COMMUNITY
TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2020
OBITUARIES
COMMUNITY
Meetings
Dave M. Murrill
• UNION — The Union Rural
Fire Protection District board
will meet July 21 at 7 p.m.
via Zoom. For instructions on
attending, email union.rfpd@
outlook.com.
Briefs
Live webinar offered for
fi rst-time home buyers
HERMISTON — The UEC
Business Resource Center,
based in Hermiston, an-
nounced a free webinar will
be held July 21 at 5:30 p.m.
for fi rst-time home buyers in
Northeast Oregon. The live
webinar will help prospective
buyers prepare to purchase
their fi rst home. To register
and for log-in information,
email uecbrc@gmail.com or
call 541-289-3000 as soon as
possible.
Riverside Storywalk
delayed
LA GRANDE — Cook Me-
morial Library began moving
its Storywalk project forward
in May as an opportunity to
encourage reading and exer-
cise. However, the COVID-19
pandemic interfered with
the schedule, and recent
construction issues have fur-
ther delayed the project. The
Riverside Park Storywalk will
be permanent and display
a variety of books. The fi rst
will be “My Octopus Arms”
by local artist Keith Baker, a
children’s book about all the
things you can do with your
hands and arms. The project
is a collaboration between
the library and the La Grande
Parks and Recreation and
Public Works departments.
Honors
Local students earn
higher education
academic distinction,
degrees
LA GRANDE — The fol-
lowing students, all hailing
from Northeast Oregon,
earned academic honors
and degrees while studying
at universities across the
country.
Victoria Suto, of Enter-
prise: President’s Honor Roll
(GPA 3.9-4.0), spring semes-
ter 2020, College of Saint
Mary, Omaha, Nebraska.
Bethany Aronson, of La
Grande: Honor Society of
Phi Kappa Phi, spring 2020,
Eastern Oregon University.
Coral Goldstein, of La
Grande: Honor Society of
Phi Kappa Phi, spring 2020,
Eastern Oregon University.
Cameron Scott, of
Joseph: Honor Society of
Phi Kappa Phi, spring 2020,
Eastern Oregon University.
Braden Bell, of La
Grande: President’s List
(GPA 3.85-4.0), spring
semester 2020, Gonzaga
University, Spokane, Wash-
ington.
Scott Remily, of La
Grande: Dean’s List (GPA
3.5-3.84), spring semester
2020, Gonzaga University,
Spokane, Washington.
Sarrah Magner, of La
Grande: President’s List
(GPA 3.5-4.0), spring semes-
ter 2020, Minnesota State
College Southeast.
Caitlyn Robinson, of La
Grande: Dean’s List (GPA
3.5-4.0), spring semester
2020, Wheaton College,
Wheaton, Illinois.
DEGREES
Nena Jones, of La
Grande: master of science
degree, nursing, leadership
and management, May
2020, Western Governors
University (online).
Abbey Felley, of La
Grande: bachelor of arts
degree, computer science,
Whitman College, Walla
Walla, Washington.
THE OBSERVER — 3A
1934-2020 • Enterprise
Dave M. Murrill, 86, of
Enterprise, died July 14 at
Wallowa Memorial Hos-
pital. A graveside service
will begin at 11 a.m. July 25
at the Enterprise Cemetery.
Dave was
born March 16,
1934, in Enter-
prise, to Hil-
bert and Alta
(Fordice) Mur-
rill. He was
raised at the round barn
homestead in the Flora area.
In 1952 he graduated from
Flora School and joined the
U.S. Navy. He served on
repair ships as a welder.
After being discharged
in 1957, Dave returned
to Wallowa County and
worked for Caterpillar as
a welder and heavy-duty
equipment mechanic for
many years. He also worked
for Dougherty Logging and
the Wallowa County Road
Department.
On Nov. 21, 1959, Dave
married Particia Kaufman
in Lewiston, Idaho. They
made their home in Enter-
prise and welcomed a son,
Arley, and daughters, Lela
and Velda. They raised
sheep, pigs and cattle.
Those cattle were Dave’s
favorite.
Dave was an amazing
horseman and anyone who
was blessed to get to ride
or purchase a horse he had
started knew they had a
good one. He loved roping,
be it in the branding pen
or team roping. Weekends
during the spring were
spent at various ranches in
Wallowa County dragging
calves to the fi re.
After retiring as a
mechanic from the Wal-
lowa County Road Depart-
ment in 1996, Dave started
his dream job of day riding
for local ranchers. He spent
16 years in the saddle
riding for Buckhorn Ranch
along with his buddies
Greg Jennings, Mike Guen-
tert and Bud Botts.
Dave loved to play the
fi ddle and mandolin. Flora
dances, jam sessions and
family gatherings were
always livened up by his
music and singing. He also
wrote and recited cowboy
poetry at local events.
Dave enjoyed hunting
with his boys and gath-
ering cattle with his “pin
curl crew” girls. He was a
member of the Elks Lodge,
Blue Mountain Fiddlers
and Wallowa County Fair
Board, and an honorary
member of the Enterprise
FFA Chapter. Selected as a
Friend of 4-H in 2005 for
his many years of working
in the livestock auction
ring, Dave loved seeing the
youth and their 4-H and
FFA projects.
Surviving relatives
include his wife of 60
years, Pat Murrill of Enter-
prise; son and daugh-
ter-in-law, Arley and
Becky Murrill, of Lew-
iston, Idaho; daughters
and sons-in-law, Velda
and Greg Bales and Lela
and Ken Kunkle of Enter-
prise; brothers, Loren,
Leonard and Hubert Mur-
rill; sister, Lanette Widick;
six grandchildren and
LA GRANDE — The
Union County Board
of Commissioners last
week voted 3-0 to return
Union County to Phase
2 COVID-19 reopening
guidelines.
The vote came
Wednesday morning after
a brief discussion at the
board’s regular meeting,
according to a press release
The Observer
JOSEPH — The
upcoming Wallowa Valley
Festival of Arts is taking
the online route to avoid
spreading the coronavirus.
The Josephy Center for
Arts and Culture in Joseph
recently announced it was
adjusting the format for the
38th year of the festival and
creating a virtual presenta-
tion of artists’ works though
an online silent auction.
The Josephy Center will
display the artwork and
bidding prices should start
below $750, according to a
press release.
Artists receive 60% of
silent auction sales. This is
a juried event, and accep-
tance into the show is
based on artistic integ-
rity. The silent auction will
be on The Josephy Cen-
ter’s website, josephy.org/
arts-council/festival-of-the-
arts, beginning Sept. 11 by
5 p.m.
Festival Director Jeff
Costello in the press release
stated, “We are so sorry that
we will all miss our annual
in-person gathering and cel-
ebration of the arts this year,
but our priority has to be
everyone’s health and safety.
With that, we are still com-
mitted to doing everything
in our power to keep the fes-
tival tradition alive, so going
virtual for this year was our
best option.”
To submit artwork for the
silent auction, email coor-
dinator@josephy.org up to
three images (photographs
of artwork must be high-
quality, longest side must be
up to 1200 dpi) and include
your name, a short biog-
raphy, a website (if appli-
cable), medium and size of
work. The submission dead-
line is 5 p.m. Aug. 15. All
work must be original.
The online auction will
go from Sept. 11 to Sept.
30. Winning bidders must
make arrangements for pick
up or shipping.
Elgin
Jack R. Hackney, 77, of
Elgin, died July 17 at his
residence. Arrangements
are by Loveland Funeral
Chapel & Crematory.
July 21 — NANCY
LIVELY: 11 a.m. grave-
side service, Wallowa
Cemetery.
July 24 — IRMA
ROGERS: noon graveside
service, Hillcrest East
Cemetery, La Grande;
please wear a mask.
July 25 — DAVE
MURRILL: 11 a.m. grave-
side service, Enterprise
Cemetery.
Keith Walker
La Grande
Keith Walker, 62, of
La Grande, died July 19.
Arrangements are by Love-
land Funeral Chapel &
Crematory.
Nancy J. Lively
Union
Nancy Jo Lively, 80, of
Union, died July 15 at her
home. The date and time
of the Eastern Star grave-
side service at the Wallowa
Cemetery has been changed
to July 21 at 11 a.m.
Arrangements are by Dan-
— Calendar cour-
tesy of Loveland
Funeral Chapel, La
Grande
iels-Knopp Funeral, Cre-
mation & Life Celebration
Center, La Grande.
Image contributed by the Josephy Center for Arts and Culture
Artist Melanie Thompson painted “First Light, Hells Canyon,” oil on panel in 2019. The
painting is an example of what will be available at the Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts’
upcoming online auction.
FRIDAY
anyone at the scene.
shooters and counseled them.
9:02 a.m. — The Union
County Sheriff’s Offi ce received
a report of possible child abuse
in Union.
2:20 p.m. — The Union Coun-
ty Sheriff’s Offi ce responded
to a home on the 800 block of
North 15th Avenue, Union, on a
report of domestic violence. The
sheriff’s offi ce arrested Dorena
Dee Moore, 63, on accusations
of menacing and second-de-
gree assault.
6:01 p.m. — The Union Coun-
ty Sheriff’s Offi ce received a re-
port of a domestic disturbance
at Pilcher Creek Reservoir, North
Powder. A deputy responded,
talked to the people involved
and determined the circum-
stances did not rise to the level
of a mandatory arrest.
9:01 p.m. — La Grande police
responded to the 1500 block of
Seventh Street on a report of
someone shooting fi reworks at
a house. Offi cers did not fi nd
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
12:43 p.m. — The Union
County Sheriff’s Offi ce cited Bob
Run Hutchins, 53, for felon in
possession of a weapon, unlaw-
ful possession of a weapon and
driving while suspended.
2:07 p.m. — The Union
County Sheriff’s Offi ce received
a report of possible child abuse
occurring at Jubilee Lake, Elgin.
The sheriff’s offi ce requested
the Umatilla County Sheriff’s
Offi ce assist with the follow-up.
6:17 p.m. — La Grande police
responded to the La Grande
Town Center, 2212 Island Ave.,
for a man who was possibly
intoxicated and trying to drive.
An offi cer provided the man a
ride home.
8:43 p.m. — A caller reported
people shooting guns across
the road and into a fi eld in the
area of the 62600 block of Starr
Lane, La Grande. A Union Coun-
ty sheriff’s deputy contacted the
9:24 a.m. — La Grande police
responded to the 1500 block
of Albany Street on a report of
indecent exposure. An offi cer
counseled the person who was
the subject of the call.
12:25 p.m. — A caller report-
ed possible child neglect on
the 2200 block of Fir Street, La
Grande. A city police offi cer
responded and talked to the
parties involved.
12:35 p.m. — La Grande
police received a report of a
burglary on the 500 block of M
Avenue.
4:11 p.m. — A caller in Cove
reported a dog harassing sheep
on the 61000 block of Love
Road. The animal enforcement
offi cer impounded the dog.
8:52 p.m. — The Union
County Sheriff’s Offi ce received
a report of vandalism to a mail-
box on the 300 block of North
10th Avenue, Elgin.
from the county.
The board on June 17
passed a recommendation
asking residents to vol-
untarily return to Phase
1 regulations. The board,
however, did not vote to
actually impose Phase 1
restrictions.
La GRANDE
AUTO REPAIR
975-2000
According to the reso-
lution to return to Phase 2
operations, the board deter-
mined Union County had
experienced a minimal
increase in the number of
COVID-19 cases since the
surge in early June.
Also, Grande Ronde
In light of the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in Union County we are taking extra
precautions to ensure all of our customers safety. Red Cross will be closed from 1:30-
2:30 PM, Monday through Friday, in order to clean the contact areas of the pharmacy
Stay home let more thoroughly. Olive Branch will be open and doing Drivethru ONLY.
Please feel free to call in and leave refills on our phone line for
us Deliver your continued service. 541.963.5741 ext. 1
medicines to you Thank you for your support as we make every effort to keep you and your loved ones
safe during this time.
Red Cross Drug Store Management
MOST
ADVANCED
TECHNOLOGY
AVAILABLE
Joe Horst
ACDelcoTSS
Hospital, La Grande, con-
tinues to maintain its
capacity to treat COVID-19
patients.
County commissioners
backed the move based on
the recommendation from
the county’s incident man-
agement team.
Round-robin roping
provides afternoon fun
Photo by Ellen Morris BishopEO Media group
Two ropers get set to catch a steer at Mel Coleman’s
round-robin rodeo team roping event Saturday, July
18, near Joseph.
New Name.
Same Great Team.
Same Exceptional
Service.
Travis T. Hampton, D.P.M.
Foot and Ankle Surgeon
La Grande
1408 N Hall Street
Enterprise
601 Medical Parkway
1123 Adams Ave., La Grande
541-963-5741 redcrossdrugstore.com
306 W North St, Enterprise
(541) 426-7455 olivebranchpharmacy.com
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10106 N. ‘C’ • Island City
541-975-1364
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Baker
3175 Pocahontas Rd.
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888-843-9090
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Reed & Associates for
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Nicole Cathey
Jack R. Hackney
PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT
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Upcoming
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Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts moves to online auction
Union County commissioners OK going back to Phase 2
The Observer
six great-grandchildren;
and numerous nieces and
nephews.
He was preceded in
death by his parents, Hil-
bert and Alta Murrill, and
brother, Wade Murrill.
Kevin Reed