Ashland lawyer Sidney E. Ainsworth died Aug. 14, 2003.
He was born Dec. 28, 1927 in Murphy and lived in Oregon all his life. He served in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1947 and graduated from the University of Oregon Law School in 1953. He and Sam Davis formed Davis & Ainsworth, the firm from which he retired in 1993. That firm, later known as Davis, Gilstrap, Hearn, Saladoff & Smith, is now celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Ainsworth was an active member of the Ashland community, helping to create the Southern Oregon College Foundation and co-founding Rogue Valley Manor. Other interests he supported included the Rogue Valley Symphony, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and the Boy Scouts of America.
He is survived by his wife, Janet, a son and two daughters.
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Michael C. Arola of Eugene died Aug. 15, 2003 of polychondritis. He was 51.
Arola was born in Park Rapids, Minn. He graduated from the University of Oregon in 1974. He served in the Marine Corps from 1974 to 1979 and graduated from the University of Oregon Law School in 1982. Arola joined Hershner, Hunter, Andrews, Neill & Smith in 1982, and was a partner from 1986 until his death. He was the firm’s managing partner. His areas of emphasis were representing creditors in complex and routine matters, including foreclosures, bankruptcies, receiverships, collections and evictions. He also negotiated and documented loan origination and workout agreements. He was a frequent speaker to professional and community groups on bankruptcy and collections issues.
He enjoyed coaching football, bow hunting, fishing and gardening. He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Lorrie, and three sons.
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Alex M. Byler died Aug. 30, 2003 at age 71.
He was born in North Bend and attended school in Coos Bay, graduating from Marshfield High School in 1951. He graduated from University of Oregon in 1955 and from Willamette University College of Law in 1958.
In 1957, he married Minalou Schultz. He joined George Corey in the practice of law in 1958 in the firm that eventually became Corey, Byler, Rew, Lorenzen & Hojem. There he practiced law in Pendleton for 39 years, retiring in 1997. During that time, he was active on several Oregon State Bar committees. In 1977, he was admitted to the American College of Trial Lawyers. After retirement, he received the Pro Bono Challenge Award and the OSB President’s Public Service Award.
Over the years, he was active in many civic endeavors, from the Rotary Club to the Umatilla County United Way to the Salvation Army, Red Cross, Pendleton School Board and many more. The Pendleton Chamber of Commerce recognized him as First Citizen in 1969.
Statewide, he was served on the Governor’s Commission on School Finance Reform in 1987, and he was chairman of the Umatilla Depot Task Force. He served eight years on the Oregon Community Foundation board of directors, including two years as chair.
Survivors include his wife, two sons, a daughter and 18 grandchildren.
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David Robert Trachtenberg died unexpectedly on Sept. 2, 2003, while taking his morning walk.
He was born in Portland in 1950. He attended Portland State University and Willamette University, and graduated with a B.S. in 1972. He received a J.D. from Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College in 1976. Trachtenberg began his legal career in Portland with Kobin & Meyer. At the time of his death he was a senior partner with Groff, Murphy, Trachtenberg & Everard in Seattle.
He was an active member of the Washington, Alaska and Oregon bars. His practice emphasized the representation of national and local general contractors, sureties and other parties in the construction industry. Trachtenberg was an expert in construction law, insurance and bonding law, and was a frequent lecturer and author.
In 2001, after a seven-year romance, Trachtenberg married Diane Jacobs of San Diego. He spent weeks deciding where and how he would propose to her, and decided to do it in front of a Los Angeles exhbit of Vincent Van Gogh’s 'Starry Night.' In addition to Diane, he is survived by his son, daughter and stepson.
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Tracy Quinn Lyons, 54, died Sept. 3, 2003 at his Klamath Falls residence.
Lyons was born in Longview, Wash. in 1949. He graduated from Klamath Union High School in 1968 before attending the University of Oregon and graduating from Oregon State University. He then graduated from Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College. Upon graduation, Lyons worked for several oil companies in Calif., Wash., Colorado, Texas and Mississippi. He then moved to Malin, Ore., where he was an investor and tree farmer. He was once named Oregon Tree Farmer of the year.
One of his favorite jobs was practicing law for home ministries for Mendenhall ministries in Jackson. Lyons loved the outdoors, expecially his tree farm. He also enjoyed spending time conversing with his family, spending time with his dogs, hunting, drawing and poetry.
Survivors include his wife, Becky, two daughters and son.
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Editor’s note: Appearing next month will be notices for: Frederick Torp, 89, died Sept. 15, 2003; Steve Allen Tyler, 86, died Sept. 20, 2003; and Edward V. O Reilly, 85, died Sept. 21, 2003.