Chapter History
Event Write Ups (previous years)
Rearview
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Memorials
This page pays tribute to our dear friends in the Cascadia chapter with whom we have shared many precious memories over the years. Not only were they loved by many, but they were each incredible human beings.
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Marge Needham, RN
Marge Needham and Evelyn (Coke) Coker joined Cascadia and RVW at our Fidalgo Bay event in 2003. At that time they were celebrating 55 yrs together. Marge was born May 24, 1924 in Revelstoke, British Columbia. After attending nursing school in Canada, she moved to Seattle at the close of World War 2 and began a long career in nursing. She was director of nursing at five different Seattle area hospitals. In retirement she continued to use her nursing skills, providing blood pressure readings at her local senior center, where she also ran the seniors tennis program up until a few years before her death. Marge met Coke shortly after moving to Seattle in 1945 and at the time of her death on September 13, 2011 they had been together 63 years.
Helen Panas
Helen Panas passed away on July 13, 2009, at her home in Apache Junction, Arizona.
Jan, her partner of 31 years, and several friends helped her make the journey.
Helen was born in Hudson, New Hampshire on July 4, 1934, and immediately began asserting her independence. She was the oldest of four children. Her early career as a stewardess took Helen all over the world. She could recommend all the best places to visit but never learned to read a map. For Helen, the pleasure of discovery was more important than the planning. Later, as a travel agent, she shared that sense of discovery with hundreds of clients and friends.
Family considerations took Helen to San Francisco in 1964 and to Los Angeles in 1979. She and Jan moved to Portland, Oregon, in 1990. She loved to entertain and took great pride in making her home an inviting place to be. She brought sunshine with her everywhere she lived, something that was especially appreciated in those places blessed with an overabundance of rain.
A second-generation Greek, Helen was known to her many friends as the Greek princess. She was very proud to be an American, especially a Yankee American, and carried many East Coast traditions to the West.
After Jan's retirement in 2008, Helen and Jan moved to Superstition Mountain Resort in Apache Junction, Arizona. She will be missed by her many friends and family. She especially wanted Cascadia Chapter members and SMR neighbors to know that their tremendous outpourings of love and support helped to make her final days more peaceful.
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Ursula Brogan
Our dearest Ursula passed away peacefully on November 24th, 2008, after a long, brave fight with breast cancer. She was born in Spokane in 1951. She is survived by her partner, Barb Gilger. She was especially proud of her 24-year service in the Coast Guard Reserve. Ursula retired from the Community Colleges of Spokane's Institute for Extended Learning, and began traveling in the motor home. She enjoyed spending time at Mt. Rainier and Olympic National Park. Ursula and Barb joined the Cascadia Chapter of RVing Women in 2006, attended rallies with the group and made friendships with women who will miss her very much. They recently moved from Cheney to Sequim, WA, where Ursula was proud to be able to call the Olympic Peninsula her home.
Ursula joined in and also led activities at the rallies they attended. She showed newbies the ins and outs of geocaching on the Tokeland campout. There was one memorable short golfing game we laughed our way through as mosquitoes ate every part that was not covered! She helped organize the fantastic ukulele workshop in spite of her failing health. Ursula will be remembered as a delightful, intelligent, warm and generous person. We are grateful to have met her and will remember her around our campfires as she remains in our hearts |
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Irene Hallett
Longtime Cascadia member Irene Hallett passed away on September 22, 2006, from complications during heart surgery.
A resident of Des Moines, Irene was an alumna of Washington State University. She taught at Mead High School in Spokane, in Port Townsend, and at Highline High School. She later became the assistant executive director of the Washington State High School Activities Association where she was instrumental in establishing girls high school athletics programs.
Irene and Ginny Greenlee last joined the Cascadia group over the (2006) Memorial weekend at Mossyrock. In addition to her involvement with Cascadia RVW and Roving Campers, Irene was a huge Mariners fan and a Seahawks season ticket holder for 28 years.
Irene's service is Friday, September 29th, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the United Methodist Church 2225 9th Ave. S. Des Moines. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made in donations to Children's Hospital Foundation, M/S S-200, PO Box 50020, Seattle, WA 98145-5020.
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