Michelle Marie Hanten

Michelle Marie Hanten, 47, of Merlin, died Wednesday, March 14, 2007 at her home.

Michelle Marie Hanten was born August 25, 1959 in Vermillion, South Dakota. She moved to Merlin, Oregon from Buena Park, California in 1964 when her parents purchased Morrison’s Rogue River Lodge. Michelle grew up at the lodge, graduated from Grants Pass High School in 1977, and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Oregon State University in 1982 where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, OSU Chapter.

Michelle trained as a Sommelier at The Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park, before returning to Merlin to manage the family’s lodging, rafting, and fishing businesses. Michelle was the managing partner of Morrison’s Rogue River Lodge and Rogue River Raft Trips, Inc. for the last several years, until the time of her death.

In addition to being a professionally trained chef, Michelle was also an instrument rated private pilot. She enjoyed a brief acting career in the early 1990s appearing in two feature films, as well as acting in local productions at The Barnstormer Playhouse. Michelle was an accomplished fly-fisherwoman and also enjoyed hunting pheasant with her dad and brothers. She spent a significant amount of her spare time traveling around the world, but always felt blessed to come home to the Rogue River.

Michelle is survived by her son, Churchill Hanten Crean; father, B.A. Hanten and stepmother, Lee Whaley Hanten both of Merlin; two brothers, Michael Hanten of Poulsbo, Washington and Mark Hanten of Alpine, California; nephew, Connor; nieces, Madison and Katie; and her very dear friends, Johnnie and Linda Crean. She was preceded in death by her mother, Elaine Marie Hanten.

A funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, March 17, 2007 at Hull & Hull Funeral Directors.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The P.E.O. Foundation (scholarship fund), c/o Morrison’s Rogue River Lodge, 8500 Galice Road, Merlin, Oregon 97532 as Michelle had been a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, Grants Pass Chapter EX since April 1987.