Paul Flanders:  

Born San Francisco. Raised in S. Calif. Oldest of 6. HS grad in Irvine, CA, moved to Modesto, CA to attend JC on Animal Science scholarship. 4 years worked for a company manufacturing, selling and servicing Electronic tomato sorters and Tractor Automatic Guidance systems. 1982 moved to Montana to manage cow-calf operation for absentee owners. 4 years later left Montana for the seminary in Oregon. Met Sharon at Mt. Angel and had to decide between priesthood and marriage (not a hard decision). Left Mt Angel with BA in theology and enrolled in grad school. 3 years later with MA in hand started as a Family Therapist for an adolescent residential treatment program. Married Sharon in 1992. 1993 moved to Enterprise, OR for position with community mental health agency. Sharon was hired by the same agency 6 months later. We both celebrated 20 years with Wallowa Valley Center for Wellness in 2013. In July of 2013 Sharon was diagnosed with Ovarian cancer. In December of 2013 she was "cancer free", but by early Feb. 2014 she had very aggressive cancer throughout her body and we were encouraged to continue treatment, but cherish the time we had. Most of March that year was spent in the local hospital and Sharon was unable to tolerate further treatment. Both of our siblings visited, and our parents moved in with us. Sharon had another extended hospitalization in April and came home to spend her final days in a comfortab...Expand for more