The Applegater

2 Summer 2022 Applegater OBITUARIES Taren Slade Dempsey December 11, 1995 – October 13, 2019 ■ FARM TOUR Continued from page 1 Malcolm Douglas Towns January 3, 1944 – February 11, 2022 Taren Slade Dempsey went to be with his mother in heaven on Sunday, October 13, 2019. Taren cherished his family and friends. But nothing compared to his devotion and proudness for his son, Elias Slade. He spent his time fishing with, playing with, and loving Elias at every opportunity. H i s r e m a i n i n g f a m i l y included his widow, Aliesha Franks; L. Craig Dempsey (father); and Tiffany Dempsey (stepmother), who resided with him in Ruch. Siblings Lauren Thompson, LillyAnn Espinoza (niece), Lynzi Kidwell (two nephews, JH and Jaxon; and one niece, Charlotte), Christian Anderson, and Austin Anderson all will carry his heart Malcolm was born in Alameda, California, on January 3, 1944. He and his older brother, Duncan, spent the days of their youth in the East Bay riding bikes, playing ball, and getting into their fair share of trouble . . . so I am told. Shortly after his time in the Army, Malcolm was hired b y t h e C i t y o f Hayward where he began his 33-year career with the fire service, retiring from the City of Burlingame in 1997 as their fire chief. Moving to southern Oregon was his next adventure. Malcolm had never lived anywhere but the San Francisco Bay Area. He and I jumped right in, working to figure out this new life of ours. e following years would find us committed to doing volunteer work, making new friends, pursuing our interests, traveling, and continuing to grow roots in the Applegate Valley. We worked hard and had a lot of fun. Malcolm was a generous friend and neighbor. He cherished his family of four and vibrant memories for all years to come. Grandparents Carol and Jesse Swagerty, Dale and Bobbi Dempsey, Gill and Sonya Turner, and Pam Meek will forever miss their loving grandson. Taren's soul was destined for Oregon. He loved the Applegate and Illinois valleys. A farmer and science enthusiast for all things in nature and learning, he lived and embraced his life fully. Fishing, kayaking, camping—and oh! the music!—with all his friends was the open book he thrived on with more passion than most will ever live. He loved his friends without doubt and gave without pause. He forever will be missed. generations and is loved beyond measure by each one of them. Our time together spanned 35 years. He made so many of my dreams come true. Malcolm passed away in Medford, Oregon, on Febr uar y 11, 2022. I, with his children Shelli Kravitz, Mark Towns, and Michael Towns, have the utmost gratitude for the care he received from the caregiving and medical professionals with Roxy Ann Memory Care and Providence Hospice of Medford. Our family will gather sometime in the coming months. e memories and stories we share then and through the years to follow will undoubtedly make us smile and continue to celebrate the life that Malcolm lived and his place in our hearts. If you are so inclined, memorial contributions in Malcolm's memory may be made to Wildlife Images at wildlifeimages.org or Rogue Valley Habitat for Humanity at roguevalleyhabitat.org. Lynn Towns lynntowns1@gmail.com T h e W i l l i a m s F i r e Department Support Group has been actively supporting their fire depar tment and community since 2009. ey provide coffee and refreshments f o r m o n t h l y c o m m u n i t y meetings and for several annual events and generate revenue for fire department services with an annual yard sale. On March 29, the Support G r o u p a s s i s t e d t h e Fi r e Department with the Vietnam Veterans potluck barbecue luncheon, supplying potluck dishes, helping with setup, and serving the meal. e veterans really enjoyed the event, which enabled them to reach out to and get acquainted with other local veterans. American Legion Post 50, which currently has 48 members, and the new Ladies Auxiliary branch, with 25 members, provided the Color Guard ceremony. Singer- songwriter Windsong Martin provided music on her guitar. e Ceremony of Life service for fallen firefighters Wes and Sue Nevotti was recently held at the Williams fire station, attended by their family and community members. The service began with a procession of fire trucks and community vehicles representing Williams Rural Fire Protection District (WRFPD), Josephine County Sheriff's Department, Rural Metro Fire Department, AMR A m b u l a n c e , I l l i n o i s Va l l e y F i r e Department, and Applegate Valley Fire Department. e very moving memorial service included a flag and bell ceremony by the Oregon Fire Service Honor Guard and ended with "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes, followed by the sounding of the old fire-station alarm, which moved many to tears. e Support Group assisted with the service arrangements and served coffee and refreshments. e Support Group assists with the community coffee on the first Wednesday of each month at 10 am at the fire station. At these gatherings, the community gets an update by Fire Chief Rick Vetter and information from guest speakers about various programs and other things happening in the community. The community coffee is a great way for neighbors to get to know one another, and all are welcome to attend. Looking ahead, the support group will be assisting firefighters with the Firefighter Awards Banquet in May, the community yard sale in June, the Fourth of July parade in downtown Williams, the WRFPD Open House in September, the annual Halloween Trunk-or-Treat Night, the WRFPD Christmas party, and the appearance of Santa at the fire station on December 18, as well as the ongoing renovation of the old firehouse, plus T-shirt and sweatshirt sales. e 2022 Community Yard Sale, with proceeds going to the fire department, takes place on June 18-19 in the field Williams Fire Department Support Group hosts community yard sale June 18-19 BY KAREN ROGERS Volunteer Firefighter KC Welch and Community Relations Officer Rosie Faith serve at the veterans luncheon. Chief Rick Vetter speaks at the memorial service for Wes and Sue Nevotti. behind the fire station at 211 East Fork Road. e Support Group depends on the community for donations of gently used items for their sales. Additionally, folks can rent a 12- by 12-foot space for $25 for the two days to sell their own stuff and keep their profits. e fenced field is locked at night, with security provided. is two- day event is a great way for folks to get acquainted with the Support Group and support the Williams Fire Department. Having Santa and Mrs. Claus at the fire house each December is a fun event, with presents for all the children who attend, carolers with festive music, and refreshments by the support group. is year Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at the fire station on December 18. W R F P D d e p e n d s o n t h e l o c a l community for support. e passage of the 2020 levy allows the fire department to maintain its present level of service to the community. e fire department, board, and Support Group are very thankful to local businesses and groups who have graciously donated to the WRFPD. e Support Group is looking for new members to support the events noted above and to attend the monthly planning meetings, at 6 pm the second Monday of each month at the Williams Fire Station, 211 East Fork Road. If you would like more information about upcoming events, or if you'd like to join the Support Group, contact Claudia Pratt, president, at 541-218-4306, or Karen Rogers, secretary, at krogers1952@ gmail.com. Karen Rogers krogers1952@gmail.com and pollinator plants. They have over 350 varieties of hardy plants, all propagated and grown on site. Event brochures with a map of the participating locations are available throughout the valley, and a digital version is available to download at roguevalleyfarmtour.com. ere is much to see and do on the day of the event, and the Farm Tour brochure offers a few tips to make the most of the day. Please leave pets at home. Bring a water bottle and cooler to store farm- fresh goods. Wear shoes you don't mind getting dirty. GPS and cell phone reception are spotty in some locations, so check your directions before you head out. Jessica Bullard jess.northwest@gmail.com Whistling Duck Farm Store (top photo) and the English Lavender Farm (bottom photo) are among the farms open to visitors on July 17 for the Rogue Valley Farm Tour. Happy Father's Day

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