Wahkiakum County Eagle-Thursday, January 24, 2008 Cathlamet, Wahkiakum County, Washington Irene Aletha Jaspers May 15, 1911 - January 17, 2008 Irene Aletha Johns was born in Portland, OR to Emma Augusta Schollmeyer and Louis Charles Johns of Nehalem OR. The eldest of five children, Irene was raised in various towns in the Nehalem Valley. She met her husband Roy Jaspers in Nehalem in the fall of 1929 during the commercial salmon fishing season. The couple were married in 1930 and made their home on Puget Island until separated at his death in 1990 after 60 years of marriage. Their marriage was blessed with two sons Donald and Richard who preceded them in death in 1975 after a boating accident. As a homemaker, mother, and wife, Irene enjoyed gardening of flowers and vegetables as well as the canning of the vegetables. She had green thumb until the end, with carnations, cacti, and African violets blooming in her home today. For the past several years Irene has been a guest and part time resident of the Clatskanie area. She is well known in the restaurants from Woodland to Astoria as 'grandma' and has touched the lives of those whom she met. Although never a licensed driver, she loved to take rides to see the wild rhododendrons in bloom each May and the leaves in color each fall. Irene was preceded in death by her parents, husband, children, brothers, and sisters. Having outlived most friends and family, she often joked about no one left to attend her memorial service. Irene is survived by grandsons Brad Jaspers (wife Bobbie) of Clatskanie, Brian Jaspers of Puget Island, and Bernie Jaspers of Monroe, WA. Other survivors include several nieces and nephews, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Saturday January 26th at 11:00 am at the Haakinson-Groulx Mortuary in Clatskanie. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Community Home Health and Hospice at 1035 11th Avenue, Longview WA, the closest place to heaven without leaving mortality. (As compiled by the Wahkiakum County Historical Society in 2008.)