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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 6, 2019)
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2019 THE OBSERVER — 3A LOCAL L OCAL B RIEFING From staff reports Elgin School Board meets Monday afterward. For further information about this non-denominational gathering, contact Hank Stockhoff at 541-562- 5873. ELGIN — The Elgin School Board will meet Dec. 9 at 6:30 p.m. in Room 17 of Stella Mayfi eld Elementary School. School district policies will be one of the items discussed at the meeting. Union City Council holds work session Knights Templar host public Christmas observance Sunday UNION — On Dec. 8, the Eastern Oregon Commandery #6 invites the public to join a Christ- mas observance as the Knights Templar honor the birth of Jesus. Beginning at 1 p.m. at 125 W. Cen- ter St. in Union (above the Union Post Offi ce), the event will include a special message by J.D. Cant. There is a chair lift for navigating the stairs. Refreshments will be served UNION — The Union City Council will meet Monday for a work session and its regular monthly meeting. The work session will start at 6 p.m. and the meet- ing at 7 p.m. The work session and meeting will both be conducted at city hall. Church bazaars offer festive holiday variety Saturday LA GRANDE — Two church bazaars are planned for Dec. 7 in La Grande. The Faith Lutheran Church Christmas Bazaar will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The church is at the corner of Gekeler Lane and 12th Street. The sale will feature handi- crafts, food, ornaments, Christmas items and a soup lunch. At the Church of the Nazarene, 109 18th St., muffi ns, hot cocoa and coffee will be available for breakfast and soup and sandwiches will be sold for lunch. Open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the bazaar also will include home- made gifts, crafts and holiday treats. Cove Library’s Christmas Open House planned COVE — The Cove Library is having a Christmas Open House between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Dec. 9. All are invited to come browse through the library while enjoying homemade cookies and Christmas punch. Check out our new books UNION COUNTY SENIOR CENTER MENU 1504 ALBANY ST., LA GRANDE Dec. 9-13; lunch served 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. age 60+ $3 suggested donation; others $6 Monday: ham hocks & beans, salad greens, rolls, fruit, dessert (alternative meal available). Tuesday: handcrafted pizza, salad greens, fresh fruit, cookies. Wednesday: fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, steamed California-blend veggies, Jell-O, rolls, cake. Thursday: Swiss steak with mashed potatoes, brown gravy and sautéed onions, steamed vegetables, rolls, fruit. Friday: Reuben sandwiches, sweet potato fries, pasta salad, fresh fruit and visit our history room. Railroad employee groups meet monthly LA GRANDE — The Union Pa- cifi c Employees Club #17 meets at 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month at Denny’s in La Grande. The next gathering is planned for Dec. 10. On the second Wednesday of the month, the local N.A.R.V.R.E. (Na- tional Association of Retired Veter- ans Railway Employees) meets at 9 a.m., also at Denny’s. The group will meet this month on Dec. 11. O BITUARIES Leonard ‘Bryan’ Melville Enterprise 1974-2019 Leonard Bryan Melville, 45, of Enterprise, died Nov. 27 at his home. A celebra- tion of his life is planned for a later date. Known as Bryan, he was born Nov. 29, 1974, in Enter- prise, to Leonard “Skip” and Aleta (Stein) Melville. Bryan attended Enterprise schools from kindergarten through high school and graduated in 1993. While attending school, Bryan was active in basket- ball, FFA and speech Bryan was a jack-of- all-trades and held many positions using his many different skills. He did mill work, farming, ranching, construction work, mechanic work and masonry. A hard worker, he was always willing to give a helping hand. He had strong driving skills that he started developing in the fi elds at the young age of 4. Bryan’s hobbies were hunt- ing and fi shing and fi shing and hunting. He was never happier than when spending time outdoors. Bryan started hunting and fi shing at the tender age of 3 with his fam- ily and Grandpa Harry. When in junior high he started hunting with hounds and had many adventures with his friends hunting bear, cou- gar and bobcat. Bryan always seemed to know where to fi nd the biggest deer and the most elk and took many trophies. He also loved to hunt birds and ground squirrels. If he wasn’t hunting, he could most often be found fi shing. Bryan was a true farm kid and loved animals. From middle school on, he never owned less than two dogs and most times many more than that. He enjoyed raising hogs and supporting the Wallowa County 4-H kids with their pig projects. He owned horses and loved teaching his kids, nieces and nephews about them. Many enjoyable trips were made into the Wallowa Mountains with his family on horseback. Bryan was fun-loving, car- ing, genuine, a great listener and always ready for an adventure. He always had time to stop and visit and was friendly and upbeat. His family will especially remem- ber his belief that “love isn’t what you say — love is what you do.” Surviving relatives include his parents, Skip and Aleta Melville of Enterprise; sig- nifi cant other, Johna Alford of Enterprise; daughters, Kloe Kay Melville of Redmond, Kaesie Rae Melville and Mackenzie Faith Melville of McPherson, Kansas; sisters and brothers-in-law, Mindee and Steve Christman of Three Forks, Montana, and Monica and Karl McLaugh- lin-Sziisz of Silverton; brother, Harry Melville of Wallowa; and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Leonard and Jerry Melville, Harry Stein and Florence “Mae” Esbenshade. Memorial donations may be made to the Wallowa County 4-H program. Lorna ‘Louene’ (Haynes) Landry Formerly of La Grande 1934-2019 Lorna Louene Landry, 85, of Hermiston and formerly of La Grande, died Dec. 4. A private family burial will be at the Hermis- ton Cemetery. Arrangements are entrusted to Burns Mortuary of Hermiston. Known as Louene, she was born March 7, 1934, in Baker City, to Louis and Georgia (Ferguson) Haynes. Louene graduated from La Grande High School in 1952 and pursued her love of nursing, graduating as a registered nurse in 1957. After graduating, Louene met and married Richard “Dick” Landry, a pilot in the U.S. Air Force. They spent time overseas in Guam, and Panama before moving to La Grande in the early 1970s. Dick and Louene moved to Hermiston when Dick was offered a job with Pendleton Grain Growers. Louene went to work for Good Shepherd Hospital, where she worked until she retired in 2003. She had a love for horses and the outdoors. Surviving relatives include her niece and nephews and their spouses, Lauri and Dwayne Huxoll of Hermis- ton, Louis Haynes and Mila Pallares of Vernal, Utah, and Mike and Laura Mallory of La Grande, and numer- ous great-nieces and great- nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dick Landry; parents, Louis and Georgia Haynes; brother and sister-in- law, Joe and Verna Haynes; and niece, Terry Mallory Decker. Memorial contributions may be made to Vange John Memorial Hospice, 645 W. Orchard Ave., Suite 300, Hermiston 97838. Share memories of Louene with her family at www.burn- smortuaryhermiston.com. Patricia J. (Armstrong) Patterson Formerly of La Grande 1924-2019 Patricia “Pat” Jean Pat- terson, 95, formerly of La Grande, died Nov. 14 at Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford after a brief illness. A celebration of her life was held Dec. 5 at Rogue Valley Manor. Known as Pat, she was born May 5, 1924, in Albu- querque, New Mexico, to Ray- mond and Meta Armstrong, joining siblings George and Doris. During Pat’s early childhood, the family moved to Cascade, Idaho, where she grew up and became good friends with Willard “Bill” Patterson. After Pat attended Stephens College in Colum- bia, Missouri, and Bill was discharged from the U.S. Army, they were married on June 22, 1945, in Cascade. Bill and Pat raised four sons. Their marriage lasted until Bill passed away the evening of their 74th anniversary. With patience and warmth, Pat guided her sons as Bill’s career led them to Cascade and Boise, Idaho, La Grande, and De Ridder, Loui- siana. After his retirement, they moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to provide sup- port for her parents. Many winters were spent practic- ing her Spanish in Guada- lajara, Mexico. Summers found them at Wallowa Lake, where Pat became an avid and adventurous fl y-fi sher. Sons and families often gath- ered there, creating wonder- ful memories. In 2003, Pat and Bill moved to Rogue Valley Manor in Medford to be closer to family. Pat loved to read, which inspired many conversations with family and friends, especially if she could sit by a warm fi re. Interested in other people’s cultures, viewpoints and ex- periences throughout history, she participated in book clubs and Bible study. Pat’s acceptance, gracious manner and consideration endeared her to those around her. Curious and gener- ous with people, she was a master of the unexpected and kind gesture. “Keep a positive attitude” was her guiding wisdom. While in her hospital bed, she chatted and laughed with her four boys circled around her the weekend before she died, gracious, considerate and positive to the very end. Surviving relatives include her sons and daughters-in- law, Bill Jr. and Marilyn of Medford, Steve and Jane of Wilsonville, Mark and Jennifer of Seattle, Wash- ington, and Rob and Cathy of San Antonio, Texas; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Loretta Hoard Lostine Loretta Hoard, 80, of Lostine, died Dec. 3 at her sister’s home in Sandy. An obituary is forthcoming. Ar- rangements are entrusted to Bollman Funeral Home. Mary Armon Wallowa Mary Armon, 78, of Wallowa, died Dec. 4 at a care center in Gresham. An obituary is forthcoming. Ar- rangements are entrusted to Bollman Funeral Home. Elizabeth Grote Joseph Elizabeth Grote, 61, of Joseph, died Dec, 3 at Wal- lowa Memorial Hospital. An obituary is forthcoming. Arrangements are entrusted to Bollman Funeral Home. and Donnie Sinor of Nevada; brother, Richard Bidwell of La Grande; and seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Tracy Sinor; parents, Lawrence and Josephine Bidwell; sisters, Ruth Bidwell and Ruby Gen- nat; and sister-in-law, Evelyn Bidwell. Online condolences may be made to the family at www. lovelandfuneralchapel.com. Sueellen (Whitlock) Lambert Roberta M. (Bidwell) Sinor La Grande Elgin Sueellenn Lambert, 72, of La Grande, died Nov. 21 at Grande Ronde Hospital. A graveside ser- vice will be held in the spring. Sueellen was born Dec. 13, 1946, in San Luis Obispo, California, to Philip and Sue (Rountree) Whitlock. She lived in La Grande for 33 years, where she spent many of her days wandering the aisles of Walmart. She was married to Neil Lambert for 36 years. Sueellen enjoyed scrapbooking and going to eat at Denny’s, where she knew everyone. Surviving relatives include her husband, Neil Lambert of La Grande; Brian Fortenberry of Liberty Lake, Washington; daugh- ters, Suzette Kennedy of Walla Walla, Washing- ton, and Lorrie Tritt and husband, Scott, of Baker City; stepson Todd Lambert of Klamath Falls; siblings, Maryann Bowles of Arizona and Bob Whitlock of Califor- nia; nine grandchildren; and 18 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Philip and Sue Whitlock, and daughter, Laurie Earline Fortenberry. Online condolences may be made to the family at www. lovelandfuneralchapel.com. 1944-2019 Roberta “Birdie” May Sinor, 75, of Elgin, died Nov. 27 at a care facility in Boise, Idaho. A grave- side service will be held at 2 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Elgin Cemetery. Nicknamed Birdie, Roberta was born Oct. 24, 1944, in El Monte, California, to Lawrence and Josephine (Zimmerman) Bidwell. She resided in El Monte and Willits, California, Elgin and Boise. Roberta graduated from El Monte High School and was a member of the El Monte High School marching band. She attended Mendoci- no College and was an avid fan of the Mendocino College baseball team. She was mar- ried to Charles Ray Sinor, and they later divorced. Roberta worked as a caregiver and waitress. She enjoyed playing bingo, camp- ing and hiking. She was a talented artist and loved to draw. One of Roberta’s fond- est memories was playing trumpet in the Rose Parade. She attended First Baptist Church in Willits, California, and Harvester’s Nazarene Church in Elgin. Surviving relatives include her children and their spouses, Rayburn and Shawn Sinor of Washington 1946-2019 ! in a r T e h t n o s e iv r r S an t a A Sponsored by UPEC-17, SMART, BLE-T Div. 362, & NARVE December 11, 2019 at 4 pm UPRR Depot Bring the Kids! Come see Santa! Open to the public! UPCOMING FUNERALS AND VISITATIONS Sponsored by This offer won’t hang around long. Subscribe today! THE OBSERVER’S SPECIAL HOLIDAY GIFT TO YOU Buy a three month subscription to T HE O BSERVER and get one month free! Offer for new and existing subscribers For more information, please call UPEC-17 Pres. Rancy Shenfield 2 541-910-0402 or Sec?Treas. Susan Gerry @541-786-4606 Dec. 7 Vangie Guze: 10 a.m. celebration of life, Loveland Funeral Chapel, La Grande. Act fast - offer valid through December 31, 2019 To take advantage of this special offer please call the office at 541-963-3161 or our call center at 1-800-781-3214
