In Memoriam, Fall 2016

Dale Jacobs JD ’48

The Honorable Dale Jacobs JD ’48 passed away February 20, 2016, in Wilsonville, Oregon. He was 97 years old.

Born October 2, 1918, in Madison, Nebraska, to Elmer Dale and Mae Jacobs, Dale was the middle of five brothers and had three younger sisters. His early life was spent in Nebraska and Kansas. In 1936, he graduated from Gering High School, where he met his future wife, Vida Gering. They were to be inseparable for the next 75 years.

Vida and Dale married on Christmas Eve in 1939 and moved to Portland in 1942 with their baby daughter.

He worked in the shipyards during World War II, and later sold men’s clothing while attending evening law school. Dale became a deputy district attorney in Clackamas County after passing the bar and went into private practice in Oregon City in 1950. His skills as a trial lawyer were legendary.

Dale was appointed Clackamas County circuit court judge in 1971 by Governor Tom McCall, and served on the bench until his retirement in 1987. He performed in excess of 1,000 marriages and, as a senior judge after his retirement, took part in many hearings for the mentally impaired. He also had a long and distinguished legal career speaking in numerous CLEs and authoring many articles, including the demonstrative evidence chapter in The Oregon Evidence Handbook.

The Clackamas County Bar, of which he was once president, honored Dale with their highest accolade, the Ralph M. Holman Lifetime Achievement Award. He also received the Oregon State Bar’s 50-year member award.

A tireless citizen in his community, Dale was named Oregon City Senior First Citizen in 1959 and served as chair of the Oregon City School District Board. He was a founding board member of Willamette Falls Hospital, a president and board member of the Chamber of Commerce, a chair of the 46 Oregon City Red Cross, a vice-chair of the United Fund Campaign, and a founding member and first president of Willamette Valley Country Club.

In his later years, afflicted with macular degeneration, Dale listened to just about every nonfiction book offered by Oregon Talking Books and loved conversation on all topics, whether it be religion, biology, astronomy, baseball, politics, or physics.

While he could be serious on these subjects, he was not without a sense of humor and was never at a loss for a good joke. Dale’s lifelong study of religion and philosophy led him to atheism, and he authored a scholarly article on the trial of Jesus. He had no fear of death, embracing it as a part of the life cycle, and was courageous to the end.

Golf was Dale’s lifelong passion.

He helped support himself during the Depression by working as a caddie, and he later spent a portion of every year in the Palm Springs area, where he followed the Bob Hope Desert Classic. He also played in numerous local tournaments, most notably the Oregon Coast Open in Astoria, where he was a medalist in 1962. The Clackamas County Bar honors his golfing prowess with an annual tournament in his name, the DJ Open.

Dale was preceded in death by his wife, Vida, who passed away in 2009, and by his son Steve, who died in 2011. He is survived by his daughter, Toni Clay; son Jeff Jacobs; three sisters; many nieces and nephews; nine grandchildren; seven greatgrandchildren; and two great-greatgrandchildren.

Betty Nadine Ingebritson Crofoot JD ’53

Betty Nadine Ingebritson Crofoot JD ’53 passed away April 26, 2016, in Beaverton, Oregon. She was 90 years old.

Betty was born in Portland, Oregon, on August 21, 1925, to Idor Bernard Ingebritson and Ethel Sarah (McClintick) Ingebriston. She attended Portsmouth Grade School, Roosevelt High School, and the University of Oregon. She opened a private law practice in Multnomah County, Oregon, and later worked as house counsel for the Port of Portland.

On February 11, 1954, she married Emory John Crofoot.

Betty is survived by her daughter Mary Crofoot Olsen Douglas; daughter-in-law Barbra Usselman Crofoot; and grandchildren Ameila Crofoot, Tsaina Crofoot, Sarah M. Olsen, and Elizabeth A. Olsen. She was predeceased by her parents, spouse, and son Emory John Crofoot Jr.

Alvin “Al” Lawrence Andrews JD ’56

Alvin “Al” Lawrence Andrews JD ’56 passed away December 25, 2015, at his home. He was 88 years old.

Al was born March 12, 1927, to Ellis and Leona Andrews. He was raised in Ontario, Oregon, where he lived until graduating from high school and joining the U.S. Navy near the end of World War II. Following his discharge, Al attended Eastern Oregon State College and the University of Oregon until he was recalled to active duty at the onset of the Korean conflict to serve aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Boxer. After his military service he completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Oregon.

Al worked as partner in the firm of Fitzwater, Fitzwater and Andrews before beginning a solo neighborhood practice in North Portland in the late 1960s. He closed his office in early 2000 to become a full-time caregiver for his beloved wife, Darlene (Devine), whose death preceded his.

Al was a member of the Oregon State Bar, Bethel Baptist Church, and Peninsula Kiwanis Club for over 50 years. He was a longtime supporter of the Mount Hood Kiwanis Camp for children with special needs. He was also a member of the U.S.S. Boxer Association and had an interest in hunting, hiking, genealogy, stained glass, music, and the Oregon Ducks.

Al is survived by his children, Connie Stahly, Kris Wilkinson, Steve Andrews, Dixon Andrews, and Tony Andrews; two sisters, Florence Conant and Margaret Diehl; 12 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and close friend Betty Doble.

Gary Marlette JD ’68

Gary Marlette JD ’68 died on February 16, 2016, at his home. He was 76 years old.

Gary was born on March 26, 1939, in Redfield, South Dakota. He attended Redfield High School, where he was a football and track athlete, a member of the glee and chorus clubs, and active in many other student organizations.

Soon after he graduated high school, Gary’s family moved to Longview, Washington, and he enrolled at St. Martin’s College in Lacey.

In 1964, he began law school and married JoAnn Berks. The couple moved to Baker, Oregon, after Gary graduated and he practiced law there until he retired in 2007. He and his family enjoyed many summers on the Snake River while bird hunting, fishing, camping, boating, and skiing.

Gary is survived by his wife, two daughters, a daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren.

John B. Lewis JD ’75

The Honorable John B. Lewis passed away June 7, 2016. He was 69 years old.

John received a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Portland State University. He became a sole practitioner shortly after earning his JD and was named a Hillsboro municipal court judge in 1980. John was a Washington County district and circuit court trial judge from 1993 to 2006, the last seven years of which he was the presiding family and juvenile court judge.

Following his 2006 retirement, he started a mediation and reference judge practice with another retired judge, Al Bonebrake. John handled hundreds of cases in this capacity, ranging in type from civil and domestic relations to contracts, personal injury, wrongful death, and medical malpractice.

John is survived by his wife, Linda, and a daughter. In lieu of flowers, his family requests that gifts be made to a Lewis & Clark Law School scholarship in John’s name.