RECORDS AND MORE
OBITUARIES
COMMUNITY
Meetings
• COVE — Cove City Council
will meet in a regular ses-
sion Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m.
at Cove City Hall, 504 Alder.
The public is encouraged to
connect to the meeting vir-
tually. For instructions, go to
www.cityofcove.org or email
cityadmin@cityofcove.org for
the link and an agenda. The
meeting will include a hearing
at 7:30 p.m. on David and
Andrea Asmussen’s side set-
back variance request. Also
on the agenda is discussion of
Robert’s Rules of Order and
remodeling city hall.
• LA GRANDE — The Union
County Democratic Party will
hold a virtual membership
meeting Wednesday, Oct. 7,
via Zoom beginning at 6 p.m.
To register for the meeting,
email a request to rknop@
eoni.com with your email
contact information, address
and phone number or call
541-562-6289.
Darlene (O’Rourke)
Villines
1931-2020 • La Grande
Darlene Villines, 89,
of La Grande, died Sept.
23 at Grande Ronde Hos-
pital. A public service is not
planned at this time.
Darlene
was born Sept.
13, 1931, in
La Grande, to
Peter Sr. and
Millie
O’Rourke, and attended
La Grande schools. She
married Herbert Villines
on July 31, 1948, and they
lived in La Grande until
Herb retired and they
moved to Salem. They later
returned to La Grande.
Darlene and Herb
enjoyed the Eagles, bowling
and square dancing. She
loved her fl owers and going
on long drives and she was
devoted to her family.
Surviving relatives
include her children, Linda
Villines of Salem, Denise
Bushman of Salem and Ron
Villines and his wife, Judy,
of Vancouver, Washington;
fi ve grandchildren; and 10
great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in
death by her husband, Herb,
four sisters, one brother, and
one son-in-law.
Memorial contributions
may be made to the Grande
Ronde Hospital Foundation
in care of Daniels-Knopp
Funeral, Cremation & Life
Celebration Center, 1502
GRANDE RONDE HOSPITAL
JOSEPH — The Josephy
Center for Arts and Cul-
ture, in Joseph, is hosting
a unique one-day “Native
American Featherwork”
workshop Saturday, Oct.
10. The class is taught by
Roger Amerman, an enrolled
citizen of the Choctaw Nation
of Oklahoma and a highly
accomplished artist whose
work has been featured
throughout the United
States. He lives with his Nez
Perce wife on her reservation
in Idaho and has written,
lectured and taught across
the West.
The number of partici-
pants is limited but there are
a few spots left. Masks will
be required. The workshop
begins at 9 a.m. and the fee
is $75. For more information
or to enroll, go to www.
josephy.org or contact Rich
Wandschneider at 541-432-
0505 or rich.wandschnei-
der@gmail.com.
Art center seeks to bring
live music to exhibit
reception
LA GRANDE — “The Big,”
Art Center East’s annual
exhibit, will open Dec. 5
and organizers are hoping
to stream live music from
the gallery for the virtual
opening reception. They
feel it is especially import-
ant right now to pay local
musicians. Due to current
budget restrictions, however,
ACE is seeking fi nancial
contributions in any amount.
To arrange a donation to the
reception’s music fund, email
darcy@artcentereast.org.
BRINEY: To Star Briney and
Richard Briney, of La Grande, a
son, Noah A. Briney, Sept. 14 at
11:24 p.m.
CHANDLER: To Rachel Susan
Chandler and Drue James
Chandler, of La Grande, a
daughter, Elise LaRue Chandler,
Sept. 10 at 7:09 p.m.
HUMPHRY: To Shelby Jene
Humphry and Evan Cole
Humphry, of La Grande, a son,
Emmett Cal Humphry, Sept. 15
at 12:19 a.m. Grandparents are
Deanna Abell, Joel and Leslie
Hasse, and Ernie Humphry and
Keri Eberhard.
JACKSON: To Tiffany Ann
Jackson and Tyrone E. Jackson,
of La Grande, a daughter, Ami-
yah Aubrie Lynn Jackson, Sept.
22 at 9:55 a.m. Grandparents
are Mike and Joy Saline, Aubrey
Knepper, and Brandi Jackson.
JACOBSON: To Rachel
Leanne Jacobson and Michael
Darwin Jacobson, of La Grande,
a son, Benjamin Paul Jacobson,
Sept. 17 at 2:06 p.m. Grandpar-
ents are Edward and Pamela
McGill and Neal Jacobson and
Nancy Hutnak.
JILEK: To Sally Anne Gee
and Christian Todd Jilek, of La
Grande, a son, Gabriel Paul
Jilek, Sept. 9 at 9:37 a.m. Grand-
parents are Alan and Elizabeth
Gee, Marion and Ed Petrillo, and
Paul Jilek.
JOHNSTON: To Victoria John-
ston and Bryce Johnston, of La
Grande, a son, Jaxtyn Johnston,
Sept. 11 at 7:57 a.m.
LOUDEN: To Lacie Louden
and Jon Louden, of La Grande,
a daughter, Emersyn Louden,
Sept. 11 at 5:24 a.m. Grandpar-
ents are Tim and Donna Louden,
Joe Ballard, and Carol Jensen.
MULHAIR: To Jacki Lee
Mulhair and Landon Arthur
Davidson, of La Grande, a son,
Kayson Lukas Mulhair, Sept.
9 at 8:27 a.m. Grandparents
are Shannon Wagner, Kenneth
Mulhair, Loren Davidson, and
Michele Davidson.
SMITH: To Hailey Colleen
Givens and Raymond Claude
Smith Jr., of La Grande, a son,
Rhett Edward Smith, Sept. 11
at 1:02 p.m. Grandparents are
Ryan and Tabitha Givens and
Claude and Donella Smith.
SOUS: To Chelsea Marquez
and Jason Sous, of La Grande,
a daughter, Sammy Lou Sous,
Sept. 2 at 6:27 p.m.
VILLAGOMEZ WARD: To
Vanessa K.C. Ward and Luis
Fernando Villagomez Alvarez, of
La Grande, a daughter, Alianna
Herb Villagomez Ward, Sept. 11
at 10:33 a.m.
WEIMER: To Becca Deanna
Weimer and Taylor Eugene Raye
Pittman, of La Grande, a son,
Michael Eugene Raye Pittman
Weimer, Sept. 22 at 8:09 a.m.
Grandparents are Dyna Pittman
and Daniel Gilmore.
WRIGHT: To Kindra Kristine
Wright and Zane Aaron Wright,
of La Grande, a daughter, Quinn
Wright, Sept. 15 at 9:50 p.m.
Grandparents are Brian and Tra-
cy Wright and Brett and Karen
Moore.
ISLAND CITY —
The Oregon Association
of Municipal Recorders
named Island City city
recorder and adminis-
trator Karen Howton
as its new second vice
president.
Howton’s duties
include planning the asso-
ciation’s 2023 conference
and fi lling in as needed
for the fi rst vice president.
She will remain in this
position until 2024.
“Being selected for this
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Natalie K. Carey
La Grande
Natalie Kay Carey, 60, of
La Grande, died Sept. 28 at
her home. A celebration of
her life will be held Oct. 11
at 11 a.m. at the Riverside
Park Pavilion. A funeral
will be announced at a later
date. Arrangements are by
Loveland Funeral Chapel.
Barry L. Crowell
La Grande
Barry Lyle Crowell, 83,
of La Grande, died Sept. 28
at Grande Ronde Hospital.
A graveside service and cel-
ebration of his life will be
held Oct. 9 at 2 p.m. at Olney
Hospital pulls back on
internal COVID-19 measures
The Observer
LA GRANDE — After
a record-breaking 212 days,
Grande Ronde Hospital
announced in a press release
Thursday, Oct. 1, it was
stepping down its internal
COVID-19 measures.
Patients will not see
the change, according
to hospital communica-
tions director Mardi Ford,
because this is about the
internal workings the hos-
pital adapted in March
when the coronavirus pan-
demic hit Union County.
At the time, the hos-
pital launched its incident
command system to help
restructure the services to
the community without get-
ting overwhelmed by cases.
Now, the hospital’s com-
mand system is stepping
back.
appointment
is a honor,”
Howton said.
“There are so
many great
people that
have held
Howton
this position
before me, and just to be
nominated was an honor,
much less actually holding
the offi ce.”
She added she looks
forward to working with
city recorders throughout
Oregon and beyond.
Howton began working
as the Island City recorder
in 2013 and joined the
Oregon Association for
Municipal Recorders in
2015.
The organization edu-
cates and trains more than
200 city recorders.
Since joining the asso-
ciation, Howton served on
its committees for educa-
tion, conference and men-
toring and she earned her
certifi ed municipal clerk
designation in 2019 from
the International Institute
of Municipal Clerks.
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Oct. 3 — HERSCHEL
“BUTCH” MALONE: 2 p.m.
celebration of life, Optimist
Field, La Grande.
Oct. 6 — RICHARD
Cemetery in Pendleton.
Arrangements are by Dan-
iels-Knopp Funeral, Crema-
tion & Life Celebration.
Richard G. Miller
La Grande
Richard G. Miller, 95, of
La Grande, died Thursday,
MILLER: 10 a.m. graveside
service, Hillcrest Cemetery,
La Grande.
Oct. 10 — NORM HEIER:
2 p.m. celebration of life,
Riverside Park Pavilion, La
Grande.
Oct. 11 — NATALIE CAR-
EY: 11 a.m. celebration of
life, Riverside Park Pavilion,
La Grande.
— Calendar cour-
tesy of Loveland Funeral
Chapel, La Grande
Oct. 1, at Grande Ronde
Hospital. A service will be
held Oct. 6 at 10 a.m. at Hill-
crest Cemetery. Attendees
must wear a mask and prac-
tice social distancing to
meet COVID-19 guidelines.
Arrangements are by Love-
land Funeral Chapel.
PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 30
10:02 a.m. — The Union
County Sheriff’s Offi ce
responded to Interstate 84
near milepost 257 near La
Grande and arrested Patrick
Adam Walker, 36, on domestic
violence charges of assault,
strangulation, menacing and
criminal mischief.
11:04 a.m. — A caller
complained about an ongoing
animal issue with a neighbor
on the 1300 block of Jasper
Street, Cove.
11:05 a.m. — A caller on the
69600 block of Summerville
Road, Summerville, reported
rabbits on the loose.
1:34 p.m. — A La Grande
resident reported telephonic
harassment. An offi cer talked
to the person.
2 p.m. — La Grande Fire
Department responded to the
1400 block of X Avenue on a
report of a gas leak.
5 p.m. — A caller on the 600
block of Fourth Street, North
Powder, reported harassment.
A Union County sheriff’s depu-
ty contacted the person.
La GRANDE
AUTO REPAIR
8:23 p.m. — La Grande
police responded to the 10100
block of North McAlister Road
on a complaint about harass-
ment and stalking. Offi cers
determined the Union County
Sheriff’s Offi ce has jurisdiction
because of the location.
THURSDAY, OCT. 1
10:28 a.m. — La Grande po-
lice responded to the 100 block
of Elm Street for a domestic
disturbance. The circumstanc-
es did not rise to the level of a
crime. However, offi cers arrest-
ed a 23-year-old woman on a
warrant out of Umatilla County
for failing to appear in a drug
crimes case.
11:13 a.m. — A caller
reported a fi re hydrant was on
in the area of the 62900 block
of Fruitdale Lane, La Grande,
and creating a road hazard.
Dispatch notifi ed public works.
12:58 p.m. — A caller report-
ed a residential burglary on the
1500 block of Division Street,
Elgin.
2:32 p.m. — An SUV ran out
of gas on Adams Avenue at the
intersection with Fourth Street,
La Grande, but the vehicle’s
electronic system would not al-
low the vehicle to move. Police
assisted, and the driver was
able to get the vehicle going
once the vehicle had gas.
8:04 p.m. — La Grande
police responded to the 400
block of Adams Avenue on a
report of a residential burglary.
Police cited a 63-year-old man
for domestic menacing.
11:13 p.m. — A caller report-
ed a fi ght on the 1300 block
of Eighth Street, La Grande.
Offi cers arrived but found no
one fi ghting.
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Sandy, OR
William (Bill) Howard Whitaker
January 31, 1940 - September 27, 2020
William H. Whitaker,
80, of La Grande, died
peacefully at home
September 27, 2020.
Known as “Bill,” he and
his wife Cheryl retired to
La Grande in 2007. Bill
was a vital part of the
community and will be
missed by many persons
who worked with him to
make this world a better
place for all. Bill was a
professor emeritus of
social welfare at Boise
State University. He taught community
organizing, social policy and planning
for 40 years while serving on national
social work education boards and state
legislative task forces.
Bill was born January 31, 1940 in New
Kensington, PA to Rose Donaldson
Whitaker and Charles S. Whitaker.
During high school he moved with his
family to Columbus, Ohio. Bill graduat-
ed with an MA in Sociology from Ohio
State University, a Masters in Social
Work in Civil Rights Organizing from
Atlanta University and a PhD in Welfare
Rights Organizing/Social Welfare Plan-
ning from Brandeis University Florence
Heller School for Advanced Studies in
Social Welfare.
Bill’s career began as Community Orga-
nizer/Associate Director for Southside
Settlement, Columbus, Ohio. In 1978 he
joined the social work faculty at the Uni-
versity of Wyoming, Laramie, followed
by the University of Maine, Orono; Dean
of the School of Social Work, Marywood
University in Scranton, PA; and Direc-
tor of External MSW Programs at Boise
State University, ID. Throughout his
career Bill consistently had “one foot in
the community and one foot in the class-
room!” He was known for his commit-
ment to bring graduate social work edu-
cation into remote communities making
it possible for social workers to advance
while staying employed and living at
home with their families. Throughout
the years Bill received numerous awards
and recognition for outstanding career
achievement and sustained community
service, leadership in the Campaign to
End Childhood Hunger, Idaho Interfaith
Roundtable Against Hunger, Health Care
for All- Oregon, and outstanding contri-
butions in social work education.
In retirement Bill was enthusiastically
engaged as a community
activist in La Grande,
OR—Oregon Rural Ac-
tion, Union County Pro-
gressives, Union County
Democrats, Rural Or-
ganizing Project, Health
Care for All Oregon, and
Western Organization of
Resource Councils. He
coordinated the Mad as
Hell Doctors single payer
healthcare organizing
campaign Portland, OR
to Washington, DC – 15
states and 30 rallies in two weeks. In
2016 Bill was arrested with Cheryl at De-
mocracy Spring, Washington, DC during
nonviolent civil disobedience at the U.S.
Capitol protesting corporate control of
government. Bill’s La Grande Observer
guest column, “The Common Good,” ad-
dressed issues such as nuclear war, voting
rights, COVID-19 Pandemic Shows U.S.
Health Care Lacking; and Structural
Racism Hiding in Plain Sight.
Bill, an avid outdoorsman and travel-
er, enjoyed activities such as canoeing,
camping, hiking and traveling with
family. Bill and Cheryl enjoyed traveling
extensively internationally and walked
the 84+-mile Hadrian Wall long-distance
footpath in Northern England.
January 31, 2020 Bill celebrated 80 years
of a good life
“You say that nothing that I do avails
To tip the scales where justice
Hovers in the balance
I have not thought to claim I could
But I reserve beyond dispute
My right to choose
Which side shall feel
The stubborn ounces of my weight.”
(Anonymous)
Don’t Mourn - Organize!
(Joe Hill)
Surviving relatives include children
Heather Whitaker and Ewan Whitaker
(Carolyn), grand children Fiona and
Max Whitaker, sisters Jeanie Morrow
(Dale), Meredith McPherson, Gretchen
Van Camp, wife Cheryl Simpson and her
children Dan (Susie), Matt, and Jennifer
(Waleed).
Memorial contributions can be made in
Bill’s name to the Rural Organizing
Project, TIN 93-1159856, PO Box
664 Cottage Grove, OR 97424
S199249-1
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2020