Nedra Merle Joham

Nedra Merle Joham, 85, of Grants Pass died Saturday, July 19, 2008, at Spring Village of cancer. A graveside service will be held in Newport. Stephens Family Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Joham was born July 27, 1922, in Los Angeles to Ed and Edna Doolittle. By age 17, she was a professional accordionist in Vaudeville and concert theaters along the West Coast. She moved to Honolulu in 1941 and performed at Hickam Field. On Nov. 19, 1941, she married James E. "Ted" Joham, who died in 1987. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, she was evacuated to the mainland while her husband served in the South Pacific. She continued entertaining for the USO and in theaters and was offered a contract by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, which she turned down so she could care for her family. She raised three sons while traveling to Air Force posts in Alaska, California, South Dakota, Labrador, Kansas and New Mexico. They enjoyed flying their small plane in Alaska, camping in their trailer and riding their horses. In 1964, they retired to their ranch on Elk Creek, where they lived until being forced to move due to the construction of Elk Creek Dam. They operated another ranch in Siletz and began Beacon Realty in Newport. She later married William "Bill" Sharpe, who died in 1998. They moved to Newport. In 1998, she was diagnosed with cancer and, in 2003, she moved to Grants Pass to be near her son. She enjoyed trips to Africa, China, Australia and around the tip of South America. She especially enjoyed her family, animals and raising flowers, particularly lilies. Survivors include three sons, Gary Joham of Grants Pass, Bruce Joham of Trail, and Howard Joham of Damascus; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. A grandson died before her.