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Tuesday, March 24, 2026 at 4:08 PM

Two Local Residents Perish in Oregon Plane Crash

Two Local Residents Perish in Oregon Plane Crash
Don Sefton at an Arts Council Event

The Medford, Oregon Police department has confirmed two fatalities from a plane crash at the Airport Chevrolet dealership in Medford, Oregon on Sunday, December 5.

Don Sefton was piloting his 1977 Piper PA-31 Navajo, with his passenger Valerie Serpa, when the aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff, under unknown circumstances into the car dealership parking lot, according to the Federal Aviation Administration Accident and Incident Notification.

The families have been notified.

Sefton was the owner of Systems Consultants in Fallon, doing business with wildlife departments in several states. He moved his company to Fallon in the late 1980s to work on contracting with NAS Fallon as a result of Shirley Walker’s economic development activities.

Serpa served as the executive director of the Churchill Arts Council, building that organization from the beginning and completely restoring the Oats Park School into an impressive art center and integral part of the Fallon community.

 


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[email protected] 02/21/2022 05:35 PM
It sounds like Fallon has lost two wonderful citizens, and that's very sad. As a 1965 Fallon Green waves High School grad, I admire so much the improvements the city was and is working on. My heartfelt sympathies to Fallon and the families left behind. Holly White English Reno, NV

Melinda Fitkin 12/07/2021 10:06 PM
My heart goes out to the families ?

Dana Delicino 12/07/2021 01:57 PM
What a horrible tragedy. Such wonderful people. Strenght and blessings to their families and friends.

COMMENTS
Comment author: Nicole GalbraithComment text: Farren - I just saw that you aren’t here with us. I am completely in shock! I met you and hung out with you so many years ago with Jer, and Eden. I honestly can’t believe you are gone…..you were a wonderful human being, with a HUGE heart and soul. Hearing this makes my heart break! You are forever in our hearts, and I can say I feel blessed that I was able to know you! Rest easy sweet Farren xoxoComment publication date: 3/23/26, 12:30 PMComment source: Obituary- Farren CrosslandComment author: Tiffany LundleeComment text: I will miss you so very much Bryan. It was always fun visiting you guys. And always talking about what Jon and Aaron use to do as goofy teenagers I will miss you very muchComment publication date: 3/21/26, 12:12 PMComment source: Bryan Taylor Anderson C Comment author: Carl C. HagenComment text: A wonderful tribute. Thank you Kelli Kelly.Comment publication date: 3/21/26, 8:12 AMComment source: In memorium -- The Melon ManComment author: Bob SondgrothComment text: There are times when you should just know about someone. Who and what they REALLY were. Because they were devotional and IMPORTANT to the humans they connected with. The content of their life bled so that others could feel their own life’s importance. Teachers of justifiable life and art. That all can absorb and use as the best fertilizer for THEIR lives. Giving the silent secrets and the loud guidance. The Melon Man was a perfect specimen for how to devote. His passing meant a life book of feeling/knowing what gives other humans their paths to Love and Knowledge. Some humans are meant to show others their paths. And in that they secrete ways to profitably exist.Comment publication date: 3/18/26, 4:50 PMComment source: In memorium -- The Melon Man
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