The Applegater

2 Spring 2022 Applegater OBITUARIES Gary Conner January 29, 1944 – August 12, 2021 Alan R. Wall, 81, of Williams, Oregon, died October 23, 2021. Alan was born June 4, 1940, in Medford, Oregon, to Carol and El i z a b e t h Wa l l . He moved to Williams as a young child with his family. He attended Williams Elementary S c h o o l a n d Gr a n t s Pa s s H i g h S c h o o l . Alan graduated from GPHS in 1958. He was a member of the marching band and played the sousaphone. During his time at GPHS, he marched in the Portland Rose Festival parade and performed at halftime of a San Francisco 49ers game. After graduation, Alan attended Southern Oregon College, where he obtained a teaching degree in secondary education. He began his teaching career in 1963 at Lincoln Savage and moved to Hidden Valley High School when it opened. He continued teaching until 1985. He then changed his career path to follow his first love—farming—and became a full-time farmer. He raised grain, hay, market hogs, and market lambs until 2018. A l a n w a s v e r y i n v o l v e d i n t h e agricultural community. He was a 4-H leader for over 20 years and a member Gar y Conner lived a full life. He died, after a bout with brain cancer, o n A u g u s t 1 2 , 2021, at the age of 77. Anyone who knew him would want to note that h e d i e d j u s t a month shy of the successful Space X I n s p i r a t i o n 4 orbital mission. This would have been important to Gary. He was a pioneer rocket scientist—many of his engineering innovations formed the building blocks to space travel as we know it today. Besides rocketry, Gary helped form a Silicon Valley start-up responsible for manufacturing high resolution computer graphics. He was also instrumental in aiding Japan and South Korea in setting up their own offshore, high-tech manufacturing. Gary and his wife, Cassie, settled in the Applegate Valley in 1999, where he learned the business of growing grapes from his best friend and next-door neighbor, Dick Troon. The Conners' tempranillo became the source for Troon's classic "Insomnia Port." For Troon, Gary was a major source of support: welding, repairing, bottling, and providing encouragement. Gary ended up crop- sharing with another Applegate vintner, Herb Quady, on one of the last plantings of zinfandel in our valley. In 2015, Gary joined the coaching staff of the St. Mary's School competitive robotics team. He used his engineering background to take the team to a higher Although we have been on hold for almost two years, we still have singers who are longing to sing and be back in our choir again. We have sent out notices to our previous choir members to sign up if they want to begin again with Voices of the Applegate in September. Our board has met, and we have discussed plans to resume rehearsals, the first one to start tentatively on September 13, at the Ruch Fire Station (safe distancing guaranteed) or in the Ruch Library meeting room. Rehearsals will be from 7-8:30 pm. Concerts will be on December 2 in Jacksonville and December 4 in Applegate. If you would like to sing with us, send an email to Beate Foit (beatefoit@ gmail.com) and ask her to put you on our list of singers. Please state if you are a soprano, alto, tenor, or bass (if you know). We plan to stick with the COVID rules, so be prepared to show proof of COVID-19 vaccinations, plus booster shot. Singers will be six feet apart and masks will be required when indoors and while singing. Let us hope that this year we will be with our singing friends again and make wonderful music together. Hope to see you in September! Joan Peterson joanpete5317@gmail.com level, and it soon became one of the top-ranked teams i n t h e c o u n t r y, c o m p e t i n g i n t w o w o r l d c h a m p i o n s h i p s . G a r y r e a l l y c o n n e c t e d w i t h the kids, helping them find simple, elegant solutions to the problems t h e y f a c e d . H e always listened and considered students' input and could take complex technical problems and explain them in simple terms. He took the mystery out of technology and made it logical and straightforward. At the end of the day, the students always felt they had figured it out and solved the problem themselves. He was a true teacher, mentor, and role model for the kids. At the start of the pandemic, Gary put together a 3-D printer and began producing face shields for Rogue Valley hospital personnel. Gary wanted to help people. He was kind and good with kids. He was a longtime volunteer and contributor to Cantrall Buckley Park and a beloved friend to many Applegaters. His wife, Cassie, says "He knew the answer to any question that anybody ever asked him...and he could put it in layman's terms with a wry wit that would always draw a chuckle." Gary leaves behind his two sons, Jon and Jamie, and a stepson, Chris. Cassie Conner, Herb Quady, Kent Dauterman, Tom Carstens, and Walt Keller Alan R. Wall June 4, 1940 – October 23, 2021 of the Young Farmers Club. He served as co- chair for the auction committee for many years. He was a member of the board of directors for Josephine Grower's and then for the Grange C o - o p f o r o v e r 2 0 years. Alan was also a charter member of the Applegate Lions Club. A l a n e n j o y e d w a t c h i n g h i s grandchildren's extra- curricular activities. He put many miles on his vehicles traveling all over the state watching soccer, football, basketball, and track meets. He took great pride in always being there. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, and camping with his family and friends. He is survived by his wife, Margaret; daughters, Kim Wall and Sandra (Jason) Wright; grandchildren, Joseph Guevara, Lindsay Guevara, Alan Rojas, Parker Wright, and Conner Wright; and a great- granddaughter, Chloe Guevara. He was preceded in death by his parents, Carol and Elizabeth Wall, and by his brother, Richard Wall. Donations can be made to the Lewman Family scholarship fund at KeyBank. is information is furnished by the Applegate Lions Club in memory of a beloved charter and community member. Voices of the Applegate 'We are not giving up!' Russell Renzelo Elmore May 11, 1942 – January 21, 2022 R u s s e l l " R u s s " El m o re , a g e 7 9 , o f Ap p l e g a t e , Ore g o n , passed peacefully from this world on January 21, 2022. Born in Medford, Ore g o n , t o C h a r l e s Herbert Elmore and Beryl Alice Brockway, Russ was raised on their Applegate ranch, where he resided his entire life. Russell graduated from Grants Pass High School in 1960 and drove a logging truck for several years. In June of 1962, he married Rebecca E. Fuller. They raised their two sons and one daughter in the Applegate. After 30-plus years, Russell retired from the Grange Co-op Fertilizer Plant. He spent the remainder of his life being surrounded by family and friends. Russell was a volunteer with Applegate Valley Rural Fire District #9 and a member of the following organizations: 4H, Future Farmers of America, Applegate Lions Club (charter member), the Applegate Leo's Club (founder; the club helps with Lions projects), Applegate Valley Historical Society (charter member), NRA (life member), and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Russell is survived by his wife, Rebecca Elmore; his son, Jeff Elmore; his daughter, Rhonda Klug (Kirk); f i v e g r a n d c h i l d r e n and three great-grandchildren; siblings Charles Elmore (Kathy), Truman Elmore ( Ma r l e e t a ) , A l i c i a Ho g a n ( L a r r y ) , Joseph Elmore (Terri), and Barbara Niedermeyer (Bob). Russell was preceded in death by his son, Jessie Elmore, and his brother Michael Elmore (Laverne). e family will hold a private graveside service with a Celebration of Life at the Elmore Ranch on Saturday, June 25, 2022. Instead of flowers, please consider volunteering or donating to your local Lions Club. Gary Conner helps a student solve a knotty engineering problem. Ruch Food Pantry is here to help e Ruch Food Pantry welcomes all new clients. If you're curious or would just like to check us out, come visit! We are open every Monday (except for holidays) from 11:30 am to 1 pm at the backside of Ruch Outdoor Community School at 156 Upper Applegate Road. Please bring photo identification and we will send you home with food when you need it. We can't wait to see you there! Deborah Price, Manager Michelle Shay, Assistant Manager 541-899-6980 541-218-6471 Remember to set your clocks ahead one hour on Sunday, March 13, when daylight saving time begins. Spring forward!

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