Shirley Gail Bilyeu

               December 28, 1941 — October 6, 2017

Shirley Gail Bilyeu, 75, of Tangent, passed away on October 6, 2017, at Samaritan Albany General Hospital, after medical complications stemming from her battle with cancer.

Shirley was born at Albany General Hospital on December 28, 1941 to Ted and Ruth Volz. She was raised in Philomath and Albany with older brother Ted, and younger siblings Chuck and Debbie. She graduated from Albany Union High School.

Shirley married her high school sweetheart Bob Bilyeu on June 5, 1958, and soon began a family raising their three children Todd, Jeff, and Stacie in North Albany.

She worked multiple jobs outside the home, and she is most remembered as a classroom assistant at Good Shepherd Lutheran preschool, and the Albany Public School District. Most of her students will remember her as, “Mrs. B.”, for she often dressed up as a honey bee during special occasions.

In addition to her work, she was also an active member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, spent hours volunteering within the community, and gave selflessly to others out of the kindness of her heart. Shirley enjoyed spending her free time gardening, cooking, traveling, exercising, and surrounding herself with family and friends. She is very much loved and will be missed by all those whom she touched throughout her life.

Shirley is preceded in death by her parents; and her older brother, Ted.

Those surviving include her husband Bob of 58 years; sons Todd Bilyeu, Jeff Bilyeu and wife Karen, and daughter Stacie LaFollette; brother, Chuck Volz and wife Jan; sister Debbie Volz and her partner Brad; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will take place at 11 a.m. on October 13, 2017 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1910 34th Ave., SE, Albany. A light lunch and reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to ABC House, Family Tree Relief, or Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

Don McMahon

Aug. 13, 1942 — May 27, 2017

In the company of loved ones and in the comfort of his home in Emmett, Idaho, Donald Leo McMahon passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 27, 2017 at the age of 74.

Donald was born on August 13, 1942 in Toledo, to John Albert McMahon and LaVerne May (Frossard) McMahon.

His childhood was spent in Albany, until he graduated from Albany Union High School in 1961.

Donald lived most of his adult life in the mid-Willamette Valley and worked at the paper mill in Halsey for 33 years until retiring in 2001.

In 2005, Donald and his loving wife Joyce moved to Emmett, Idaho.

Don was a true outdoorsman and was an avid fisherman and hunter. The steelheads in the Siletz River were no match for Don’s fishing skills and it was easily his favorite fishing spot.

Don loved elk hunting and in 1987, he took home a massive six-point bull elk that he was extremely proud of.

Don was known for many remarkable achievements over the years but the one thing that stands out above the rest was his love for the game of baseball and ability to coach young kids. This was Don’s true calling in life and the kids he coached benefited greatly from his knowledge of the game.
Don is survived by his wife, Joyce Diana (Freeman) McMahon; daughters; Robin Jackson and husband Travis of St. Charles, Missouri, Renee McMahon of Emmett, Idaho; sons Roy McMahon of LaPine, Rodney McMahon and wife Kelly of Bend; from his first marriage to Joyce Marie (Cozad) McMahon; and five grandsons, Mason, Logan, and Cody McMahon and Lars and Danzig Morgan.
Don was a wonderful husband, a loving father, a grandpa, a friend and a coach. He was loved and will be greatly missed by the many people’s lives he touched over the years. He will live forever in their hearts.

No services are planned at this time. Local arrangements are with the Potter Funeral Chapel in Emmett.

Doug McLeod

Harry Douglas McLeod, 75 of Albany, passed away Friday June 9, at his residence. AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Marv took this picture of Paul Bond when Paul and Sandy,

Marv and May, Karen (Pluemke) and Ted, Jan and Jerry Steinbrink

were all in Palm Springs this winter.

Thomas Holman

July 6, 1923 — April 22, 2017

Thomas Carter Holman, or Tommy as he was known to many, was born in Baker to Frederic and Harriett Holman. He had seven siblings, five brothers and two sisters, all of whom have passed away before him.

Tommy attended school in Baker and became an outstanding athlete in football, basketball, and baseball. He was mentored by a man named Claude Hines, both of whom now are members of the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.

The Baker YMCA was the place Claude hung out after his professional baseball days, and, along with Tommy’s brother Dave, they took advantage of Claude’s expertise. Tommy played and went to the State Basketball Tournament for four years. As a junior and senior, he made the FirstTeam All-State Tournament Team. He also excelled at football and was offered full-ride scholarships to Oregon State in both sports. He accepted the basketball scholarship to play for Oregon State and the late Slats Gill.

World War II called upon Tom, taking him out of college. Tom arrived in Glasgow, Scotland aboard the Queen Mary that was used as a troop transport ship. He worked his way to the rank of staff sergeant and squad leader. Tom was awarded the Silver Star for Gallantry in Action.

Coming home from the war and coming back to live with his sister Dorothea Lewis in Nyssa, proved to be the right move. One day she told him about this cute girl that would be at a mid-week church function. Lois Elaine Anderson worked with Dorothea at the offices of the Amalgamated Sugar Company in Nyssa, and was told about Tommy Holman from Baker City and a war hero!

A match was made and they were married at the Lewis home in Nyssa on May 19, 1946.

Shortly thereafter, Tommy played in an AAU basketball tournament in Nampa, Idaho. OSU’s Slats Gill had received word about an “all-tournament team” guy named Tommy Holman and true to Coach Gill’s loyalty to his players, he called Tommy up and told him, “your scholarship is still good with us, we want you back!” A stellar career playing for the Beavers had begun with wife Lois in support all the way!

His famous “five points in seven seconds” story is still talked about. It was the one where he single-handedly tied the game against the Oregon Ducks in MacArthur Court. Dad has told this to many, but he never failed to mention that Cliff Crandall, the OSU All-American that year scored 20 points in that game.

Tom graduated from OSU in 1951, was immediately hired by Corvallis High School and became their varsity basketball coach. He coached Dave Gambee there, who went on to play at OSU and the Philadelphia 76ers.

After three years at Corvallis, a new Albany Union High School was built, and in 1954 he accepted the teaching and coaching job there, where he remained until 1962. Tom loved the kids and got his administrative credentials before being offered the vice principal job at Memorial Junior High.

After one year as vice principal, he became the principal after Ty Brown resigned. He remained in that position until 1975.

To top off his career, Tom Holman was offered the principal job at West Albany High School, where he worked until his retirement in 1983.

He left a legacy at West Albany; teacher, coach, principal, and many who would say he was a “cheer leader” as well.

All this earned him the honor from West Albany High School just this year with the dedication and naming of the West Albany basketball court as “Tom Holman Court”.

Retirement from the school system didn’t stop his involvement in community and civic organizations. Recommended by good friends and local leaders, he ran for mayor of Albany and won the election twice.

He is survived by his wife Lois Anderson Holman; four children Brian (Placer) Holman, Gregg (Sue) Holman, Jim (Lori) Holman, and John (Tracy) Holman. They have seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents Harriet Carter Holman and Frederic James Holman; daughter Tamara Lee; brothers Carl, Louis, Sonny, Robert, and David Holman; sisters Dorothea Holman Lewis Mitchell and Marie Holman Wilson.

A memorial service will be at 11:00am on Saturday, April 29, at the Albany First United Methodist Church.

Memorial contributions to the West Albany Sports Foundation may be sent in care of Fisher Funeral Home, 306 Washington St. SW, Albany, OR 97321.

Honoring Tom Holman

Albany Democrat Herald,
Monday, Nov. 21, 2016

"WAHS Honors Longtime Educator with  'Tom Holman Court''.

Tom Holman watched a video about his accomplishments while seated next
to his wife Lois Holman during a court dedication ceremony at West
Albany High School on Sunday.  Tom Holman became head basketball coach
at Albany Union High School in 1954, and later became the principal and
mayor of Albany.

Mr. Holman was born in Baker City and played several sports as a youth. 
"It sounded like there wasn't anything Tom wasn't good at," Susie
Orsborn West Albany principal said.  OSC offered him a scholarship to
play either football or basketball, and Holman joined Slats Gill's
basketball squad in Corvallis.  After his first year of college
basketball he served in the U. S. Army and fought in the Battle of the
Bulge during WWII, earning the Silver Star.  Tom then returned to
Oregon, met his wife and got married. Slats Gill wrote him a letter
saying his scholarship was good for four years and he needed to come
back to OSC.  Mr. Holman was part of the first team that played in Gill
Coliseum and the Beavers made it to the Final Four in 1949.  But Tom was
best known in Albany for an accomplished career as an educator and
coach, and for serving as Albany's mayor in the mid-1980's.

On Sunday afternoon, West Albany High School honored the 93-year-old by
renaming its gymnasium floor 'Tom Holman Court'.  "Thank you so much. 
This is amazing," Holman said.  "I've had a great career here in
Albany.  I am very appreciative of this honor.  This day is something
else," he added.  The event started, fittingly enough, with about an
hour of basketball exhibitions by youth and high school players. 
Attendees watched as children and teens dribbled basketballs, sneakers
squeaking as they cut to the hoop.

Several of Holman's family members attended the event, including his
bride of 70 years, Lois.  Attending were former players and students
from all classes, with the Class of 1960 well represented with 11.  All
totaled about 300 people attended the celebration and Mr. Holman
received a standing ovation when his signature, alongside silver stars,
was unveiled on the hardwood.  "He's a wealth of knowledge and a forever
legend of this high school and Albany," said Susie Orsborn.

Ardys Hedy-Bash, part of the AUHS class of 1961, said that her late
husband, Duane Hedy worked with Tom Holman for many years. "I think this
is just wonderful," she said.  "I don't know of anybody who would be
more deserving."  WELL DONE BULLDOGS!!!!

Sharing email from Steve Kenagy

Steve wrote:
"Here is a little news you can share with classmates.  I've been asked to participate in the 2016 Radio Hall of Fame induction ceremony to be held in Chicago (11/17) and will be delivering the induction speech for Delilah.  In case you don't know about Delilah she has a radio show 6 nights a week on 150 plus U.S. radio stations and is the most listen to lady on radio.  My brother and I put her on the air reporting school news when she was only in the 8th grade.  She worked for us through high school then it was off to bigger markets and is now a major radio personality.  This award for radio personalities, is like an Academy Award is for an actor.  A little side note is that Garth Brooks will be there that evening and giving an induction speech for another one of the other honorees, I just hope I don't have to follow him on stage.  Needless to say it is a little scary thinking about tuxes, formals, limos, red carpets, speeches and Jumbotrons.  Google Delilah and be amazed.  

Go Bulldogs!"

Send your own "Congrats" to Steve at steve@kenagymail.com,