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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (July 18, 2020)
COMMUNITY Saturday, July 18, 2020 Community Corner Obituaries Nancy J. (Pflueger) Lively 1940-2020 • Union Meetings • ELGIN — The Elgin School Board will meet for its regular monthly meeting July 20. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m at Stella Mayfield School. • BAKER CITY — The Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative Board of Directors will meet Tuesday, July 21. The agenda includes election of officers and appointment of commit- tees. OTEC is headquartered at 4005 23rd St., Baker City. For more information, contact Michele Grove, OTEC admin- istrative assistant, at 541-524- 2853 or mgrove@otecc.com. Briefs Strengthen your health with free four-week challenge LA GRANDE — Nature’s Pantry and Mountain Valley Fitness and Health are sponsoring another round of the free four-week “Vibrant You” health challenge. Learn the building-block habits of health and protect yourself from diseases like COVID-19 by strengthening your over- all health. All meetings and classes will be streamed live. The challenge will run Aug. 2-29. Register by July 28 at www.naturespantry. life, call Nature’s Pantry at 541-963-7955, or stop by the store, 1907 Fourth St., La Grande. The livestreamed launch meeting is planned for July 30. The program will feature instruction by health and fitness professionals, meal plans, livestreamed cooking classes, Facebook group accountability, month-long discounts at Nature’s Pantry and prizes. Training and funding for employment services available LA GRANDE — Training & Employment Consortium (TEC) a part of WorkSource, has funding available for training and employment services. Funds may be used toward completing college degrees, vocational certifi- cates and license as well as on-the-job trainings, short- term vocational trainings, GED testing and tutoring. Funding for young adults, ages 16-24, also includes paid work experiences. Funding is limited. Registra- tion must be completed and eligibility must be deter- mined before funds will be awarded. TEC also offers free assistance with resume development, job searching and career and training exploration. For more infor- mation, contact the Training & Employment Consortium office in Union or Wallowa County at 541-963-7111, ext. 233 or 247. Menus UNION COUNTY SENIOR CENTER TAKEOUT LUNCH MENU Pickup 11:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. at 1504 N. Albany St., La Grande. For delivery, call 541-963-7532 before 10 a.m. Age 60+, $3 suggest- ed donation; all others, $5. JULY 20-24 Monday: summer beef stew in a bread bowl, salad greens, fresh fruit. Tuesday: cheeseburgers, steak fries, fruit garnish, light dessert. Wednesday: almond chicken, rice pilaf, broiled to- matoes, baked bread, sweet onion-cucumber salad, fresh fruit. Thursday: spaghetti, Caesar salad, fresh fruit, light dessert. Friday: chicken strips, steak fries, baked beans, coleslaw, fresh fruit, cookies. Union County kids free grab & go lunch menu Pickup 11:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. at Riveria Activity Center, 2609 Second St., La Grande. Free for age 1-18; all others, $4. JULY 20-24 Monday: ham sandwich- es, potato salad, coleslaw, fruit, cookies Tuesday: hamburgers, fresh fruit, cookies. Wednesday: orange chick- en, rice, egg rolls, steamed veggies, fruit, fortune cookies. Thursday: spaghetti, Cae- sar salad, fruit, rolls, cookies. Friday: chicken strips, baked beans, coleslaw, fruit, ice cream. Nancy Jo Lively, 80, of Union, died July 15 at her home. Eastern Star graveside services will be held July 27 at 10 a.m. at the Wallowa Cemetery. Arrangements are by Dan- iels-Knopp Funeral, Cre- mation & Life Celebration Center. Nancy was born May 1, 1940, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Howard and Norma Pflueger. When she was a child, her family moved to Glendale, California, where she lived for the early years of her life. She had three children: Eric, Lisa, and Clifford. Eventually Nancy moved to Eugene, where she met and married Robert “Bob” Lively. Upon retirement Bob and Nancy moved to Union. She loved rural life and enjoyed hunting and fishing. Nancy made many friends whom she con- sidered family. She was a member of Grande Ronde Valley Chapter #49, Order of the Eastern Star. Surviving relatives include her children, Eric Stover, Lisa Lommen and husband, Ronald, and Clif- ford Nuce and wife, Ronda; and six grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, par- ents, and sister, Donna Kay Hembree. Dave M. Murill Enterprise Dave M. Murill, 86, of Enterprise, died July 14 at Wallowa Memorial Hos- pital. A graveside ser- vice will be held July 25 at 11 a.m. at the Enterprise Cemetery. Nancy C. O’Connor Union Nancy C. O’Connor, 83, of Union, died July 16 at her residence. Arrangements are by Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory, La Grande. Samantha R. Hickey Formerly of La Grande Samantha Ray Hickey, 45, of Caldwell, Idaho, and formerly of La Grande, died July 13. A virtual memo- rial service will begin at 2 p.m. July 20. To access the livestream, go to https:// centennialbaptistminis- tries.org/ and choose the WEDNESDAY GRANDE RONDE HOSPITAL BROWN: To Tahirih Vivian Brown and Jacob Daniel Brown, of La Grande, a son, Cooper Brown, June 26 at 4:57 a.m. LOUDEN: To Serena Radke and Sean Louden, of La Grande, a daughter, Kobe Louden, June 29 at 2:22 a.m. Grandparents are Tim and Donna Louden. MOORE: To Ashley LeAnn Hoskins and James Dean Moore, of Elgin, a daughter, Shaylee LeAnn Moore, July 1 at 9:49 a.m. Grandparents are Patti Hoskins, Tim Hoskins, Kinney and Terri Moore, and Kari and Jack White. Great-grandparents are Aleida and Dick Anderson and Linda Moore. Great-great-grandmother is Betty Trump. OLIVER: To Kristina Derry and David Oliver, of La Grande, a daughter, Oaklynn Dean Oliver, June 26 at 10:36 p.m. Grandparents are Debora Oliver, Adel Derry and Paul Derry. SHELTON: To Chantell Louise Shelton and Ben- jamin Michael Shelton, of La Grande, a daughter, Kennedy Shelton, June 30 at 12:32 a.m. ULRICH: To Kristina Ulrich, of La Grande, a daughter, Myla Ulrich, June 24 at 8:12 a.m. WITHERSPOON: To Stephanie Witherspoon and Thomas Witherspoon, of Elgin, a daughter, Everly Louise Witherspoon, June 27 at 2:03 a.m. Grandparents are Rod and EttaLu Hendriksen and Jaylene Witherspoon. La Grande city library launches Dial-A-Story The Observer LA GRANDE — Cook Memorial Library, La Grande, has launched a new service to provide stories and more for all ages over the phone. With the library building closed and most library programs online, the need to serve those in the com- munity with limited tech- nology access became apparent, according to the Friday afternoon press release from Library director Kip Roberson. So the library now provides Dial-A-Story. The only thing you need to use this service is a tele- phone. Dial-A-Story is available 24 hours a day for free by calling 541-624- 6339. Callers can choose from a menu of nine stories, including at least one least in Spanish. The initial lineup for youth includes “Summer Song” by Kevin Henkes, “Sheep Take a Hike” by Nancy Shaw and “Happy Pig Day” by Mo Wil- lems. Adults can enjoy Mark Twain’s short story “Curious Dream” and poems by various authors. The story lineup will change regularly, according to the press release, and library staff and local “celebrities” record most of the content with some coming from Librivox.com, a company that records readings of items in the public domain. Diversity also will be an ongoing part of the story mix. “Part of our plan is to incorporate all the dif- ferent cultures living in La Grande and Eastern Oregon into the stories that we record,” Roberson said. “It’s important that we recog- nize and acknowledge the library serves everyone.” Joseph Glen Breshears February 11, 1937 - June 27, 2020 Joseph Glen Breshears was born February 11, 1937 in Enterprise, Oregon to parents William Donald Breshears and Lillie Alice Hodge Breshears. He passed away June 27, 2020 in Birmingham, Alabama. He grew up in Wallowa County Oregon. Graduated Wallowa High School, May 1955. Worked for farmers, joined the navy and after a navy career, he worked in Logging Woods, falling timber. A timber falling accident laid him up a short while. Healing from that accident, he next drove long haul truck across USA until retirement. He is survived by sisters Aleta Neal, Lostine and Fredia McDonald, La Grande. Step-son C.J. and his children Autumn and Chance and their mother Katar- ah. Step-daughters Jackie and Sherry. Granddaughters Christina and Lulu. And oodles of neices and nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, step-dad Elmer Trump. His wife Martha, brother Charlie Rae. Sisters Betty Winters and Barbara Asumendi. A service in his honor is planned for later 2020 year. 10106 N. ‘C’ • Island City Upcoming local services July 18 — DONNA EMMONS: 11 a.m. graveside service, Wallowa Cemetery; followed by a celebration of life at the home of Elsie and Red Evans. July 18 — CLIFFORD “IKE” SNELL: 11 a.m. graveside service with military honors, Island City Cemetery; masks are required. July 24 — IRMA ROGERS: noon graveside service, Hill- crest East Cemetery, La Grande; please wear a mask. July 25 — DAVE MURILL: 11 a.m. graveside service, Enterprise Cemetery. July 27 — NANCY LIVELY: 10 a.m. graveside service, Wallowa Cemetery. — Calendar courtesy of Loveland Funeral Chapel, La Grande online church tab. Arrange- ments are by Dakan Funeral Chapel, Caldwell. Condo- lences may be shared at www.dakanfuneralchapel. com. Public Safety Report Births 8:08 a.m. — A caller on the 1800 block of 26th Street, La Grande, asked for help with kittens that needed medical attention. The animal enforce- ment officer contacted the per- son. There was no information about the outcome. 1:05 p.m. — Fire services and law enforcement respond- ed to the eastbound side of Interstate 84 near milepost 284 for a fire. 4:36 p.m. — A caller re- ported a possible break-in at a home on the 1300 block of Baltimore Street, Elgin. 5:27 p.m. — A La Grande 541-975-1364 resident on the 2100 block of Maple Street reported harass- ment by neighborhood youth 7:19 p.m. — La Grande po- lice arrested a 34-year-old man for misdemeanors of menac- ing and disorderly conduct. 11:43 p.m. — La Grande police received a report of a burglary at a residence on the 2400 block of Riddle Road. THURSDAY 9:41 a.m. — La Grande police responded to the 2200 block of Cove Avenue for a burglary. Police took a report. 10:43 a.m. — La Grande police arrested Briann Danielle Leigh Lancaster, 35, of La Grande, on accusations of assault, menacing, criminal mischief and theft. 3 p.m. — Juveniles causing a disturbance at Riverside Park, La Grande, prompted a call for police. Officers talked to the youth. 8:45 p.m. — La Grande police arrested Jared Allen Riesterer, 23, on accusations of driving under the influence of intoxicants. 11:30 p.m. — The Union County Sheriff’s Office re- sponded to Five Point Creek Road and Hilgard Lane, La Grande, for people making noise and shooting guns. Frances Adams Higgins Guentert September 25, 1943 - July 2, 2020 “There are only two ways to live life: one is as though nothing is a mir- acle, and the other is as if everything is a miracle.” On July 2, 2020 Frances Adams Higgins Guen- tert, of Joseph, Oregon was swept up in the arms of an Angel and taken to meet her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Fran was born on September 25, 1943 to Sara Webb Higgins and Frank Taylor Higgins III in San Antonio, Texas. Fran was preceded in death by her parents and her younger brother, Frank Taylor Higgins IV. Also preceding her in death were father-in-law Elgin Guentert and wife Mary of Chappell Hill, Texas. She is survived by the true love of her life and husband of 57 years, Mike Guentert of Joseph, Oregon; their son, Kelly Guentert and wife Connie of Wallowa, Oregon; their daughter, Kasey Guentert of Houston, Texas; Fran’s sister, Sara (Pinky) Pace and husband, Matt of Fredericksburg, Texas; her brother- in- law Steve Guentert and wife Marylou of Joseph, Oregon and her sister-in- law Tiss Chandler and husband Joe of Tyler, Texas. She is also survived by her 6 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchil- dren: Brandy Lookabill, husband Jason and two daughters Danika and Sofee of Lewiston, Idaho; Kole Guentert, wife Bryanna and two children Makajah and Makalah of Denver, Colorado; Cortney Guentert Das Chagas, husband Erick and two children Harmony and Grayson of LaGrande, Oregon; William Lee of Clarkston, Washington, Kody Guentert of LaGrande, Oregon; and Brittany Lee of Clarkston, Washington. She is also survived by numerous adored nieces and nephews: Jake Guentert of Joseph, Oregon; Marsha Moore and daughters, Addie and Eva of Joseph, Oregon; and Shelley Anderson, husband Steven and son Landon of Tyler, Texas. Fran was baptized and confirmed in the Episcopal Church, living her life as a strong and true Christian woman. She was a proud member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT) and the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). She grew up in Brackettville, Texas, and graduated from Brackettville High School in 1961. Fran was active in band, 4H, Future Homemakers of America (FHA), theater, and basketball. During her junior year, she would begin the re- lationship that would last a lifetime. She and Mike were married on February 16, 1963 in St Andrews Episcopal Church of Brackettville. After their reception at the home of her maternal grandmother, Fan- ny Faye Webb, they left Texas for New- castle, Wyoming where Mike would work on the LAK Ranch. They lived there for 2 years then returned to Texas to work ranches in both San Marcos and Chappell Hill. In 1993, Mike and Fran moved to Joseph, Oregon. Fran worked at M&J An Independent Insurance Agency Reed & Associates for excellent service LOCALLY! Nicole Cathey tHE OBSErVEr — 3A Toll Free 1-866-282-1925 Furniture in Enterprise; as well as the Community Bank in Joseph where she came to know not only the patrons of the bank by name, but their dogs too! She was a proud member of St Patrick’s Episcopal Church in Enterprise. Fran’s greatest joy was spending time with her family and she showed that every day. She made sure homework was done, that a hot family meal was prepared and always had a glass of iced tea ready for Dad when he came in from ranch work. She was a devoted Mom to Kelly and Kasey and turned into “team Mom” for everyone involved, kids and parents alike! Fran and Mike attended every event and competition to support and encourage their children - no matter the weather or how far they had to travel! She was ALWAYS there with a smile on her face, clapping and screaming for the “home” team to win. Fran’s many hobbies throughout her life included writing collections of scrip- ture and up-lifting phrases, collecting an array of cactus and succulents, cross- stitch and embroidery work, designing and painting furniture and signs, as well as making jewelry. Her love for the mas- tery of the Native American jewelry art- ists took her and Mike to Santa Fe, New Mexico many times! After moving to Joseph, Fran spent many years as a volun- teer at the souvenir booth at Chief Joseph Days, loved spending her mornings on long walks with dear friends, and always loved to explore the scenic surroundings on drives with Mike. Mom/Fran/Sis/Frannie/Nana was known for her infectious smile and her fun and joyful personality – she brought life and light to the lives of all who knew her. She served God through her Church and in the kindness she showed to every- one she met. She “never met a stranger, only friends she didn’t know…yet!” Fran’s time on this earth was a blessing to all that she encountered. Her giving heart, her laughter, and her energy for life will be remembered. Nana had the ability to take a seemingly unassuming rock and with a simple gesture bring out its true colors. The memories Fran made with those she loved are a most cherished gift to those who knew her. The family will hold a private gath- ering at a later date to honor Fran, and her ashes will be scattered at her favor- ite places in Wallowa County. Should friends desire, donations may be sent in Fran’s memory to St Patrick’s Episcopal Church of Enterprise or the Wallowa County Humane Society. We know you are finally whole and at peace now; we will never forget you and we will always miss you. “Cry not tears of sorrow because I am gone, rejoice because I am with the Lord”. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.lovelandfuneralchapel. com. Medicare, Auto, Home insurance and Annuities www.reed-insurance.net Kevin Reed