FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2020
C OMMUNITY
Meetings
•ISLAND CITY — Union
County Cattlemen will meet
at 7 p.m. Monday at the Ag
Service Center, 10507 N.
McAlister Road, Island City.
The Oregon Department of
Fish and Wildlife will be the
guest and will introduce its
new biologist for this area.
Sheriff Boyd Rasmussen also
will attend. The meeting is
open to the public.
•LA GRANDE — The La
Grande City Council will
meet Wednesday for a regu-
lar session followed by an ex-
ecutive session in La Grande
City Hall, 1000 Adams Ave.
The regular session begins
at 6 p.m. and includes the
second reading of the Waste
Pro Franchise Agreement
and the fi rst reading of an
amendment to the Adopting
State Codes ordinance. The
executive session is to discuss
labor negotiations.
•LA GRANDE — The Union
County Democrats will meet
Wednesday at 6 p.m. at
Umpqua Bank 1215 Adams
Ave., La Grande, to discuss
Union County’s get-out-the-vote
efforts for the 2020 election.
•ISLAND CITY — The
Union County Weed Board
will meet Thursday 8-9 a.m.
The meeting will be at the
Union County OSU Exten-
sion Offi ce, 10507 N. McAli-
ster Road, Island City.
Registration required
by Sunday for
next week’s ‘white
allyship’ training
LA GRANDE — A work-
shop for volunteers, boards and
staff members to learn, share
and discuss diversity, equity
and inclusion methods and
strategies will be held from
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday
at Cook Memorial Library,
2006 Fourth St., La Grande.
Focusing on the concept of
“white allyship,” Alexis James.
will lead the training. The
cost of the workshop is $25,
which includes lunch. Register
at https://bit.ly/37LlJ5X or
contact NEOEDD at 541-
426-3598. The cut-off date for
registration is Sunday.
There also will be a free
public Oregon Humanities
conversation on the topic
at 6 p.m. Thursday at Cook
Memorial Library.
‘White beaches’
beckon at Anthony
Lakes
NORTH POWDER —
Anthony Lakes Mountain
Resort’s annual all-day Beach
Party is Saturday. All are
invited to the white beaches
of Anthony Lakes for family-
friendly fun. From 10 a.m.
to 2 p.m. there will be games
including snow volleyball and
badminton, hula hoops, a tube
luge ($5) and hide-and-seek
flamingos with prizes. A limbo
contest begins at 5:30 p.m.,
and the Greenneck Daredevils
will contribute live music 3-6
p.m. upstairs in the lodge’s
Starbottle Saloon. Chair runs
are open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Go
to anthonylakes.com for more
details.
Tie fl ies and talk
fi shing Monday
LA GRANDE — A “Bar
Flies” night is hosted the
fi rst Monday of the month at
6:30 p.m. at Side A Brewing,
1219 Washington Ave., La
Grande. The next gather-
ing is Feb. 3. Novices and
experts are invited to “tie up
some bugs, have a brew and
talk fi shing.”
Oyster, steak feed
benefi ts Wallowa fi re
department
WALLOWA — The Wallowa
Volunteer Fire Department
will hold its annual Oyster and
Steak Feed fundraiser from
3-8 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Wallowa
Senior Center. Cost is $30 for
all-you-can-eat oysters or a rib
steak and sides. Hot dogs will
be available for children. Wine
and beer will be available to
purchase. For more informa-
tion, call Wallowa City Hall at
541-886-2422.
Families invited
to LMS honor roll
assemblies
LA GRANDE — Families
of students named to the La
Grande Middle School’s honor
roll for the second quarter of
the 2019-20 academic year
are invited to attend assem-
blies Feb. 5-7 in the LMS gym.
Each assembly begins at 8:25
a.m. The sixth-grade assem-
bly will be held Wednesday.
Thursday’s assembly is for
seventh- and eighth-grade
students with these advisory
teachers: Singer, Erickson,
Nickerson, Lair, Benson,
Becker-Bisenius, Schow and
Bedolla. Friday’s assembly is
for seventh- and eighth-grade
students with these advisory
teachers: Fritz, Carson, Thur-
man, Leavitt, Kretschmer,
Remily, Foggia and Gisi.
Workshop brings
historic building
resources to
community
LA GRANDE — The city
of La Grande and La Grande
Landmarks Commission
announced the Northeast
Oregon Preservation Work-
shop, “Materials, Methods
and Marketing for Historic
Downtowns,” will be held
March 6 at Art Center East,
1006 Penn Ave., La Grande.
With a series of sessions
for contractors, developers,
history buffs and others,
“the full-day workshop is an
opportunity for the North-
east Oregon community
to build knowledge about
maintaining and restoring
P UBLIC S AFETY R EPORT
historic buildings,” according
to a news release from the
city. Cassie Hibbert, chair of
the La Grande Landmarks
Commission, stated in the
announcement the town’s
commercial district includes
82 buildings built prior to
1948, “and all need some
degree of tender loving care.”
The workshop starts at
8 a.m. and includes sessions on
preservation construction tech-
niques, marketing commercial
and residential historical real
estate and a “happy hour case
study” from 3-4 p.m. on the
historic Haskell Building in
Baker City, which recently
received a $200,000 grant from
Oregon Main Street.
Space is limited and ad-
vance registration is recom-
mended. Cost for the full-day
workshop is $10 and includes
lunch. Continuing education
credits for an additional fee
are available for contractors
and real estate brokers. For
more information or to reg-
ister for the event, visit the
Union County Chamber of
Commerce website at www.
visitunioncounty.org.
Gardening class digs
into soil and fertilizer
ISLAND CITY — The
Master Gardener Program
offered by OSU Union Coun-
ty Extension offers novices
and experts an opportunity to
expand their knowledge. Indi-
vidual classes, held 5:30-8:30
p.m. on Tuesdays, are open
to all for $5 each. On Feb. 4 a
class on soil and fertilizer will
be taught by Austin Hawks,
from the OSU Crop and Soil
Science Department. Classes
are held in the conference
room at the Union County
Extension offi ce, 10507 N.
McAlister Road, Island City.
For more information and to
RSVP for individual classes,
call the Union County Exten-
sion offi ce at 541-963-1010.
O BITUARIES
David C. Harmon
Formerly of La Grande
1939-2020
David Curtis Harmon, 80,
of Clarksville, Tennessee,
and formerly of La Grande,
died Jan. 16.
A committal
service with
military honors
was held Jan.
24 at Kentucky
Veterans Cemetery West in
Hopkinsville, Kentucky.
David was born Dec.
8, 1939, in La Grande, to
Ace and Lena (Campbell)
Harmon. After 30 years of
service he retired from the
military and worked the
next 15 years as a deputy
sheriff. He loved spending
time with his grandchildren
and watching old Westerns.
Surviving relatives in-
clude his sons, Patrick Har-
mon and Michael Harmon;
siblings, Phyllis Harmon
Taylor, Jack Harmon and
wife, Una Mae, and Dixie
Harmon Miller; and three
grandchildren and two
great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death
by his parents; wife, Pau-
lette Harmon; and brother,
Charles Harmon.
Online condolences may
be made at www.navefuner-
alhomes.com.
Rogelio ‘Roger’ Verduzco
Formerly of La Grande and Joseph
1936-2019
Rogelio “Roger” Coro-
nado Cenizais Verduzco, 83,
formerly of La Grande and
Joseph, died Dec. 15, 2019,
in Kennewick,
Washington.
His ashes
will be scat-
tered when
the weather
warms. Ar-
rangements
were handled
by Prosser Fu-
neral Home.
Known as Roger, he was
born Sept. 26, 1936, in
Dallas, Texas, to Katalina
THE OBSERVER — 3A
LOCAL
Coronado Cenizais Verduzco
and Alberto Verduzco. When
Roger and his mother were
able to travel, they returned
to East Chicago, Indiana, to
reunite with his father and
siblings. The family lived
in the Harbor area where
Roger attended high school
and was captain of the foot-
ball team.
After graduation from
high school, Roger served in
the U.S. Army 82nd Air-
borne Division and enjoyed
parachuting. He was honor-
ably discharged Aug. 31,
1964, after which he earned
a PhD at Purdue Univer-
sity. Roger and his wife,
Mary, moved to Scottsdale,
Arizona, where he became
a professor at Arizona State
University. Roger and Mary
divorced, and he moved to
Joseph. He worked at odd
jobs in Wallowa County
while enjoying hiking and
camping.
In 1979, Roger took a
position as the clinical direc-
tor of the Grande Ronde
Child Center in La Grande,
where he met his wife-to-be.
He and Susan Lamica were
married Dec. 15, 1979. They
went on a honeymoon in
Wallowa County with Su-
san’s young sons, ages 8 and
10. They hiked 4-1/2 miles
to the confl uence of Sheep
Creek with the Snake River.
They attempted fi shing but
fi sh were not interested in
dodging ice cubes to take
bait. After four days they
returned to La Grande.
Later, Roger began a
career in rehabilitation,
serving Eastern Oregon and
Washington. To lessen week-
day travel, he and Susan
bought a second home in
Kennewick, Washington.
Roger and Susan divorced
in 1988, and Roger took a
position with the state of
Washington until suffer-
ing a heart attack. Health
problems ensued necessitat-
ing kidney dialysis. Roger
and Susan continued their
relationship until his death
on the 40th anniversary of
their marriage.
Roger enjoyed golfi ng
with friends, especially Pete.
He was a Master Gardener
and assisted with the instal-
lation of the Kennewick
Library rose garden.
Surviving relatives
include his sisters, Stella
Galvin and Sarah Martinez
and her husband, Raul, of
Indiana, and numerous
nieces and nephews. He was
preceded in death by four
other siblings.
Ray Davis and wife, Bobbie,
of Middleton, Idaho, and
Justin Davis of New Plym-
outh Idaho; sister, Willie
Myers of La Grande; sister-
in-law, Connie Williams of
Walla Walla, Washington; 13
grandchildren and 24 great-
grandchildren; and numer-
ous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death
by his parents; siblings; wife,
Jackie Davis; son, Billy Davis;
daughter-in-law, Nancy Davis;
and nephew, Kevin Williams.
Online condolences may be
made to the family at www.
lovelandfuneralchapel.com.
William ‘Bill’ A. Davis
La Grande
1935-2020
William “Bill” Albert
Davis, 84, of La Grande,
died Jan. 13 at his home. A
joint celebration of life will
be held in the
spring for Bill
and his wife,
Jackie.
Known as
Bill, he was
born Aug. 13,
1935, in La
Grande, the
youngest child
of Harry and
Rowena Davis. He attended
school in La Grande.
In 1957, Bill married
Jackie Brown, and they
shared 61 years together.
Bill was a loving husband
and proud father. Better
known by his loved ones as
“the Sheikh,” he was a hard-
working man who loved the
outdoors and his companion
German shepherds, Rex and
D.O.G. Bill had a strong love
for his family and his four
children.
Bill served his country
honorably as a member of the
U.S. Air Force. He was sta-
tioned in Spokane, Washing-
ton, and earned his bomber
wings while serving in Korea,
Okinawa and the Philippines.
Surviving relatives
include his daughter and
son-in-law, Iky and William
Cross of La Grande; sons,
UPCOMING FUNERALS
AND VISITATIONS
Sponsored by
Jan. 31 & Feb. 1
Doralee Powell:
5-7 p.m. viewing on
Jan. 31, and 2 p.m.
funeral on Feb. 1, both
at Loveland Funeral
Chapel, La Grande.
Feb. 1
Millie Dooley:
12:30 p.m. fellowship
meal and 2 p.m.
service in La Grande
Seventh-day Adventist
Church.
Feb. 3 & Feb. 4
Thomas Hartley:
4-6 p.m. viewing and
6 p.m. Recitation of
the Rosary on Feb. 3,
and 2 p.m. funeral on
Feb. 4, all at Our Lady
of the Valley Catholic
Church, La Grande.
Feb. 8
Justice Clark:
4 p.m. celebration of life,
Presbyterian Friendship
Center, La Grande;
casual dress preferred.
WEDNESDAY
A caller at 7:56 a.m.
reported a disturbance
involving a juvenile on the
2400 block of Riddle Road,
La Grande. A Union County
sheriff’s deputy responded.
La Grande police at 8:04
a.m. received a request for the
school resource offi cer regard-
ing harassment involving a
student at La Grande Middle
School.
A caller at 8:27 a.m.
reported vandalism on the
81900 block of Blackhawk
Trail Lane, La Grande.
The Union County Sheriff’s
Offi ce at 9:27 a.m. received
a complaint about horse
neglect at 26th Street and
Mulholland Drive, La Grande.
A deputy checked and found
the horse had food and
water.
The Union County Sheriff’s
Offi ce arrested Alex Joseph
Smith, 28, of La Grande, for
driving under the infl uence
of intoxicants.
La Grande police at about
12:45 p.m. responded to a
crash on the 2100 block of
Cove Avenue. There were
no injuries, and an offi cer
took a report.
A caller at 12:56 p.m.
reported a dog bite victim
on the 1800 block of Gekeler
Lane, La Grande. The city’s
animal enforcement offi cer
responded and took a report.
Emergency services at
about 3:40 p.m. responded to
a crash involving injuries at
Peach Road and Airport Lane,
La Grande.
La Grande police at 4:32
p.m. responded to a report
of a burglary at a shop on
the 2300 block of Willow
Street.
Emergency agencies at
about 5:54 p.m. responded to
the 62400 block of Buchanan
Lane, La Grande, for another
crash with injuries. A Union
County sheriff’s deputy took
a report.
La Grande police at about
8:40 p.m. responded to a call
about animal neglect on the
600 block of Adams Avenue.
Offi cers provided information
to animal control.
THURSDAY
Emergency services at
about 7:30 a.m. responded to
a crash involving an injury on
the fi rst block of Highway 237,
La Grande.
La Grande police at 10:38
a.m. received a report about
sexual crimes.
A caller at 2:52 p.m.
reported a burglary at a resi-
dence on the 2700 block of
L Avenue, La Grande. Police
responded and took a report.
La Grande police arrested
Jeffery Lane Roberts, 45,
no fi xed address, for posses-
sion of methamphetamine
and domestic violence stran-
gulation.
FRIDAY
La Grande police arrested
Brooklyn Jane Fisher Wil-
liams, 20, for DUII.
La Grande police arrested
Alexander Creighton Declue,
22, of La Grande, for posses-
sion of an unlawful fi rearm,
felon in possession of a
weapon, felony possession
of heroine and misdemeanor
possession of methamphet-
amine.
And fi refi ghters responded
to fi ve calls for medical as-
sistance on Thursday and
10 on Wednesday.
UNION COUNTY SENIOR CENTER MENU
1504 ALBANY ST., LA GRANDE
Feb. 3-7; lunch served 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
age 60+ $3 suggested donation; others $6
Monday: Reuben sandwiches, steak fries, three-bean
salad, fresh fruit, brownies.
Tuesday: chicken Alfredo, vegetable salad, steamed
vegetables, Italian bread, fresh fruit.
Wednesday: pork roast, rice pilaf, steamed vegetables,
baked apples, Jell-O, rolls, dessert (alternate meal: chef
salad).
Thursday: fi sh and chips, scalloped potatoes, steamed
green beans with almonds, Jell-O, rolls, dessert
(alternative meal: turkey sandwich).
Friday: Swiss steak served with brown gravy and sauteed
onions and mushrooms, mashed potatoes and gravy,
salad greens, rolls, fresh fruit.
Bertha Louise (Parker) Thompson
January 31, 1950 - January 18, 2020
Bertha Louise (Parker) Thomp-
son, 69, of La Grande, passed away
on Saturday, January 18, 2020 at
Grande Ronde Hospital. A Memo-
rial Service was held on Saturday,
January 25, 2020 at La Grande First
Baptist Church.
Bertha was born January 31, 1950
in Sweet Home, OR to Walter and
Anna (Deardorff) Parker. In school
Bertha was in Honor Society, Na-
tional Honor Society, played volleyball, was in class plays,
held a class office and a student body office and graduated
from Crane Union High School as Valedictorian of her
class in 1967. She attended business school in Boise, ID
and later met and married Robert “Tom” Thompson which
took her on a journey to Milton, FL where her only son
Aaron Thomas Thompson was born September 2, 1972.
Together they lived in Iwakuni, Japan and San Diego, CA.
Bertha and Aaron relocated to John Day, OR for several
years prior to moving to Union, and then La Grande in the
early 1980’s. In La Grande she found her church family
at First Baptist Church and she adored this congrega-
tion. She planted herself firmly in the first row and at her
memorial service a member of the fellowship joked about
retiring her chair. She was a prayer warrior, sang in the
church choir for a time, attended various and sundry (a
favorite expression of hers) small groups, and retreats and
was known to love a church potluck.
Bertha returned to college in 2006 and earned her Bach-
elor’s degree in History with a minor in English. She had
such an affinity for words, language and learning. She also
began working as a pharmacy clerk at Red Cross United
Drug in 2006 and was known as the “filing guru” and en-
joyed many other responsibilities, often remarking it was
her favorite job. She had also spent many years working
for The Nickel, an ad newspaper, and as an editor for a
publishing company. Bertha was passionate about books,
both reading them and collecting them throughout her
lifetime. She also enjoyed writing, and many loved her for
her quick wit and extensive vocabulary. She crocheted for
hours on end, gifting so many with her afghans through-
out the years. She was a member of the Happy Hooker’s
crocheting club. Bertha had a great love and appreciation
for music from the great Christian gospels to heavy metal.
She sang alto beautifully and undoubtedly knew all of the
words in the hymnal but could also sing along to other
favorites such as Simon and Garfunkel, Neil Diamond,
Metallica and the like. Her favorite musical artist was no
doubt, her son, Aaron.
Bertha was loved and appreciated by so many. We will
miss her. She is survived by her son, Aaron Thompson
of La Grande; sister, Shirley (Bud) Stewart of Palmer,
AK; brothers, Walt (Susan)Parker of Council, ID, and
Raymond “R.J.” (Liz) Parker of Republic, WA; her three
grandchildren, Ryatt Thompson, Bryce Langley and Lind-
say Roberson and numerous nieces and nephews. She is
preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Anna Parker;
brother, Paul Parker; and sister, Peggy Tudor.