Cherie Anne Peterson, 87, of Cave Junction, died March 7, 2023 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center.
Cherie was born in Portland, Ore. on Feb. 17, 1936. She grew up in Portland before moving to Southern California in middle school. In 1951, she met and married the love of her life, Richard Peterson. Together they had four children, Richard, Michael, Laura, and Lisa. After divorcing years later, she married two other times but both marriages were short-lived. She returned to Oregon in 1994, residing on her daughter Laura’s property in Prospect. While there, she volunteered as Treasurer for the Prospect Lioness Club. Cherie later moved to Central Point with her two beloved blue heelers that were her constant companions. She worked as a CNA with Interim Health Care in Medford, Ore. until she was 79, when she moved to Cave Junction to retire on her granddaughter, Jaime’s, property.
Cherie loved word puzzles, Scrabble, Jeopardy, hanging out with her children and grandchildren, telling stories, eating good food and life itself. Cherie was a ray of sunshine and will be missed greatly by all who knew her.
She is survived by her children Richard Peterson of California, Laura Cernick of Oregon, and Lisa Peterson of Missouri; her brother Richard Smith of California (deceased March 13th); grandchildren Richard Peterson, David Yslas, Jaime Szijjarto, Jennifer Peterson, Sean Smith, and Erich Kinstler; great-grandchildren Richard, Abigael, Bryan, Skyler, Kelsy, Destiny, Sophia, Caily, Trinity, Oberon; and great-great-grandchildren Mileena, Kai.
She was proceeded in death by her former spouse, Richard Peterson; son Michael Peterson; and mother Helen Smith.
Remembrances may be made to Illinois Valley High School.
No public services are planned.
Arrangements with Illinois Valley Funeral Directors.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Edwin Gilman “Gilly” Squire made his final bull-headed gesture in the early hours of March 14. While his daughter Becky had sat vigil since the beginning of his hospital stay to ensure that he didn’t shuffle loose his mortal coil alone, he made sure to do so while she was using the restroom, because he did everything on his own damn terms.
He was born Aug. 22, 1926 in Los Angeles, California (though if you accused him of his birthplace he’d call you a liar) to Myrtle Mae “Judy” Kurtz and Bert John Squire. He lived most of his life in Southern Oregon, graduating from Kerby Union High School in 1943. He served in World War II from 1/25/46 – 9/7/1947, where he was stationed in Guam as a guard to Japanese prisoners of war. After the war he settled down outside of the town of Cave Junction, where he would live out the remainder of his days.
Gilly first saw the love of his life, Barbara Marie White, early in the year of 1949, riding past his favorite coffee shop on a white horse. When he laid eyes on her, he told his friend that he was going to marry her someday; a threat he made good on a few months later June 25, 1949. They were happily married nearly 53 years, until Barbara passed Feb. 1, 2002.
Gilly was a lover of music, partial to classics from Johnny Cash and Roger Miller. He lived in plaid shirts, worn out jeans, and did not believe in underwear. He was a fan of vintage Pontiacs, enjoyed splitting wood, and had an unrivaled love affair with chocolate ice cream. He never met a dog he didn’t like, but his trusty sidekick “Sy” was by far his favorite. He loved him so much in fact that in his later years he requested to be buried next to him (it should also be noted that Sy was buried next to the old outhouse). Much to his disappointment, Gilly’s ashes will be spread alongside his sweetheart on their property, and his name memorialized at Eagle Point National Cemetery.
Left to squabble over his vast collection of rocks, random logging photos, and the responsibility (privilege) of feeding his deer/turkeys are his children Becky Burrow (Grants Pass), Cindy Enloe (Exeter, Calif.), Matt Squire (Cave Junction) and Burt Squire (Alturas, Calif.). He also leaves behind his grandchildren Waylon, Gilly, Amanda, Cody, Paul, Malina, Tim, Rachel, Tristan, and Mikki, and his great-grandchildren Nova, Boaz, Austin, Riley, Addison, Elias, Asa and Lance.
Gilly was preceded in death by his beloved daughter Valorie “Bow Bow” Squire (Cave Junction), and his sister Juanita Buell (Grants Pass). The family has no doubt that the two mischief-makers were there to greet him in the afterlife, where they inevitably gave him a hard time about his butt showing through his hospital gown.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Grange Hall in Cave Junction April 15 from 2-4 p.m. A military funeral honors ceremony, to include folding and presenting the United States burial flag and the playing of “Taps” will commence promptly at 2 p.m. Please dress comfortably; Gilly wouldn’t dress up for his own daughter’s wedding and definitely wouldn’t approve of any stuffy bullsh*t at his own party.
Sorry Barbara, we did our best to keep him out of your hair as long as we could. Ball’s back in your court now.
To share a memory or send condolences to his family, please visit: https://www.since1928hull.com/obituaries/Edwin-Gilman-Squire?obId=27513866.