Image Dropping Down in MultiRow Table

How about just using minipage:

\documentclass{article}

\newcommand*{\WideFig}{\fbox{\parbox{1.5in}{WIDE \\ FIGURE}}}%
\newcommand*{\TallFig}{\fbox{\parbox{1.0in}{.\\ VERY\\ VERY\\ VERY\\ VERY \\ TALL \\ FIGURE\\ }}}%

\begin{document}
\begin{figure}
  \begin{minipage}{0.30\textwidth}
    \centering
    \WideFig
  \end{minipage}\hfill
  \begin{minipage}{0.35\textwidth}
    \centering
    \TallFig

    \TallFig
  \end{minipage}\hfill
  \begin{minipage}{0.30\textwidth}
    \centering
    \WideFig
  \end{minipage}\hfill
\end{figure}
\end{document}