By Fred Prout
Whenever I put the finishing touches on a story, my mind starts focusing on the next one. The process usually involves many false starts, multiple cusswords and crumpled sheets of paper. Not to mention panic attacks. Continue reading
By Fred Prout
Whenever I put the finishing touches on a story, my mind starts focusing on the next one. The process usually involves many false starts, multiple cusswords and crumpled sheets of paper. Not to mention panic attacks. Continue reading
Submitted by Richard Hickethier

Submitted by Robin McFadden
Submitted by Kim
Submitted by Kim and Sara

The bright yellow Smiley Face flag flying at the Office is more than just a “happy” face. This flag serves a purpose associated with the Park’s mail delivery.
The flag is lowered in the morning awaiting the arrival of the day’s mail delivery.
Once the mail has been placed in Member’s boxes and the packages have been sorted and arranged on the shelves, the flag is hoisted to fly in the breeze.
Many members thought this flag was an indicator of the “Mood” of the Office staff. Nope, it’s there to make you smile and to notify you of the happiness of receiving your long-awaited packages!
The Mailroom also has a door in which Members may pick up their packages, instead of walking around to the front of the Office counter.
Please use the doorbell.
Any payments of electric, propane, etc. should be made at the front counter … that is where the till is located.
~ Kim and Sara
Submitted by Robin McFadden
Timber Valley was saddened to hear of the passing of Phillip (Phil) R. Turpin of Lot 194 on May 5, 2026. He was 92 years old.
Phil was born October 19, 1933 and was a native Oregonian. He served in the army during Korea in the 50’s.
He lived in Medford, Oregon where he met his wife to be Margaret (Margie). They were married in May of 1955.
Phil started working in logging but then became a fireman in Medford where he served over 20 years. After retirement he and Margie bought a 5th wheel and went exploring.
They eventually decided to settle in Sutherlin and got their lot in Timber Valley on February 8, 2005. Phil was very active in the park and worked with several Park Managers over the years. He served on numerous committees and liked to stay busy.
He loved new cars and owned quite a few. He was a Chevy man and loved his Chevy Camaro. He had purchased a new one to drive Margie around in before her passing on June 14, 2018. He loved to go fast and got numerous speeding tickets. His last ticket was when he drove himself to the hospital before going into hospice. He had traded his Camaro for a Chevy truck but still managed to go fast.
Phil’s nephew Mark Skundrick has many good memories of Uncle Phil who was a great tease. He remembers being 13 and going out to eat as a family group. Phil always had a pocket knife with him which was of great interest to a 13 year old boy. Phil showed him the knife and asked if he would like to have it. Of course Mark said yes. Phil told him he could have it if he would cut the mole off of his ear. Mark sadly declined but Phil gave him the knife anyway. Mark still has that knife.
Phil is remembered in the park as a great tease, especially to the ladies in the office. He was a kind and caring man with a little devilment thrown in. He is missed.
He is survived by his sister Kathy Skundrick of Arizona and nephew Mark Skundrick of Washington.
Submitted by Richard Hickethier
By Fred Prout
Four years ago I wrote a piece about The Merry Go Round and some of the effects it had on my life. If you didn’t read it let me know and I’ll send it to you. I used to work in a penny arcade as a kid. The centerpiece was the flying horses. The carousel music bounced around in my head for hours after I left work. A couple of decades later my daughter painted one of the horses. Many of my stories are the result of music. It has a tendency to kick start my brain and make me scribble notes for a potential story.
When ordering ANYTHING on the internet to be delivered to the Park, Do not state a memo to,”LEAVE AT THE OFFICE” ! The Office is inundated with many, many packages that are shipped USPS. The delivery companies of UPS and Fed-Ex deliver to the sites. If your address does not list your site number, they will stop and ask and we direct them to your site.
We have recently been visited by ON-TRAK. They are insisting that the instructions state, “Leave At The Office.” We have tried to explain to them that they need to deliver to the site. They are refusing and are arguing that the instructions are what they have to follow and are leaving packages at the Office.
We do NOT have that much room here in the Office for all of the packages that are being delivered. Please make sure to ALWAYS LIST YOUR SITE NUMBER on your Name line when ordering.
~ Kim