Valley of Life | Online Memorial Blog » Obituaries

NFL Quarterback dead at 36

Richard — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:41:15 +0000

Former Tennessee Titan quarterback Steve McNair was found dead on Saturday, July 4 in his Nashville condo. Alongside him was his mistress, Sahel Kazemi, a 20 year-old waitress. Both suffered fatal gunshot wounds. At this time, the specifics surrounding the murder(s) are unclear. Saturday and Sunday, mourning fans passed by the condo in a steady stream. [...]

Bruce Giunta, Local Oregon Bicycling Icon

admin — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:18:26 +0000

Bruce Giunta of Tualatin passed away last Friday, June 26, 2009 from injuries he receved earler in the month. He was 69 years old. On June 2 he was riding in Vancouver with several others from the Portland Velo cycling club when a stick got caught in his spokes, causing him to fly from his [...]

OxiClean’s Billy Mays dies

Richard — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:45:45 +0000

The man who promoted products like OxiClean and Orange Glo, Billy Mays, died Sunday morning in his Tampa, Florida home. According to local police, Mays was found unresponsive by his wife, Deborah, at 7:45 a.m. Authorities do not suspect foul play, and an autopsy should be available by Monday afternoon. He was 50. Born in Pennsylvania [...]

Michael Jackson is gone

Richard — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:14:36 +0000

Michael Jackson has died. Shortly after receiving a 9-1-1 call, paramedics found Jackson in cardiac arrest, his personal physician already performing CPR. It was just after noon on Thursday, June 25, in his Los Angeles mansion. He was 50. News of the mega-celebrity’s death spread quickly, some even claiming it nearly broke the Internet. Even days [...]

Farrah Fawcett loses battle to cancer

Richard — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:03:43 +0000

Cultural-icon Farrah Fawcett died this past Thursday morning. She was 62. Fawcett will be buried during a private funeral on Tuesday in an L.A. cemetery. Fawcett was diagnosed with anal cancer in September 2006 and, despite receiving extensive treatments with apparent success, earlier this year the cancer spread to her liver. In May, her longtime partner [...]

Ed McMahon Dead at 86

Richard — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:52:04 +0000

Ed McMahon, the legendary sidekick on Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show,” died in an LA hospital earlier this week. McMahon’s health had deteriorated significantly, and he died on Tuesday surrounded by his wife, Pam, and other family. He was 86. McMahon was a widely popular household face and name, not only during his 30-year stint on the [...]

‘Magic Fingers’ Inventor Dies

Richard — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:50:00 +0000

John Houghtaling, the man who invented the Magic Fingers vibrating bed, died last Wednesday at his home in Fort Pierce, Florida. He was 92. According to his son, Houghtaling suffered a brain hemorrhage after taking a fall and hitting his head. In 1958, Houghtaling was contracted to sell mattress-box spring combos installed with vibrating motors. When the [...]

Bob Bogle, Ventures’ Guitarist, Dies

Richard — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 03:47:56 +0000

At the age of 75, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarist Bob Bogle of the Ventures lost his battle with lymphoma. Bogle died Sunday after falling ill and being taken to a local hospital. Bogle, from Vancouver, Washington, co-founded the Ventures with Don Wilson in 1958, then a garage rock band in Tacoma, Washington. The [...]

Funeral: ‘Kung Fu’ Legend David Carradine

Richard — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:18:55 +0000

Actor David Carradine’s funeral service saw more than 400 guests attend, according to the Los Angeles Times. The service, held yesterday, took place at the Hall of Liberty at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, the cemetery adjacent to Griffith Park. The funeral was not open to the public. As such, the two-hour funeral service was attended by [...]

Danny Gans’ Death an Accident

Richard — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:17:18 +0000

Las Vegas entertainer Danny Gans died early last month, but the results of his autopsy released yesterday confirmed his death was accidental. Gans was reported dead at his home after his wife, Julie, called emergency services saying she couldn’t wake him. Apparently, a prescription pain killer called hydromorphone, which Gans used to treat chronic pain, [...]

Singer-Songwriter Kenny Rankin dies

Richard — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:27:56 +0000

Singer-songwriter Kenny Rankin died Sunday as a result of complications related to lung cancer. He was 69. An acclaimed New York-based talent, Rankin, perhaps, was known first for his guitar on Bob Dylan’s 1965 album Bringing It All Back Home. Additionally, Rankin is also famous for his song writing, including “Peaceful” (Helen Reddy), “Haven’t We Met” [...]

NBA All-Star Randy Smith Dead

Richard — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:00:57 +0000

Former NBA all-star Randy Smith died last Thursday, suffering a massive heart attack while exercising. He was 60. Smith’s son-in-law, Leken Bashua, informed reporters of the details. He said Smith was working out on a treadmill at Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun Casino when he suffered the heart attack. He was taken to the William W. Backus Hospital [...]

Voice of Mickey Mouse Dies

Richard — Tue, 26 May 2009 19:26:36 +0000

Wayne Allwine, who voiced Walt Disney’s original cartoon character Mickey Mouse for 32 years, died last week. His wife, the actress who voiced Minnie Mouse, was by his side. He was 62. The Walt Disney Compay said Allwine died from complications of his diabetes. Allwine started working for Disney in the mailroom in 1966. Ten years later, [...]

Former South Korean president commits suicide

Richard — Sat, 23 May 2009 20:04:51 +0000

Roh Moo-Hyun, former South Korean President, committed suicide Saturday. Roh jumped to his death from a 100-foot hillside behind his house, according to a Korean news agency. He was 62. The news source said Roh left a suicide note for his family. After leaving to go hiking early Saturday morning, he was later found with head injuries and died [...]

Renowned Surgeon and Author dies

Richard — Wed, 20 May 2009 05:28:29 +0000

Leonard Shlain, known for his advancements in laparoscopic surgery and three best-selling books, died May 11 in San Francisco. He was 71. Shlain had been ill for about two years with brain cancer. Born and raised in Detroit, Shlain graduated from high school early and received his medical degree from Wayne State University by the age of [...]

POW-MIA Flag Designer Dies

Richard — Sun, 17 May 2009 23:18:23 +0000

The man who created the black and white POW-MIA flag, Newt Heisley, passed away Thursday morning at his home in Colorado Springs, according to a local paper. He was 88. His fiancee, Donna Allison, said Heisley didn’t want any “hoopla,” just a celebration. So on Flag Day, this coming June 14, Heisley will be honored from [...]

Talented Tisdale Loses Life

Richard — Sat, 16 May 2009 21:33:23 +0000

Wayman Tisdale, 44, died yesterday morning after a two-year bout with cancer. The three-time Oklahoma all-American played 12 seasons in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, and Phoenix Suns. At 6′9”, the forward averaged 15.3 points a game and was a dominant presence on the court. A fan-favorite, Tisdale also won gold as a [...]

CNBC Commentator Bill Seidman dies

Richard — Thu, 14 May 2009 05:16:42 +0000

Bill Seidman, former FDIC chairman and CNBC commentator, died Wednesday at 88 years of age following a brief illness. His family released a statement earlier today: “Our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather devoted himself to education, to the business community, to the service of his country, and most of all to his family and friends. He [...]

Michael Landon’s son, Mark, dies at 60

Richard — Tue, 12 May 2009 23:09:31 +0000

Mark Landon, 60, was discovered dead in his California home Monday afternoon, reports say. Mark was the eldest adopted son of the late Michael Landon, who died of cancer in 1991. Michael Landon was best known for his work on television, particularly his starring roles in “Bonanza,” “Little House on the Prairie,” and “Highway to [...]

Baseball’s Dom Dimaggio dead

Richard — Sun, 10 May 2009 01:02:30 +0000

Dominic Dimaggio died yesterday at age 92. The former Boston Redsox’s centerfielder, who made history despite playing with the likes of his brother, Joe, and teammate Ted Williams, passed away at his home in Massachusetts on Friday. Dimaggio played all of his 10 professional baseball seasons will the Red Sox, and he still holds the record [...]

NBA Coach Chuck Daly dies

Richard — Sun, 10 May 2009 00:51:02 +0000

Chuck Daly, hall of fame coach for the Detroit Pistons, died today at age 78. He died in Jupiter, Florida, and was able to spend his last moments with his family. Daly led the Pistons to back-to-back NBA championships in 1989 and 1990. The Pistons eventually retired the number 2 jersey in honor of the titles and [...]

RIP Dom Deluise

admin — Tue, 05 May 2009 18:26:51 +0000

Comedian, actor and cookbook author, Dom Deluise passed away on Monday, May 4, 2009 in Santa Monica with his family. Deluise had been battling cancer for about a year, though it is not clear that it was the cause of his death. Deluise was a loveable character who graced many memoriable movies – Cannonball Run, Smokey [...]

Danny Gans Dead at 52

admin — Fri, 01 May 2009 15:56:04 +0000

I was shocked this morning to read that Las Vegas performer Danny Gans has died. A representative for Wynn Las Vegas made the announcement this morning with very few details. So far we just know that he died at his home suddenly. More details are sure to come in the next day or so. Danny Gans [...]

RIP Paul ‘Playboy Buddy Rose’ Perschmann

admin — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:26:41 +0000

Popular professional wrestler, Paul R. Perschmann, better known by his wrestling name, Playboy Buddy Rose, passed away on Tuesday at his home in Vancouver of natural causes. The wrestler was 56 years old. Playboy was a staple in the Portland wrestling community. He started in the 1970s with the Portland Wrestling company but went on [...]

Rest In Peace Bea Arthur

admin — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:08:03 +0000

Bea Arthur, the extraordinary actress that brought us so many beloved TV and Broadway characters, died on Saturday, April 25, 2009 at the age of 86. She had been battling an undisclosed cancer for quite some time. Arthur was best known for playing dry-witted Italian Dorothy Zbornak in the 1980s TV sitcom, The Golden Girls [...]

Gospel Singer Timothy Wright Has Died

admin — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:52:20 +0000

Composer and gospel singer Reverend Timothy Wright, died on Thursday, April 23, 2009 at the Bronx Veterans Hospital. The Grammy-nominated singer was 61 years old. Wright had been battling respiratory problems since last summer when a car accident left him injured and killed his wife and grandson. Wright’s record Come Thou Almighty King, which he recorded [...]

Tom Denhart, Hanna Andersson Co-Founder has Died

admin — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:21:50 +0000

Tom Denhart created a 400 employee, 20+ children clothing store retail chain along with his wife, gun Denhart, in his garage. That in itself is a tribute to his entrepreneurial spirit and his talent as a business person. For years, Tom Denhart served as the co-founder and creative director for the colorful and community conscious [...]

Goodbye Les Sarnoff, You Will Be Missed

admin — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:56:28 +0000

This weekend, Portland lost a man of the community and a voice of the city, Mr. Les Sarnoff. The KINK FM disc jockey succumbed to late-stage melanoma on Friday, April 17, 2009 at Providence Medical Center. Les was the calming voice I would listen to in the morning on my commute, a pleasant change from [...]

Maxine Cooper Gomberg Film Noir Star, Activist Has Died

admin — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 03:00:25 +0000

The Kiss Me Deadly film actress, Maxine Cooper Gomberg died of natural causes on April 4 at her Los Angeles home, the LA Times reports. The actress was 84 years old. Then Gomberg, as Maxine Cooper, acted alongside Cloris Leachman and Ralph Meekers in the film noir classic. The film itself has been studied and [...]

Porn icon Marilyn Chambers Has Died

admin — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:46:12 +0000

1970s adult film actress Marilyn Chambers was found dead in her home Sunday, April 12, 2009. She was 56 years old. The actress made a name for herself in the 1970s as a porn star, appearing “Behind the Green Door,” considered a 70s x-rated classic. Chambers also appeared on the Ivory Snow Soap boxes as [...]