Modoc County Record – July 20, 2006 Franklin R. Lew Former Modoc County Assessor, Franklin R. Lew, 87, of Baker City, Oregon, died at St. Elizabeth Health Services July 12, 2006. At his request, there will be no funeral services. A family reunion, and a time to honor Franklin, is being planned for August 2006. Franklin was born November 11, 1918, at Baker, Oregon to Frank and June Brown Lew, a pioneer family. He attended schools in Baker and graduated from Baker High School in 1937. He later took an accounting course from La Salle Extension University and many appraisal courses in Sacramento, CA. In 1939, he went to work for Douglas Aircraft in Los Angeles, CA, and it was there he was called to full time service with the Oregon National Guard. He was a Master Sergeant in Chemical Warfare. He was honorably discharged in September of 1945. He returned to Baker, Oregon to help his father at Lew Bros. Tire Shop, who had started the tire shop with his brothers, years before. After his father passed away, Franklin and Pleas Brown, his cousin, purchased the tire shop. It was during this time that Franklin and Phyllis Miller were going together. They later married on September 20, 1947, at St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Baker, Oregon. Franklin later sold the tire shop to Pleas and moved to Alturas, CA where he worked in the office of Loveness Lumber Co. He then went to work for Modoc County as Auditor-Appraiser and later was appointed Assessor in 1968, and was Assessor until he retired in 1984.As Assessor, Franklin was on the State Timber Advisory Committee, President of the Northern Assessor's Association (consisting of 27 Counties) and the Modoc County precedents case involving possessory interest assessment regarding grazing and public lands at the time the Timber Yield Law came into effect, whereby a timber yield tax was assessed upon timber harvest, and also at the time Proposition 13 was passed by the California voters in June of 1978. He had many friends in the Assessor's Assn. and also the State Board of Equalization. Franklin was a member of St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Alturas. He was a life member of the Elks Lodge B.P.O.E., having joined in Baker and transferred to Alturas Lodge No. 1756. He had the oldest in years membership at the time of his death. In Alturas, he was President of the Alturas Rifle & Pistol Club, a life member of the V.F.W., a life member of the American Legion, and also was active in the Kiwanis. Franklin was also the founding President of the Eastern Oregon Powder River Sportsman Club, and built the membership up to almost 1500. He was Vice President of the Oregon State Sportsman's Council for one year. His hobbies included fishing, shooting, golfing, fly tying, playing bridge and reading. He and Phyllis moved to Klamath Falls, Oregon, for medical reasons, leaving Alturas after living here for 35 years. After two years in Klamath Falls, they decided to move back home to Baker City, after being away for forty years. Franklin was preceded in death by his parents, his brother and sister-in-law, Jack & Jane Lew, his brother Lawrence Lew, and his brother-in-law, H.W. "Bill" Miller. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Phyllis of Baker City; sisters-in-law: Frances Lew of Ceres, CA and Monte Miller of Walla Walla, WA; nephews: Larry Lew and his wife Cheryl of Ceres, CA, Vaughn Lew and his wife Glenda of Ceres, CA, Doug Lew and his wife Sharon of LaQuinta, CA, Rusty Lew and his wife Elizabeth of Hawaii, Rob Miller of Baker City, OR, LaMarr Miller of Walla Walla, WA, Mike Miller and his wife Joan of Walla Walla, WA; nieces: Dixie Ziemer and her husband Larry of Halfway, OR, Mary Kincaid and her husband Jerry of Baker City, OR, Marty Rose and her husband Bud of Kennewick, WA, and Laurie Miller of Walla Walla, WA; cousin Edith Lucas and her husband Walter of Danville, CA; and many cousins in Polson and Missoula, Montana. He especially wanted to mention his old friend since tricycle days, Bill Kirkpatrick. Also an old fishing budding in Alturas, Marvin Kroepelin, and his many Assessor friends, one especially, Josie Johnson. Memorial contributions can be made to the Shriners' Hospital for Crippled Children or to the charity of one's choice, in care of Gray's West & Company Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814. Gilbert Lee Conklin Lifetime Cedarville resident Gilbert Lee Conklin, 79, passed away July 11, 2006 at Surprise Valley Hospital in Cedarville, CA. Gilbert was the last surviving of nine Conklin children, born to John R. Conklin and Rose Lee Henry. Gilbert was born on December 28, 1926, in Cedarville and was reared on the Conklin ranch, south of Cedarville. He grew up during the hardships of the Depression years. A person of good character, he was also a positive influence on his grandchildren as he watched over them while they were growing up. His broad shoulders, tall stature and strength were equal to his goodness to others, his kindness and sincerity. He was conscientious about how things affected people around him. He also kept an eye on young people, to make sure they were safe, whether it was fixing a flat tire on their bike or there to lend them a hand. At one time, he was approached to play a role in the T.V. series Maverick, which he politely declined, when Hollywood scouts were in Surprise Valley and rural towns, looking for the right characters. He was a quiet man, but "with a voice deeper than John Wayne's," recalled his grandson Sean. Mr. Conklin knew the Warner Mountains "like the back of his hand" and had worked in the logging industry in a number of capacities for over 30 years, mostly in Modoc County, operating a skidder or other equipment, building roads, landings and falling trees and later, as the owner/operator of his own logging truck "Conklin Trucking." He had worked for such logging companies as Lindgren, Loveness, Lawson and Laxague, until he was injured in a logging accident some 35 years ago. He overcame the limitations endured from that accident and later served as a preacher for the Surprise Valley Christian Church. He was always strong of faith. He was also very patriotic. Gilbert loved riding motorcycles and did so for most of his life. He was a member of the Gold Wing motorcycle club. He also loved hiking, camping and telling stories. He had a respect for guns, but had given up hunting as a young man, because it was no longer "novel" to him after growing up during the Depression and having to hunt deer to keep the family fed. He still appreciated the beauty and mechanics of guns and taught his grandchildren to respect them. After meeting the love of his life, Margaret Ohm of Alturas, introduced by mutual friends and his brother, the two were later married in Minden, NV on August 31, 1953. They would have shared a loving marriage for 53 years, next month. Gilbert was pleased they were able to celebrate their 50th anniversary together. His grandchildren described their grandfather as having "had so much respect for older people and as a gentle person who helped everybody." Gilbert is survived by his wife, Margaret of Cedarville, CA; his daughter Friede Violante of Paradise, CA; his grandson Sean Power of Indianapolis, IN; his granddaughter Dawn Soriano of San Angelo, TX and grandson Jamie Brinsfield of Paradise, CA. He also has three great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Services for Mr. Conklin were held graveside on Saturday, July 15 at 2 p.m. at the Cedarville Cemetery. Kerr Mortuary was in charge of arrangements. Those who wish may direct memorial contributions to the Surprise Valley Community Hospital, P.O. Box 246, Cedarville, CA 96104. Marie E. Wilson Marie Eleanor Wilson, 81, passed away of natural causes on July 13, 2006, at Warnerview Convalescent Hospital in Alturas, CA. Marie was born in Dunsmuir, CA on January 20, 1925. She married Ken Wilson and was a wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker. The Wilsons moved to Alturas in 1979. Mrs. Wilson loved to go fishing and camping. She played Dominos and dice for hours and loved to win. Mr. Wilson passed away in 1987. She is survived by her son David Fletcher of Alturas, CA; son Marvin Fletcher of Sacramento, CA; daughter Shirley White of Arizona and 11 grandchildren. At Mrs. Wilson's advance request, no services will be held. Olmo memorial service set University of California, Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology, along with the family of Dr. Harold P. Olmo will host a Memorial Service on Sunday, July 30, 2006. The service will be held at the University Club, on Old Davis Road and will begin at 2:00 p.m. Attendees are requested to call 530-754-8368 or email vljohnson@ucdavis.edu for directions to the University Club and so that adequate seating can be provided. Olmo, a world re-known viticulturist was responsible for the development of many new grape varieties. His contributions to industry make him one of the major contributors to wine quality in the state. The service will be held on what was to be the eve of his 97th birthday. ~~~~~~ Billie C. & Anita 'Jean' Reynolds Family Researcher of "The Last Frontier" Modoc County, California --- Our outgoing mail is checked by ZoneAlarm AntiVirus.