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SATURDAY December 6, 2003 - Subscribe - Contact Us Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels Edward B. Versluis Edward B. Versluis, 61, passed away on November 14, 2003 at his home in Ashland. He died peacefully after a valiant two-year battle with cancer. He was a professor of English at Southern Oregon University and was known to friends, colleagues, and students as Ed. He said it kept people from tripping over the pronunciation of his last name. Ed was born in Waterloo, Iowa in 1942. He earned his B.A. at the University of Northern Iowa in 1963, his M.A. at the University of Chicago in 1965 and his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago in 1972. He taught at St. Mary's College in Moraga, Calif. from 1968 to 1975 and was a training coordinator with Cal/OSHA in San Francisco for two years before coming to SOU in 1978. Early English literature, 18th century British literature, and world literature were his specialties, but he also enjoyed teaching a variety of other classes, such as, form and value in the arts and international business English. During his tenure at SOU, he served as chair of the English department and as acting director of graduate studies. Ed was a strong supporter of the Association of Professors: Southern Oregon University and served as chief negotiator. He was given the first outstanding service award last year by the union. Although he retired from SOU in 2002, he was enthusiastically teaching one class, British literature: Anglo-Saxon to renaissance, this term. Ed was proud of his contributions overseas: teaching in Germany, Poland, Viet Nam, and Thailand; and volunteering with Global Volunteers in Viet Nam, Cross Cultural Solutions in Ghana, and Habitat for Humanity in Mexico. His interest in archaeology and Viking sagas took him and his wife, Diana, to the island of Gotland, Sweden for a three-week Viking archaeological dig this summer. Ed lived life to its fullest up until he embarked on his next adventure. He is survived by his wife, Diana Omura Versluis; daughters, Andrea Versluis of Boston, Mass., and Tanya Versluis and her husband Eric Laughlin of Shelton, Wash.; step-daughter Ginny Long of San Francisco, Calif. and step-son Tosh Omura-Long of Portland; aunt Alice Peters of Waterloo, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his step-son, James Travis Long of Ashland, and his parents, Charles Versluis and Myrtle Brownell Versluis, of Waterloo, Iowa. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Dec. 13 at the Windmill Inn at 3 p.m., followed by a social gathering. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the American Cancer Society would be appreciated. Verna A. Carkhuff Verna A. Carkhuff , 84, of Phoenix, died Saturday, Nov. 29, 2003 at her home. Arrangements are by Litwiller - Simonsen Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Ashland. Irene Laird Irene Laird, 86, of Ashland, died Sunday, Nov. 30, 2003 at her home. Arrangements are by Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Ashland. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Road Cams