Lighthouse andCape Perpetua. The group was hard tomiss, especially when they all gathered atICM restaurant in Old Town for dinner onenight, many of them wearing blue shirtsthat read “Richards Family Reunion 2014.”
The highlight of the trip, according toKathrin, was when the family convened atPacific Sunset Cemetery, just east of town,to honor her brother Tom, who died of can-cer in 1994 and is buried at the cemetery.
“Everybody was there, and it was veryhappy. We all loved him,” she said. ❖
War. Corruption. Injustice.His paintings often convey a visual languagethat evokes political
contemplation through abstracttextures and representationalimagery, but Stuart Hendersonrefrains from calling his artworkcontemporary.
“It’s more therapy than anything else,” he said.
Though probably most known for hishand-painted signs, some of which stilladorn buildings throughout Old Town,Henderson has received much attentionlately for his ethereal paintings that depictsocial ills.
The 75-year-old artist is modest abouthis work. He calls painting a “liberatingprocess,” a way for him to express histhoughts on progressive issues.
“For a long time I was, and still am, pret-ty upset about the way our country isgoing,” he said. “I’m finding that as I paintI touch those bases, and it comes out withsome sort of relationship to what I’ve been
thinking about.”Originally from Tacoma, Wash.,
Henderson earned a bachelor’s degree insociology at the University of Washingtonbefore moving to New York City to attendCooper Union, where he not only met hiswife Joann, but also pursued his passion forart.
“I knew in my heart painting is what I
wanted to do, but I felt like I had to get adegree — family pressure — so I got adegree in sociology,” he explained.
The couple eventually relocated to LosAngeles. For three years Henderson workedas a lithographer, printing work from suchfamous contemporary artists as JasperJohns, Robert Rauschenberg and FrankStella.
In 1971, they moved to Florence andbecame co-owners of the Kyle Building,the town’s first mercantile built in 1901 onBay Street. They live in the top floor of thebuilding, now known as the BridgewaterRestaurant.
“I didn’t think I’d last here, but it seemedlike a good fit for me,” he said.
To make a living, he started HendersonSigns, designing graphics and paintingsigns for the community. Coincidentally,one of his first jobs while in junior highwas painting signs for local businesses.
“So I had that in my genes apparently,”he said with a laugh.
Through his business over the years,Henderson has left his mark on the town —literally. In Old Town, he painted the Bill’sAuto sign, which currently hangs on theeast side of Siuslaw River Coffee Roasters,and the Bridgewater Restaurant sign.
SIUSLAW NEWS • THE GOOD LIFE 201414
Stuart Henderson shines light on
progressive painting.
“Mourning in America”
Henderson arrangesleaves for inspirationfor his next paintingin his studio area.
tthhrroouugghh
LLIIFFEEAARRTT
BY RYAN CRONK
Siuslaw News
SIU
SLAW
NEW
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SIUSLAW NEWS • THE GOOD LIFE 2014 15
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He and his son Nick also created thelogos for the now-defunct Chowder Bluesand Brews event for more than 12 years inaddition to the Florence Events Center logoand many other signs for individual busi-nesses. Henderson left the sign business in2000, but he never stopped painting.
His methods are unconventional, usingsuch materials as masonite — a hardboardwood surface — and textiles that includesand and powder pigment in addition totranslucent paint, acrylics, latex and oil. Afew of his paintings have taken up to six
months to reach fruition.“Painting is a way to get out of the world
and leave a bit of a mark. If you havesomething to say, do it with whatever kindof means you have at your disposal,” hesaid. “It seemed like painting was the onething I could do better than anything else.”
The last few years have been a relearningexperience for Henderson.
He struggles with remembering certainpainting techniques since having a strokefour years ago that also partially impactedhis speech as well as his right arm and
hand, which lost some nerve endings.“It was pretty much unexpected,” he
said. “Makes you wonder how the brainworks.”
Though he can no longer paint signs likehe used to, Henderson said the stroke “did-n’t seem to affect painting” in his studio.
Henderson’s paintings range fromabstract to landscapes to sociopoliticalcommentary. His paintings have been dis-played at Gallery 903 in Portland andKenneth B Gallery, a new contemporaryart gallery in Florence. ❖
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