At
Linfield, the late Roy Dean "Hap" Mahaffey, who served on the college faculty for many years, is memorialized through the Mahaffey speech tournament, Mahaffey residence hall, and the Mahaffey scholarship, awarded annually to students demonstrating outstanding talent and interest in forensic or theatre activity.
Collegiate speakers from across the Northwest compete in the tournament.
When opened in 1994, Mahaffey Hall was called "South Hall." Following approval of the Linfield Trustees, it was renamed for Mahaffey. A naming/rededication ceremony was held during Homecoming 2003. The largest residence hall on Linfield's campus. Mahaffey also houses the college's Office of Residence Life.
This brings us to two other building in McMinnville. Neither on campus, they have, so to speak, a Mahaffey name written all over them.
Specifically it's the name of Hap's wife, Marian Mahaffey. She was associated for many years with Lon Dee Flowers (also known as Flowers by Lon Dee) on South Baker Street. Initially, she was an employee, working as a designer and bookkeeper. Later, she became its co-owner.
If you don't know where to look, you can't find Lon Dee. It's been out of business since, apparently/approximately 2006. But, you can find it at the 100 block of South Baker as the Hopscotch toys, candy and games store.
Take a look at the photos with this story. One of them, from Jan. 2012, shows a concrete-block constructed building fronting a wood-built home. Both are Hopscotch. Two other photos show a sign on the street corner. One of them, from 2007, shows how the Flowers by Lon Dee sign looked in 2007 and in prior years. The other shows the Hopscotch sign as it looked in Jan. 2012.
1924--
Carol Doubrava of Sheridan, Ore., wrote The Oregon Grower journal published by the Salem-based Oregon Growers' Cooperative Assn. Her letter is published in the Feb. 1924 (Volumes 3-5, Page 163 issue with the headlines, "Fog-Filled Valley Gives Oregon Charm. Grower Moved to Verse at View from Farm Home."
She describes her "Paradise Farm" home in Sheridan "on a hill far above the Yamhill river..." She provides a verse entitled, "An Oregon Fog." Another 1919 issue of the same journal identifies the farm as "Paradise Orchard Farms."
It's assumed that Carol and her husband grew flowers on their farm since she operated a flower shop in Sheridan, Ore., about 14 miles from McMinnville. In those days florists typically grew many of the flowers they sold in their shop. And, they quite often has a greenhouse or greenhouses to assure proper climate and humidity for flowers. They might grow flowers outside, but growing inside a greenhouse was common.
The timeline for Lon Dee Flowers (also known as Flowers by Lon Dee) in McMinnville might be something like this:1932 or 1936 --"Flowers by Lon Dee" opens, owned by Mr. Alonzo Alfred "Lon" Doubrava and Mrs. Carol Doubrava. This based on info in editions of Salisbury's McMinnville-Newberg and Yamhill County (Oregon) directories in the McMinnville Public Library. Carol's obit (on microfilm) in the Nov. 13, 1963, McMinnville News-Register (N-R) says, "She had operated a flower shop in Sheridan for 10 years and Lon Dee Flowers in McMinnville from 1932 to 1961." Lou's obit says he "had lived in McMinnville since 1936." So, there's a descripancy in when the Doubravas moved from Sheridan to McMinnville. Was it 1932 or was it 1936?
1941 --
Marian Mahaffey begins working at Lon Dee, says her obit. Over the years, her duties included designer and bookkeeper, says Salisbury's McMinnville-Newberg and Yamhill County (Oregon) directories in the McMinnville Public Library.
1952 --
"Lon" Doubrava dies in May 1952. Thus, Carol apparently becomes sole proprietor of Lon Dee.
1959 ---1959 city directory lists Carol and R.D. (that's Roy D. "Hap" Mahaffey, husband of Marian) Mahaffey as Lon Dee co-owners. So, apparently at some point after Lon's death and 1959, Carol becomes Lon Dee's co-owner with the Mahaffeys.
1961 --Based on Carol ("1961") and Marian's ("early 1960s") obits, this is the year Marian (with her husband Roy D. "Hap" Mahaffey, probably as a silent partner) bought out Carol and became owners of Lon Dee. Marian's obit (on microfilm) in the Nov. 20, 1991, N-R says, "Mrs. Mahaffey began working at Lon Dee flower shop in 1941. She purchased the shop in the early 1960s. She sold the business in 1984."
Mrs. Mahaffey frequently employed Linfield students to work at Lon Dee, in the shop and delivering flowers in the shop's truck. One Linfield graduate said working for Lon Dee was a pleasure. Mrs. Mahaffey was a "gem of a person," said the grad. She and "I had a number of discussions at the ... shop, mostly (responding to) her questions (such as) why ... the delivery truck (was) ... seen cruising down SW Broadway in Portland, or why the truck got stuck in the mud up on Peavine. I have great memories about delivering flowers in that truck."
Early 1960s --
Ray Albright of Dayton, Ore., joins Marian as a Lon Dee co-owner in the "early 1960s," according to his N-R obit. In the late 1970s (and perhaps during other times) the Dayton Times weekly newspaper of Dayton, Ore., included ads for Lon Dee Flowers in its "Who's Who in Our Shopping Area" section. It's assumed Ray placed and paid for these ads. See photo.
1984 --In this year Marian sold Lon Dee, according to her obit. Or, perhaps Marian and Ray Albight sold Lon Dee? To whom did she or they sell it? It might have been sold to the O'Farrells (see below) or perhaps to another person or persons, who later sold it to the O'Farrells.
Some time on/after Sept 2005 maybe during 2006? --It's a guess that Ray O'Farrell (perhaps without Frankie) puts Lon Dee up for sale and there were no buyers, so the firm went out of business. For sure, Lon Dee was still operating in early September of 2005. An article in Sept 17, 2005, N-R quotes "Ray O'Farrell, owner of Lon Dee Flowers and Candy in McMinnville."
An online search at the state of Oregon Secretary of State Corporation Division "Business Registry Database" lists dates from Dec. 9, 1997 to Nov. 10, 2007 for Lon Dee Flowers. The registrants are listed as Raymond O'Farrell and Frankie O'Farrell and the place of business is listed as 103 S Baker/109 S Baker. Summary history includes:
New filing 12-09-1997
Straight renewal 11-12-1999
Renewal payment 11-15-2001
Renewal of registration 11-21-2003
Renewal payment 11-01-2005
Failure to renew 12-10-2007
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McMinnville, Ore. Telephone Register
May 8, 1952
LON DOUBRAVA RITES WESNESDAY
McMinnville florist-grower A. A. ("Lon") Doubrava, 72, passed away in McMinnville, Sunday, May 4. Funeral services were held at Macy's chapel Wednesday, May 7 at 3 p.m., with burial following in Evergreen Memorial Park.
Active in the community, he was a member of McMinnville lodge No.1283 BPOE, Masonic Lodge No. 119 of North Bend, Nebraska, completing his 50th year of membership. He had lived in McMinnville since 1936.
He was born July 26, 1879 at North Bend, Nebraska, and was married to Carol (Sherman) Doubrava 51 years ago. Survivors include: his wife, Carol; son brother, Harry Doubrava, Beverly Hills, California; one sister, Mrs. Ethel McClaren, Boise, Idaho; and two grandchildren, Judith Ann and Carol Louise Nelsonof St. Helens, Oregon. A daughter, Mrs. Harriet Nelson is decreased.
McMinnville, Ore., News-Register
Nov. 13, 1963
CAROL DOUBRAVA
Carol Doubrava, 83, died Nov. 9, 1963, in a McMinnville hospital. Her funeral was to be held at 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 13, in the chapel of Macy and Sons with internment at Evergreen Memorial Park.
Mrs. Doubrava was born Feb. 23, 1880, at Columbus, Neb., the daughter of Eugene and Harriet Sheffler Sherman. At Schuyler, Neb., she married Alonzo Doubrava April 28, 1901. She had operated a flower shop in Sheridan for 10 years and Lon Dee Flowers in McMinnville from 1932 to 1961. She had been a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Business and Professional Women’s Club for many years.
She is survived by two granddaughters, Carol Louise and Judith Anne Nelson, both of Portland.
McMinnville, Ore., News-Register
With slight rewriting by Wildcatville.
Aug. 14, 1985
ROY D. "HAP" MAHAFFEY
Services for Prof. Roy D. "Hap" Mahaffey of McMinnville will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Chapel of Macy & Sons Funeral Directors. Private family committal will follow. The Rev. James Hughes will officiate.
Prof. Mahaffey died Aug. 11, 1985, in McMinnville Community Hospital. He was 80.
His "Hap" nickname represented his happy demeanor.
Born Nov. 30, 1904, in Pontiac, Ill., he was the son of Grandville and Maude Cullom Mahaffey. His family moved to Colorado in 1911 and to Twin Falls, Idaho, in 1916.
He, at age 23, and Marian Karn, at age 19, were married Nov. 12, 1927, in Vancouver, Wash. He was graduated from Linfield College in 1928, earned his master's degree from the University of Southern California and received an honorary doctorate from Linfield in 1960. He was named Linfield Alumnus of the Year in 1978.
Prof. Mahaffey taught for 56 years. He began his career in 1926, teaching Spanish at Gaston High School while still majoring in Spanish at Linfield. He began teaching speech and drama in 1932. He was a professor at Linfield for 43 years.
At Linfield he organized and supervised two of the oldest invitational forensic tournaments in the United States. Friends said the Lincoln-Douglas style of one-on-one debating can be accredited to Prof. Mahaffey.
After retiring -- at the behest of Linfield President Gordon Bjork -- from Linfield in 1970, he taught at Portland State University for two years and at the University of Montana for two years. After recovering from a 1974 stroke, he taught at Chemeketa Community College and in Yamhill County high schools until 1983.
Prof. Mahaffey belonged to Phi Kappa Delta National Forensics Fraternity, an organization in which he held numerous offices, including that of president. He also belonged to various local community organizations. He was a 35 year member and past president, secretary and district lieutenant governor of the McMinnville Kiwanis Club.
For 30 years he was director and performer in Vesper Players, a religious drama group of all denominations on the West Coast.
Survivors include his wife, Marian Mahaffey of McMinnville; two daughters, Carol Morton and Lauramary Powell of Portland; a son, Theodore Mahaffey of Riverside, Calif.; a sister, Helen Beasley of Eureka, Calif.; and a brother, Eugene Mahaffey of Anaheim, Calif.
McMinnville, Ore., News-Register Nov. 20, 1991
MARIAN R. MAHAFFEY
Memorial services for Marina Ruth Karn Mahaffey of McMinnville will be held 1 p.m. Saturday in the Fireside Room at McMinnville First Baptist Church. The Rev. Bernard Turner of the church will officiate. Interment was private.
Mrs. Mahaffey died Nov. 17, 1991, in Providence Medical Center, Portland. She was 83.
She was born Aug. 26, 1908, in Chariton," Iowa, the daughter of John C. and Minnie Larrington Karn. She moved to Spokane, Wash., as a young girl and grew up and went to school there. After graduating from North Central High School in Spokane, she moved to McMinnville and attended Linfield College, graduating in 1929.
She (age 19) and Roy "Hap" Mahaffey (age 23) were married Nov. 12, 1927, in Vancouver, Wash. He died at age 80 in McMinnville on Aug. 11, 1985.
Mrs. Mahaffey began working at Lon Dee flower shop in 1941. She purchased the shop in the early 1960s. She sold the business in 1984.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church and sand in the church choir since 1925. She also was a member of the Symphonic Choir of Portland, Alpha Psi Omega, Mu Phi Epsilon and Zeta Chi. She enjoyed singing.
Survivors includer her son, Theodore Mahaffey of Riverside, Calif.; two daughters, Carol Morton and Lauramary Powell, both of Portland; a brother, Robert Karn of Seattle; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Marian Mahaffey Music Scholarship at Linfield College, in care of Macy & Son Funeral Directors, 135 N. Evans St., McMinnville, Ore.. 97128-4682.
McMinnville, Ore., News-Register
With slight rewriting by Wildcatville.
April 20, 2000
RAY ALBRIGHT
A funeral for Ray Albright of Dayton will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday in Dayton Pioneer Evangelical Church, with the Rev. Lonnie Burbank officiating. Interment will be in Evergreen Memorial Park, McMinnville. The chapel of Macy & Son Funeral Directors, McMinnville, will be open for visitation from 4 to 7 p.m. today and noon to 7 p.m. Friday.
Mr. Albright died April 18, 2000, in his home. He was 85.
He was born May 15, 1914, in Modesto, Calif., the son of Dayton and Zerna Funk Albright. He moved to Dayton when he was 4. In 1935, after high school, he started Alderbrook Gardens in Dayton. The firm is a wholesale grower of outdoor plants. He remained the owner of Alderbrook Nursery for 65 years. He was part owner of Lon Dee Flowers in McMinnville from the early 1960s to the early 1980s.
He and Ann were married Dec. 4, 1967. He was a charter member of the Oregon Flower Growers Association and of the Oregon Entomological Society. He also belonged to the Oregon Historical Society.
Mr. Albright served on the Dayton School Board for many years. He belonged to the Dayton Pioneer Evangelical Church and the Newberg Rock Hound Club. He enjoyed woodworking, farming, fishing and butterflies. He raised a large garden every year and had traveled extensively to collect butterflies.
Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Leslie Overgard of Dayton; four sons, Robert Albright of Dayton, Don Albright of Newberg, Chuck Albright of Astoria and Jim Albright of Medford; 13 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.He was preceded in death by a son, Kenneth, in 1993.
Memorial contributions may be made to the church, in care of Macy & Son, 135 N.E. Evans St., McMinnville, OR 97128.
