THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020
OBITUARIES
COMMUNITY
Meetings
• COVE — The Cove City
Council will hold a work ses-
sion and a regular meeting
on Tuesday, Aug. 4, Cove City
Hall, 504 Alder. The work ses-
sion begins at 6 p.m., fol-
lowed by the regular meeting
at 7 p.m. Attendance to the
meeting will be available vir-
tually. For instructions on how
to connect, go to www.cityof-
cove.org or call 541-568-4566.
The work session is for the
purpose of reviewing council
rules. The regular meeting
agenda includes voting on
a resolution referring to the
voters a measure proposing
an updated city charter. Also
on the agenda are fi nal read-
ings of an ordinance regu-
lating the maintenance of
ditches and watercourses
within city boundaries and of
an ordinance renewing the
Avista franchise agreement.
Copies of the city’s charter
and ordinances are available
for public inspection Tues-
day-Friday from 8:30 a.m.
to 12:30 p.m. Public com-
ments will be accepted on
agenda items. To submit a
comment, send an e-mail to
cityadmin@cityofcove.org
before 6:45 p.m. the day of the
meeting.
Briefs
Church holds yard sale
Saturday
LA GRANDE — Faith
Lutheran Church, 104 S. 12th
St., La Grande, is hosting
its annual benefi t yard sale
Saturday, Aug. 1. The sale will
be open from 8:30 a.m. to
2 p.m. at the church.
ODF raises public use
restrictions
LA GRANDE — The Ore-
gon Department of Forestry
Northeast Oregon District
is implementing public use
restrictions as conditions
across the region have be-
come warmer and drier.
The state forestry de-
partment in a press release
stated the rules, which are to
help prevent human-started
fi res, go into effect Friday,
July 31. These rules apply
to private, state, county and
municipal forestlands under
the protection of the Oregon
Department of Forestry.
The restrictions prohibit
several activities, including
open fi res, smoking, debris
burning and fi reworks. From
12-8 p.m. the use of non-in-
dustrial chainsaws, cutting,
grinding and welding metal
and mowing of dried and
cured grass with power-driv-
en equipment is off limits.
Also prohibited is the
use of tracer ammunition,
any bullet with pyrotech-
nic charge in the base and
exploding targets.
The forestry department
prohibits sky lanterns
throughout the year.
Additional requirements
during fi re season include
electric fence controllers in
use be listed by a nationally
recognized testing laboratory
or certifi ed by the Depart-
ment of Consumer and
Business Services and be
operated in compliance with
manufacturer’s instructions.
A shovel and 1 gallon of
water or 2.5 pound fi re extin-
guisher are required when
traveling, excluding travel on
state highways, county roads
and driveways.
Josephy Book Club
looks at ‘White Fragility’
JOSEPH — The Josephy
Book Club will meet Tuesday,
Aug. 4 to discuss “White
Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for
White People to Talk About
Racism” by Robin Diangelo.
The Bookloft in Enterprise
offers a 15% discount on the
title.
The New York Times
best-selling book explores
the counterproductive
reactions white people have
when their assumptions
about race are challenged,
and how these reactions
maintain racial inequality.
Promotional materials deem
it “a necessary book for all
people invested in societal
change through productive
social and intimate relation-
ships.”
The book group meets
virtually beginning at
7 p.m. Join the live discus-
sion at https://us02web.
zoom.us/j/85961312704?p-
wd=Q1V1WDl2MGZrej-
d5RGtsejZHWk15dz09. More
information is available at
www.josephy.org/book-
group.
La GRANDE
AUTO REPAIR
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THE OBSERVER — 3A
RECORDS AND MORE
Ruth (Stussi) Rodarme
1943-2020
Ruth (Stussi) Rodarme,
76, died July 20 in Texas. A
service will be held in La
Grande at a later date, and
burial will be at the Island
City Cemetery.
Ruth was born Nov. 27,
1943, in Long Creek, to
John and Reta Stussi. She
had many relatives in La
Grande, where she spent a
lot of time.
Ruth loved to travel.
She was lucky enough to
fi nd Dan Rodarme 18 years
ago, who also enjoyed trav-
eling. They spent the last
fi ve years RVing all over
the U.S., and Ruth was
the happiest she had ever
been. Dan was her rock and
the Christian man of her
dreams. She truly believed
God had put them together.
Ruth died sitting outside
her RV with two Bibles on
her lap and a handwritten
note about what she was
studying beside her chair.
The EMT who came to help
Ruth was touched by her
message and said his life
will be forever changed for
the good because of it.
Surviving relatives
include her children,
Monica and Darrin; three
grandchildren; and one
great-grandchild.
She was preceded in
death by her parents and her
sisters, Lola Chapman and
Donna Amos.
Paul D. Wagoner
La Grande
Paul D. Wagoner, 85, of
La Grande, died June 25 at
his residence. A celebra-
tion of his life will be held
Aug. 15 at 11 a.m. at Indian
Rock. Casual dress is pre-
ferred by the family. Love-
land Funeral Chapel &
Crematory is handling the
service.
Upcoming
local
services
Michael Doran May
June 11, 1946 - July 23, 2020
Aug. 2 — KEITH
WALKER: 1 p.m. outdoor
memorial service, Spring
Creek.
Aug. 15 — PAUL
WAGONER: 11 a.m.
celebration of life, Indian
Rock; casual dress pre-
ferred.
Aug. 29 — MIKE MAY:
4 p.m. memorial service,
Riverside Park Pavilion,
La Grande; please wear
masks and respect social
distancing.
— Calendar cour-
tesy of Loveland
Funeral Chapel,
La Grande
PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT
MONDAY, JULY 27
7:54 a.m. — La Grande police
received a report of a suspi-
cious person on the 600 block
of Crook Avenue. An offi cer
responded.
10:13 a.m. — La Grande
police responded to the 1400
block of X Avenue on a report of
a domestic disturbance. Offi cers
determined the situation did not
rise to the level of an arrest.
11:20 a.m. — A caller reported
a residential burglary on the
1300 block of Madison Avenue,
La Grande. An offi cer respond-
ed and took a report.
2:30 p.m. — A Union County
sheriff’s deputy responded
to a residence in Imbler for a
person suffering a mental or
emotional crisis. The sheriff’s
offi ce contacted mental health
providers.
6:15 p.m. — La Grande police
responded to the 500 block of M
Avenue on a report of possible
mistreatment. An offi cer took a
report.
9:09 p.m. — Law enforce-
ment responded to a location
off Gun Club Road, La Grande,
to deal with transients camping.
10:52 p.m. — Oregon State
Police responded to the east-
bound side on Interstate 84
near milepost 261 on a report of
suspicious circumstances. The
state trooper cited two juvenile
males, one 15 and one 12, both
of La Grande, for disorderly
conduct.
TUESDAY, JULY 28
8:22 a.m. — La Grande police
responded to the 1400 block of
X Avenue for a person in mental
duress.
9:27 a.m. — Union Coun-
ty dispatchers received a
non-communicative 911 call
from North Powder, determined
it was a medical emergency and
dispatched an ambulance.
11:41 a.m. — The Union
County Sheriff’s Offi ce respond-
ed to Walmart, 11627 Island
Ave., Island City, on a report that
someone threatened another
person. A deputy contacted the
caller and explained options.
3:07 p.m. — The Union Coun-
ty Sheriff’s Offi ce responded to
a report of child abuse in Elgin.
5:41 p.m. — A caller reported
a dog was harassing chickens
on the 200 block of North Main
Street, Union.
5:45 p.m. — The Union
County Sheriff’s Offi ce received
a report of possible animal
neglect on the 63000 block of
Mount Glen Road, La Grande.
8:56 p.m. — A La Grande
resident on the 200 block of Polk
Avenue reported a neighbor
was throwing fi reworks. An of-
fi cer responded and counseled
several people at the scene.
New TV stations available for over-the-air viewers
The Observer
LA GRANDE — Two
more TV channels are
available to over-the-air TV
viewers in Baker and Union
counties.
The Blue Mountain
Translator District in a
press release announced
Portland stations transi-
tioned two channel licenses,
KRCW 32 (RF 33) and
KPDX 49 (RF 30) to ATSC
3.0. Due to that NextGen
TV transition, the two Port-
land channels will be avail-
able to viewers in Baker
City and northern Union
County after they have their
TVs rescan channels.
Find more news online at
lagrandeobserver.com.
Viewers who receive
signals from Mt. Fanny
will receive duplicates of
KRCW and KPDX fol-
lowing the rescan. For more
information, contact Alex
McHaddad, Blue Mountain
Translator District executive
director at 541-963-0196 or
bmtd.org@gmail.com.
On
July
23rd, 2020, Mi-
chael
Doran
May ended his
battle with can-
cer. Mike was
a kind, goofy,
big hearted guy
who loved and
was loved by
many.
Mike
was
born June 11th,
1946 and raised
in La Grande,
Oregon.
He
lived there most of his life, maintaining a wide circle of
friends. He served in the United States Navy during the
Vietnam War, completing three tours on the U.S.S. Iwo
Jima. Mike was proud of his service and service became
a driving force in his life.
Mike is survived by his wife Tracey May, his chil-
dren Apryl Wagner, Dawn VanAntwerp and fiancée
Terry, and Shawn McAdams, as well as his stepchil-
dren Liberty Avila and husband Nick, Noah Merrill,
and Zach Merrick and wife Ty. Mike took delight in
his grandchildren, Jessica Core and her husband Chad,
Kory Voss and his wife Stephanie, Jake Wagner, Dar-
rienne DelaRosa, Dakota DelaRosa, Marisa DelaRosa,
Reed Avila, and August McAdams. He doted on his
great-grandchildren Vedder and Sophia Core, Parker
Voss, and he was excited for the coming birth of Park-
er’s little brother. He is also survived by his brother, Tim
May, and a large extended family.
Family was everything to Mike, and he spent much
of his time visiting and helping family members. Once
Mike thought of you as family, you were always family
to him. He always kept up on every birthday and hol-
iday and spent hours picking the exact right card for
each person and occasion.
Mike was the kind of person who would do any-
thing for anyone. He performed many large and small
kindnesses, often helping people anonymously. He was
hilarious and had a goofy sense of humor. He loved gag
gifts of all types, with a special fondness for Cookie
Monster and Alf. We will all miss his jokes, weather re-
ports, and all the fun that we had with him.
There will be two services held for Mike to accom-
modate the distances family will have to travel during
this time of COVID restrictions. There will be outdoor
services in Gresham and La Grande, both in August.
The La Grande service will be held August 29th at the
Riverside Pavillion at 4 pm. Please wear masks and re-
spect social distancing.
Whitney Koure Kirkeby Joyner
Matthew Carter Coote
September 11, 1997 - July 14, 2020
March 17, 1989 - July 10, 2020
Whitney Koure Kirkeby Joyner,
22, passed away on July 14, 2020 at
her home in Meridian Idaho. A Cele-
bration of Life Service will be held on
Saturday, August 8, 2020 at 12 PM at
the Liberty Park in Nampa. Whitney
requested that everyone wear bright
colors, her favorite flower colors are
pink, white and orange. Whitney’s
family appreciates all the love and
support through this difficult time.
Whitney was born in La Grande
Oregon on September 11, 1997 and was raised by her
mother Jennifer (Kirkeby) Krause, her grandparents, Steve
and Verla Kirkeby and her Father Wayne Joyner. When
Whitney was 3 years old, she moved to the Boise area.
Whitney graduated from Caldwell High School where she
played basketball and made many friends. After graduating
high school Whitney spent a short time living in Corvallis
Oregon with her Aunt Stephanie and her family while at-
tending Linn Benton Community college. Whitney decided
she wanted to go to Cosmetology school and attended Idaho
State University in Pocatello. While Whitney was there, she,
being an introvert had a difficult time making friends, and
being rather ambitious she joined Tri Sigma. One of this so-
rority’s purposes was to establish bonds of friendships, de-
velop strong womanly character, and to impress upon their
members high standards of conduct. Whitney participated
in several charitable events planned by the sorority. Besides
making many friends, Whitney received an award from the
Greek Counsel for the highest Chapter GPA Sigma, Sigma,
Sigma. After a checkup It was discovered that Whitney
had a rare form of cancer. Whitney was also an incredibly
determined young woman with many dreams for her future,
so she decided that she would have a positive attitude,
and not be defined by her diagnosis of cancer. After many
treatments Whitney’s cancer went in to remission, and she
enjoyed a year of what she called “Normal” life again. Just
when Whitney was getting ready to return to Cosmetology
school to get her certification, the cancer returned. Whitney
was given 4 more months with her family and friends.
Anyone that knew Whitney enjoyed her straight-faced
sense of humor that occasionally was tinged with sarcasm.
Whitney was outspoken and communicated in an open way
with everyone she met. Whitney loved to shop, especially
for beauty products as she explored new techniques to prac-
tice cosmetology. Whitney also had a passion for fashion,
as observed when looking in her closet. Whitney would like
to be remembered for the love and loyalty she had for her
friends and family and her faith in Jesus Christ. Whitney
was baptized recently while on her dream vacation and con-
sidered herself a member of Valley Fellowship in La Grande.
Whitney is survived by her Mother, Jennifer Krause and
husband Ken; her Father, Wayne Joyner and wife Deb-
bie; brother, Alijah Joyner; grandparents, Steve and Verla
Kirkeby; Aunts, Courtney Kirkeby and Stephanie Raleigh,
cousins Sawyer and Finn and other cousins, stepbrothers
and stepsisters. Whitney was preceded in death by her great
grandparents, Glen and Iris Kirkeby, Verlee and Ken Jones
and grandparents, Henry and Dollie Joyner.
If you like to make donations in Lieu of flowers, please
donate to St. Luke’s Children’s hospital 190 E Bannock St,
Boise ID 83712 or St Luke’s Hospice 325 W Idaho St, Boise
ID 83702.
Matthew Carter Coote, 31, of La Grande,
passed away on July 10, 2020. It is anticipated
that a celebration of life service will be held
April 10, 2021 at 4 p.m. at the Becker Family
Sale Barn at Eastern Oregon Livestock Show
Grounds in Union Oregon, to allow Matthew’s
friends and family to all share memories and
celebrate his life.
Matthew was born on March 17, 1989, in
La Grande, Oregon, a native of the Grande
Ronde Valley, Matthew lived all of his short
but full life in the same home. From the day
he was brought home from the hospital by
his parents, John Edward Coote and Anne C.
(Verbout) Coote, he was blessed to be raised
in a place he truly loved. Whether it was pur-
suing his passion of farming or playing in the
hills and streams that bountifully surrounded
us, Matthew loved the Eastern Oregon way
of life.
To all who knew Matthew at any stage of
his life were met with a kind hearted gentle
soul. Even as a youngster at Island City
Elementary, Matthew was always considerate
and a good friend to others. As a youth he
participated in all types of sports. Matthew
enjoyed the camaraderie sports provided. He
cherished his friendships.
His early years found him developing a
love for animals. In addition to owning many
different pets throughout his life, Matthew
enjoyed raising sheep and Registered Angus
Cattle. He excelled in preparing his animals
for 4-H competitions at the Eastern Oregon
Livestock Show and Union County Fair;
as well as other junior show competitions.
Whether it was friends or animals, Matthew
always put the needs of others ahead of him-
self. He was a loyal and loving young man.
Matthew embraced his new blended fam-
ily at the age of 11 when his father married
his second mother, Joni Lequerica. Matthew
felt blessed to have two new siblings, Cale and
Cali Wetstein. Matthew relished the opportu-
nities to share life with new friends. He was
reared in love by all of his family.
After graduating from La Grande High
School in 2007, Matthew worked the land.
He loved making hay and planting crops. He
started with Tony Hamann at a young age
and worked most of his adult life at Hamann
Farms. His passion to farm embodied many
of the things that brought
him joy. He loved the
outdoors and the satisfac-
tion of nurturing the growth of crops. He was
skilled at welding and had a good working
knowledge of mechanics. He could fix any-
thing at any time.
When work gave way for a moment
to play, Matthew could be found enjoying
another passion his father had introduced
him to Fishing. He became skilled at fly
fishing with encouragement from his mother.
Along with friends and his dogs Murphy or
Boss by his side, would hit the rivers, streams
and lakes that are abundant in our area. He
enjoyed cooking. Particularly ribs, brisket and
anything that required grilling and smoking.
Matthew’s good nature was always fun to be
around or with.
Matthew will be remembered as always
smiling. He always put others at ease with his
caring and compassionate nature. At every
stage of life he demonstrated an innate ability
to connect with others and be a friend.
Matthew is survived by his parents: Father,
John Edward Coote and Step-Mother Joni Le-
querica of La Grande; Mother Anne (Verbout)
Coote of La Grande, step-siblings Cale Wet-
stein of Orlando Florida and Cali Wetstein of
Vancouver, Washington; grandmother Mari-
lyn Friedrich of Portland, Oregon; and several
aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in
death by his three grandparents, Edward and
Francis Coote and Alphonso Verbout.
The Coote family would welcome and ap-
preciate any memories or re-telling Matthew’s
stories. Those may be posted online at www.
lovelandfuneralchapel.com
Additionally, the family is pursuing the
establishment of a memorial scholarship fund
through the Union 4-H Association, In lieu of
flowers, tax deductible memorial donations
may be made to Union County 4-H Associa-
tion, Memo: Matthew Coote Memorial, 10507
N. McAlister Rd., La Grande, Oregon 97850.
Online condolences
may be made to the
family at www.loveland-
funeralchapel.com.