Photo of Willard Kouva Van Horn

Here is a photo of Willard with Aunt Esther and Uncle Floyd. I don't know who is leaning on the car. Willard looks like he is around 15 in this picture. Esther's mother and Willard's father were sister and brother. They adopted him when he was orphaned at age 7. As an adult he remained closer to his older brothers and sister than to them.

VanHorn, Willard B.	View/Sign Guest Book
Willard Burnhardt Van Horn, 71, of Longview died Feb. 26, 2008. He was born Nov. 4, 1936, in Woodson, Ore., and was adopted by Floyd and Esther Van Horn. He moved to the local area 60 years ago, graduating from Kelso High School in 1955. Mr. Van Horn was an upholster and small appliance repairman for Goodwill Industries for more than 35 years. He enjoyed attending community fairs, estate sales, youth softball games and family gatherings. He enjoyed trips to the beach and cheering for his friends in Special Olympics. He was quiet, kind and easy-going. He loved animals. He was a member of Joint Heirs Christian Fellowship, a travel group, the grange hall and the YMCA Club. He is survived by the love of his life and companion of 27 years, Madalene Keener of Longview; three brothers, T. Art Kouva, Everett Kouva and R. Jack Kouva, all of Woodburn, Ore.; a sister, Evelyn Kouva of San Angelo, Texas; and many nieces, nephews and close friends. Mr. Van Horn was preceded in death by his birth parents, John and Ina Kouva; two sisters, Ellen and Easter Kouva; and a brother, John R. Kouva. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Columbia Funeral Service with the Rev. Bill Wells officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the Community Home Health & Hospice, the American Cancer Society and Special Olympics. Please sign the guest book at www.tdn.com/obits.
Published in The Daily News on 2/29/2008.

Flu, Willard's death

I was in the hospital for the flu so haven't felt like adding posts to this blog. Since I have diabetes, I have to be really careful if I get sick because it is easier to get dehydrated and my blood sugar goes nuts. I felt so ill that I told DeWayne that the next time I died (my heart stopped three times in January 2006 in the ambulance on the way to the hospital in Portland) to forget about resucitating me. I have since retracted that statement!

My cousin Willard Kouva Van Horn died on February 26, 2008 in Longview, WA of cancer. He is buried at the Murray Hill Cemetery in Clatskanie, Oregon next to Esther and Floyd who adopted him when he was 7 after he was orphaned. His father and my grandmother Kouva were brother and sister. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

After the Storm

The deer have lost a lot of their natural habitat in Surf Pines and we see them eating the grass in people's lawns.


We still have woods behind our house which is where I took this photo, but we need to remove about 20 trees. No clear cutting I hope. We haven't signed up anyone yet to do the job. I hope I can convince DeWayne to let someone else besides himself do the work.



We lost a few trees at the bus stop and the neighbor has hauled in a bunch of sand.


He is planning something--something attractive?


Nice landscaping I hope.


The view out our dining room window has really changed.


No forest left between us and the road up on Manion Drive. We don't have any privacy on our deck anymore. DeWayne doesn't want to spend any money on a privacy fence either. He says it would just blow over when we get the next big storm.


The constant noise of heavy equipment is tiring. Crunching off the trees at the low stump level, lifting and piling them in HUGE towering piles, grinding and chipping them and running the chips up a conveyor belt into big long trucks and hauling logs and chips away. Then what? I guess there will be three or four areas each an acre big to sell. Then we will look at someone's back yards. Maybe THEY will put up fences.


This is one of the noisy machines. I don't know what it is called.
And if the logging isn't enough I have been listening to roof repair all week. The "storm of the century" did a job on our roof.


We lost so many shingles and had some areas of leaking so had to replace the whole roof. It has been thumping, banging, hammering, tapping and the compressor that runs the nail guns going off and on.


Thankfully, the roofers are done and at least the noise and mess overhead are over.

On a positive note, tonight we had the most beautiful, clear night to view the lunar eclipse. It amazes me how bright the sky is here and how many stars we can see after seeing the sky overpowered by all the lights in Las Vegas. It was 41 degrees so I didn't stay out very long, but the beautiful view of the moon and the sky is imprinted in my mind.

Photos you can add to your collection

My sister, Marcia, feeds these deer regularly. They come to the front door to be fed. She has named one "Hoofy."

This is the 100 year old wreck of the schooner Peter Iredale on the beach in Ft. Stevens State Park, Warrenton, OR.


Snowfall on Pine Ridge Court


Sunset at Sunset Beach near our house.


View South from Neah-Kah-Nie Mt. on Hwy 101.


The "octopus" tree at Cape Meares State Park near Tillamook Oregon. Legend says Native Americans formed this Sitka spruce tree into this shape so that it would be a burial tree that would hold the canoe with the deceased inside. It is over 2000 years old.


A view of the ocean from Cape Meares State Park.


Rhiannon scratching behind both donkey ears at once.


Kids playing in a stream at Cannon Beach, OR.


The face of an innocent baby angel.


The 4.1 mile long Astoria-Megler bridge across the Columbia River which was built in 1966. Before it was built I loved riding the ferry across to the Rosburg-Greys River area where my Hanhi grandparents homesteaded in the early 1900's.

President Hinckley not Kimball

OK -- Maybe I did have some brain damage when I almost died two years ago. How many years did I lose if I think Pres. Kimball just died instead of Pres. Hinckley! Or maybe it is Oldtimer's disease.

Bored, Bored, Bored!!!

My life has a sameness to it. If I am home it follows a regular routine (unless we have a windstorm/typhoon). Even last week when I wasn't home was the same---same drive down to Lincoln City, same view all day long (while Dewayne was at work) from the window at the same motel. Same breakfasts there as before. Same dental chair in same office. Same room in same hostel at same hospital in Portland. Same doctor's office. Same restaurants and fast food places.
OK some of it was different. I chewed and ate my bottom lip when it was numb and made a big sore on it. I went to one doctor (out of the two doctors) who was new. It was the cardiologist who said to just live with the atrial fibrillation. The other doctor was my eye doctor who did a pressure check for the glaucoma. And we went to the Lazyboy store and I ordered a new swivel rocker recliner since my old one is well--old and sinks down too low for me to get out of it. We had the same drive home. I couldn't sleep in any of the hotel beds so sat up all night and had hugely swollen feet and ankles and was so tired I didn't wake up for church on Sunday and no one woke me up so I missed church.
Tonight I got an email from the Relief Society telling me that President Kimball had died at the age of 97. Sad for him to leave us, but he certainly made the best use of his days on Earth and instead of moaning about my boredom I should look to him as an example of how the make the best use of my time and leave something memorable on the Earth for my descendants. We members will miss him and his kind leadership and we will enjoy his accomplishments---all the new temples, the Family Proclamation, his inspiring talks at General Conference and the growth of the Church from 9 to 13 million members to name a few.

If the music that goes with the Dentyne Ice commercial has caught your attention go to http://www.myspace.com/bensbrothermusic and listen to the song "Stuttering."

The commercial is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiW4Mqwv"

CHURCH TO HOME VIA THE BEACH

Today we decided to drive part of the way home on the beach. We took the Del Rey Road from Hwy 101 to the entrance to the beach and it was so full of driftwood and debris that I was wondering if we would make it. We got to the beach half way between low and high tides so we had a little bit of beach to drive on. When the tide is high the water is up against the dunes and it wouldn't be possible to drive on it. The beach was littered with driftwood and big tangled piles of Bull Whip Kelp. The big ocean storms tear the kelp loose from the ocean floor. The seagulls looked like they were having a feast on the piles.


They was a fine mist which restricted our view. We can usually see Washington from this point.


Some debris against the dunes.


The winter surf is a lot rougher than during the summer. We have had so much rain and wind and we are actually supposed to get four days with no rain this week starting the day after tomorrow on Tuesday.


I'm guessing it is about five miles from the Del Rey access to the Sunset Beach one which is closest to our house.


Driftwood.


More driftwood.


Somebody's masterpiece.


A small pile of Bull Whip Kelp. This seaweed (algae) grows in beds deep in the ocean. It has a bulb (air bladder) on one end and the "whip" part can be 30 feet or longer. When we were kids we would stretch it out and then swing it around our heads and try to whip each other with it.


Clumps of beach foam.


I can't believe they are bare-footed in the cold January ocean.


A woman sitting on a large piece of driftwood.

Leaving the beach. I took this through the windshield while DeWayne was trying to avoid all the potholes which is why the photo is so blurry.


The road from the beach to our house.


Pretty shore pines along the road. I was surprised this photo turned out so well as we were going about 25 mph and I took it through the open side window. Usually side window photos are blurry. I tried to get the cute little pond in it but I was too slow.


Getting closer to home on Sunset Road.


We turn right (south) at this intersection.


We have four to six fires in Surf Pines going constantly as people try to clean up after the storm.


This area at the school bus stop has had all the trees removed. It is going to cost us $1000 to have a company come in and clean up the downed and broken trees along just one (West) side of the driveway. Luckily, the other side of the driveway is OK. I don't know what it will cost to have the trees removed on the other (East) side of the house. New names (jokingly, not really) for Surf Pines are Surf Pine, Surf Sticks and Surf Flats! We have to pay our $500 deductible to have the new half of the roof replaced and $6000-8000 to have the old part of the roof replaced. It is a good thing DeWayne is working again although it is a lot harder for me during the four days he is gone. We had to get a $100,000 equity loan to cover all the debts we incurred loaning money to kids, etc. But it saves a huge amount of interest each month.

PHOTOS TAKEN FROM A MOVING CAR

Scenery on the way to Lincoln City

We left home about 1 pm and were on the way to Neah-Kah-Nie Mountain when I took this photo. DeWayne calls this the lightning tree.


A closer view of the same stump.


Looking down the coast from Neah-Kah-Nie Mountain. Pirates supposedly buried treasure somewhere on the mountain or beach below and treasure hunters have been looking for it for over 100 years.


Same view with more detail. The town below is Manzanita, an upper-class destination.


Going down the hill into Nehalem. It used to be a fishing and logging town and now it is full of tourist and quilting shops.


A boat on the Nehalem River.


A house boat on the Nehalem. The funny little sign on the side says "No lifeguard on duty"


My step-father, Eino Mickelson, fished on this river as well as on the Columbia River, and in the Bering Sea out of Dillingham, Alaska. We ate a lot of fish when I was growing up--Salmon, Sturgeon and Smelt. I would say "Not fish again!"


This is Wheeler, Oregon taken from the highway near Nehalem. The smoke was someone burning trash, probably trees from the windstorm. We have fires going here constantly. If fact, DeWayne is out burning the needles and branches from a huge pine tree he finished cutting down.


This is the same river, only taken from closer to the mouth, from Wheeler, Oregon. This town is where Eino kept his boat when he was fishing the Nehalem.


The Nehalem River with the coast range behind.


I graduated from here, Neah-Kah-Nie High School, in 1956. I went here for 10th, 11th and 12th grades.


This part on the right is a new addition. Grades 6th through 12th go here now. Hey Michelle, apply for a job here! I think the new gym is in this part. We had PE on the beach once in a while. The football field is to the right.


The library, art room, Biology, Chemistry and Typing all looked out these windows. The school is right across the highway from the ocean and I saw whales spouting as they migrated North in the Spring and South in the Fall. Some whales migrate clear into December.


Hwy 101 runs through the middle of Rockaway Beach, OR and also constitutes its main street. We rented a cabin here when we first moved to the coast in 1946. Rockaway used to have a large heated salt water natatorium right next to the beach where my mother taught me to swim. Condominiums are now located there.


The ocean near Twin Rocks, Oregon, south of Rockaway Beach.


Twin Rocks, OR. My brother Gary had a friend with a boat and one summer his friend took Gary, Jen, and me out into the ocean and really close to the backs of these rocks.





Rough surf at the jetty. No boats were going in and out as the bar was way too rough!


I don't know what the purpose was of this trestle, but it has been there since the 1950's at least. This little section is all that is left.


Two of the three sirens in Barview with the mouth of Tillamook Bay and the Bay Ocean peninsula behind.


Downtown Garibaldi, the little town where I lived from age 7 in second grade until I graduated at age 17 (I skipped the fourth grade).


The house that we lived in--my stepfather, my mother, my brother Kenny, my sister Marcia, my little brother Gary and me. I was nine when Marcia was born and thirteen when Gary was born.


The old sawmill's smoke stack. This is where my step-father worked for many years besides fishing during the different fishing seasons.


Garibaldi from Idaville,(or is it Hobsonville?) partway around Tillamook Bay.


The large building with the gray roof is the old school I went to from 6th through 9th grade.



A view of the "G" (for Garibaldi) on the hill behind town. I climbed it twice during the years we lived there.


You can see the smokestack and how big it is.


The mountain to the left is Cape Meares and the long Bayocean peninsula is what makes Tillamook Bay what it is. Otherwise it would be part of the ocean. In fact, during the 60's or 70's the ocean did break through but men filled the breach with rocks. Bayocean was once a famous resort but the ocean reclaimed it and the buildings fell in. Now it is a park strictly limited to hikers.


This bridge is located on Hwy. 101 on the north end of Tillamook.


One of the two main streets of Tillamok. Both are one-way. Many of the buildings in all of the coastal towns have buildings more than 50 years old. I can't think of a building with more than four stories.


This was known as the Blimp Base during WWII and construction began on it in 1942. It is now an air museum housing several airplanes.


A dairy farm and green pastures to produce that famous Tillamook Cheese. Extra sharp cheddar is my favorite and don't forget those cheese curds!



If you blink you will miss this little town of Hebo south of Tillamook.


Sunset and a beautiful sky that the camera came nowhere close to capturing. We were close to Lincoln City when I took this photo out my passenger window.