Sarah (Blanche) Ferris was born in Willcox, Arizona on April 27, 1935. She was the youngest of seven children born to Alma (Brown) and Joseph Wootan. Her siblings were Arthur, Harold and Roy (deceased) and she is survived by Dora, David and Gerald. Blanche married Delle Ferris on February 9, 1952
Very shortly after receiving news of the passing of LRG member, GIST patient and wonderful friend, Donnie Ray Chadrick on December 5, 2008, the LRG received a letter from his ex-wife and dear friend, Janel Graham. We feel it would be a great disservice to all of Donnie’s friends in the GIST community not to share Janel’s message.
Thomas O. Gjertson, 60, of Fort Atkinson, WI passed away Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008, at his home. Tom was born on Jan. 10, 1948, in Stoughton, WI. He had been employed at Jones Dairy farm for many years. Tom enjoyed watching NASCAR and working on his cars.
Mrs. Ellen Marie Sarko Heppler, 47, of Jamestown, North Carolina, died on December 7, 2008 at her residence. A native of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, she was born on July 9, 1960, a daughter of James A. and Betty Mash Sarko. Ellen’s family and home were her first love.
Sharla Bea Ellingham, age 76, of Polson, Mont., passed away at her home Friday, Oct. 17, 2008, from natural causes. She was born Oct. 15, 1932, in Hoopston, Ill., to Charlie and Olive (Sloan) Holmes. She attended schools there and graduated from Hoopston High School.
David E. Paulsen, 57, of Lakewood, Colo., passed away October 8, 2008 after a long and courageous battle with GIST.
Dean Francis Wilhelm, 62, of Alexandria, Va., passed away Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2008, from complications of GIST. Mr. Wilhelm served for nearly 25 years as General Manager of Holiday Inn Capitol in Washington, D.C., the seventh largest Holiday Inn in the United States.
Linda Regar Martinez, 54, passed away peacefully with her family at her side after a long, courageous battle with cancer on Aug. 4, 2008. She was born on Oct. 31, 1953, in Phoenix, Arizona.
Keeley Bihr of Albuquerque, New Mexico died on July 26, 2008 after a courageous two-year battle against GIST. He was thirty-six years old. The following text is from a talk given by his close friend, Scott Snyder, of Boise, ID at a Life Celebration on July 31. It is a memorable description of who Keeley was and how he lived his life.
L. Rose Ellis, 82, of Crystal River FL, formerly of Sudbury for 30 yrs, died July 25 in No. Andover. Recently widowed in March by the death of McGhee "Mac", husband of almost 66 years
