This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: marysday Surnames: Saxon, Bishop, Lightner, Antonio, Lake, Goodwin, Nickles, Freitas, Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.oregon.counties.lincoln/5190/mb.ashx Message Board Post: The News Times Newport, OR 97365 Posted: Friday, Jan 8th, 2010 DONNA CORREEN SAXON Donna Correen Saxon, 79, of Newport, Ore. died from complications of a stroke on Dec. 31, 2009 at her home. She was born Oct. 4, 1930 to Melvin and Correen Bishop in Wichita, Kan. She moved to Eugene with her family in 1947, where she met Robert Saxon. They were married Dec. 17, 1948 in Stevenson, Wash. and later had two daughters, Sheri and Debi. After several moves due to Robert's job as an ironworker, they settled in Newport in 1956. In 1959, she and her husband began "Saxon's," a wholesale import company selling seashells across the United States and in numerous other countries. Together, they built the business into one of the largest and most successful seashell import companies in the United States, which still operates today. Over the years, travel for their business took them to many countries, and she loved exploring different cultures. In later years, they limited their travels to Mazatlan, Mexico, where they enjoyed their stays at the Hotel Playa Mazatlan every April and November of each year. She loved gardening in her yard and feeding the squirrels and birds from her deck each day. Family was her first love, and she was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was preceded in death by her parents, Melvin and Correen Bishop; brother, Melvin "Skip" Bishop; and grandson, Nicholas Lightner. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Robert Saxon; daughters, Sheri (Bill) Lightner of Toledo, and Debi (Ben) Antonio of Newport; brother, Larry (Diane) Bishop of Bellevue, Wash.; sister-in-law Jeanette Bishop of Eugene; grandchildren, Cory Lake of Newport, Justin Lake of Newport, Alex Lake of Sisters, Kellyn (Garrett) Goodwin of Corvallis, Allyse Nickles of Portland, Donna Freitas of Arizona, Deann Antonio of Portland, Josh Lightner of California and Nathan Lightner of Newport; five great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. No memorial service is planned. Bateman Funeral Home in Newport is handling arrangements. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.