RECORDS AND MORE
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2020
OBITUARIES
COMMUNITY
Meetings
Brandon B. Howes
• LA GRANDE — The regional
chapter of the Daughters of
the American Revolution will
meet Friday, Oct. 9, at Den-
ny’s restaurant, 2604 Island
Ave., La Grande.
A no-host lunch begins at 11
am., followed by a meeting at
noon. Masks and social dis-
tancing will be required.
• ISLAND CITY — Island City
City council will convene for
a work session and regular
meeting Monday, Oct. 12,
at Island City City Hall. The
6 p.m. work session will dis-
cuss a zoning change pro-
posal by Jesse Winterowd,
and there will be a land use
hearing at 7 p.m. on the
Panda Express application.
Following will be the regular
meeting.
People who attend the meet-
ings are required to observe
social distancing and wear a
mask. Written comments for
topics to be discussed may
be dropped off at city hall or
emailed to karen@islandcity-
hall.com prior to the meeting.
• LA GRANDE — The La
Grande Rural Fire Pro-
tection District’s monthly
board meeting will be held
Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 6 p.m.
at the fi re hall in Island City.
Call 541-910-3114 for more
information.
Briefs
Neighbors Together
woodlot seeks volun-
teers for Saturday work
party
LA GRANDE — The
Neighbors Together emer-
gency woodlot is having a
work day Saturday, Oct. 10
from 9 a.m. to noon. Every-
one is invited to come help
get fi rewood ready to give
away this winter.
The woodlot is at 3309 N.
Umatilla St. in La Grande.
For more information, go
to www.neighborstogeth-
erofunioncounty.org or call
541-963-9126.
2000-2020 • Elgin
Brandon Blake Howes,
20, of Elgin, died Sept.
4 at Sacred Heart Med-
ical Center in Spokane,
Washington.
Brandon
was born
March 15,
2000, in Baker
City, to Ste-
phen Howes
and Tia Baxter.
He was raised in Elgin
and graduated from Elgin
High School, where he
played football, basketball
and baseball. He was very
active in FBLA and earned
many state awards.
Brandon was a construc-
tion laborer and full-time
college student at Eastern
Oregon University after
transferring from Walla
Walla Community Col-
lege, where he was on the
WWCC men’s basketball
team.
An avid hunter and fi sh-
erman, Brandon spent
his time off outdoors. He
enjoyed motocross riding,
hiking, camping, water-
sports and mountain biking.
He was a role model for
younger kids and coached
youth athletics. Above all,
he was very family- and
friend-oriented and put
others’ needs in front of his
own.
Survivors include his
parents, Stephen and Tia
Howes; brother, Stephen
Howes of La Grande; sister,
Morgan Howes of Burns;
grandparents, Farel and
Linda Baxter of Baker City;
fi ancée, Karli Bedard of La
Grande; aunts and uncles,
James and Karen Brad-
shaw of Los Angeles, Cal-
ifornia, Jeremy and Jodeen
Howes of Mission Viejo,
California, Michael and
Tracy Howes of Mission
Viejo, California, Brent and
Chris Baxter of Nampa,
Idaho, and Tyson Baxter of
Fruitland, Idaho; and many
cousins.
He was preceded in
death by his grandfather,
Peter Alan Howes, and
grandmother, Barbra Ann
Howes.
Jennine A. Samples
1961-2020 • Wallowa
Jennine Annette Sam-
ples, 58, of Wallowa, died
Oct. 4 at Wallowa Memo-
rial Hospital. A memo-
rial service will be Oct.
10 at 1 p.m.
at the Wal-
lowa Christian
Church. Masks
are required.
Arrange-
ments by
Bollman Funeral Home of
Enterprise.
Jennine was born Nov.
7, 1961, in Medford, to Tom
and Nancy Samples. In 1964
her sister, Melynie, joined
the family. They moved to
Joseph in September 1967
just in time for Jennine to
start fi rst grade. She attended
Joseph schools through the
eighth grade except for a few
months at Imnaha school.
Jennine’s high school
years were spent in the jun-
gles of southern Mexico
where she had varied expe-
riences and made treasured
friends for life. It was during
that time her brother Stephen
“T.J.” joined the family.
After school, Jen-
nine worked in the news-
paper industry, fi nding her
place in advertising/media
Ribbon-cutting celebrates clinic opening
Abby Stonebreaker/Grande Ronde Hospital
Grande Ronde Hospital
and Clinics staff, board
of trustees members and
stakeholders gathered
Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, for
a ribbon-cutting ceremo-
ny to celebrate the new
Urgent Care clinic in Island
City. Among those present
were GRH President and
CEO Jeremy Davis, center
with scissors. The new
facility at 10303 S. Walton
Road opened Sept. 14
PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT
MONDAY, OCT. 5
9:46 a.m. — La Grande Police
arrested Ryan Mitchell Kelty,
36, on a Grant County warrant
for three counts of fi rst-degree
burglary, one count each of
fi rst-degree theft, second-de-
gree theft, third-degree theft
and second-degree trespass
and for three counts of third-de-
gree criminal mischief.
12:28 p.m. — A caller
reported fi nding a dog during
the weekend in Elgin and then
taking it to Wallowa County. But
the person was not able to keep
the dog. The animal enforce-
ment offi cer advised the person
to take it to a shelter.
2:07 p.m. — Oregon State
Police responded to a driving
complaint on the westbound
side of Interstate 84 and spotted
the vehicle headed into the
rest area at milepost 269. The
trooper contacted the driver,
Katreyna Chantylle Griffi n, 28,
of McGill, Nevada, according
to state police, and observed
she was impaired. The trooper
called for medical personnel,
which cleared her for a medical
emergency. She refused to
perform sobriety tests, and
the trooper arrested her and
booked her into the Union
County jail in La Grande for
driving under the infl uence of
intoxicant. He also cited Griffi n
for driving without an opera-
tor’s license.
5:55 p.m. — A La Grande
resident complained about
receiving harassing phone calls.
An offi cer contacted the person
and explained options.
10:37 p.m. — A caller re-
ported two suspicious males
in the area of the 3200 block
of Fourth Street, La Grande. A
Union County sheriff’s deputy
responded but did not spot
anyone suspicious.
Avenue, La Grande.
11:37 a.m. — The Union
County Sheriff’s Offi ce received
a report of loose mail in the
area of Stanley Lane and Hunter
Road, La Grande.
11:46 a.m. — A caller reported
an assault at the SK8 Park, La
Grande.
4:11 p.m. — The Union Coun-
ty Sheriff’s Offi ce responded to
Walmart, 11619 Island Avenue,
Island City, and arrested Brian
Scott Straub, 31, on a Marion
County warrant for failure to
appear on a police obstruction
case. The sheriff’s offi ce also ar-
rested Straub for unauthorized
use of a motor vehicle.
5:09 p.m. — A caller reported
a transient camp off Catherine
Creek Lane, Union. Oregon
State Police handled the call.
5:34 p.m. — La Grande police
received a report of an ag-
gressive dog on the 300 block
of Fourth Street. The animal
enforcement offi cer responded
and cited the dog’s owner.
8:52 p.m. — La Grande police
received a report of child abuse.
An offi cer determined there was
no child abuse.
11:31 p.m. — A caller report-
ed a vehicle crashed into a
ditch at 16th Street and Jakob
Avenue, La Grande. Police
responded. A crew removed the
vehicle from the ditch.
Recent Oregon State Police
activity
Sept. 30 — A trooper at
about 9:20 a.m. approached a
silver Cadillac DeVille parked
off Highway 30 near Perry. The
trooper found the driver, Bryan
M. Nearing, 42, of La Grande,
was a felon in possession of a
sawed-off shotgun. The trooper
arrested Nearing and booked
him into the Union County Cor-
rectional Facility, La Grande.
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TUESDAY, OCT. 6
9 a.m. — A caller asked to
speak to the animal enforce-
ment offi cer about a dog struck
by a car at Oak Street and Main
10106 N. ‘C’ • Island City
and working her way up to
advertising director for sev-
eral newspapers.
What was most important
to Jennine were her two
sons, Travis and Derek Lou-
mena, and her relationship
with her Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ. This opened
up her generous, giving
heart to make a difference
in lives whenever there
was a need. Her life took a
huge turn when she became
a grandmother to Daniel
and Landon and she met
the love of her life, Stewart
Woodworth.
Survivors include her
parents; her brother and his
daughter; sons and daugh-
ters-in-law and grandsons;
nephews, Justin and Jona-
than, and their families; and
partner, Stewart.
She was preceded in
death by her sister.
In lieu of fl owers, memo-
rial contributions may be
made to help fi nish the con-
struction of the church at
Yaxoquintela in Mexico
(send checks to Hebron
USA, 6091 Mountain Brook
Road, Greensboro, North
Carolina, 27455).
Richard ‘Dick’ L. Parsons
1925-2020 • Elgin
Richard “Dick” L. Par-
sons, 94, of Elgin, died
Oct. 2 at his residence. A
viewing will
be held Oct. 8
from 3-5 p.m.
at Love-
land Funeral
Chapel, La
Grande. A graveside service
will begin at 2 p.m. Oct.
9 at the Elgin Cemetery.
Casual dress is preferred by
the family. Attendees must
wear a mask and practice
541-975-1364
Please follow guide-
lines regarding face cov-
erings and social dis-
tancing at all services.
Oct. 8-9 — DICK PAR-
SONS: Oct. 8, 3-5 p.m.
viewing, Loveland Funeral
Chapel, La Grande; Oct. 9,
2 p.m. graveside service, El-
gin Cemetery (casual dress
preferred).
Oct. 10 — JENNINE
SAMPLES: 1 p.m. memorial
service, Wallowa Christian
Church.
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.
Oct. 11 — KENNY PRATT:
4 p.m. memorial gathering,
Riverside Park, La Grande.
— Calendar cour-
tesy of Loveland Funeral
Chapel, La Grande
social distancing to meet
COVID-19 guidelines.
Known as Dick, he
was born Oct. 8, 1925, in
Elgin, to Leonard and Elsie
(Aldred) Parsons. He was
raised in Elgin and attended
Elgin Stella Mayfi eld Ele-
mentary and graduated
from Elgin High School,
where he was on the bas-
ketball and baseball teams.
Dick’s marriages to Gerry
Follett and then to Betty
Rysdam ended in divorce.
He later married Laura Peck
Johnston.
Dick was a rancher,
farmer and logger. He
enjoyed hunting, fi shing,
gold mining and wood-
working. Dick was a
member of the Elks, NRA,
Elgin School Board and the
Soil & Water Conservation
District.
Surviving relatives
include his wife, Laura;
children and their spouses,
Lennie and Shawn Parsons
of Gold Bar, Washington,
Ron and Janice Parsons of
Elgin, and Claudia and Jack
Fellows of Milton-Free-
water; seven grandchildren,
20 great-grandchildren and
four great-great-grandchil-
dren; and many nieces and
nephews.
He was preceded in death
by his parents, Leonard and
Elsie; siblings, Ruby Kuhn,
Chloe Phippen, LaRue Par-
sons, Alta Benett-Hunt,
June Holowitz-Gray and
Dell E. Parsons; and
brothers- and sisters-in-law,
Howard Kuhn, Milton
Phippen, Jesse Benett,
John Hunt, Gerald Holow-
itz-Gray and Sally Parsons.
In lieu of fl owers, memo-
rial contributions can be
made to Shriners Hospitals
for Children, 3101 SW Sam
Jackson Park Road, Port-
land 97239.
Online condolences
may be made to the family
at www.lovelandfuneral-
chapel.com.
Kenneth ‘Kenny’ G. Pratt
Formerly of La Grande
Kenneth “Kenny” Gray
Pratt, 82, of North Bend
and formerly of La Grande,
died Aug. 28 at Bay Area
Hospital in Coos Bay.
Family and friends are
invited to Riverside Park
Sunday, Oct. 11, at 4 p.m.
to share stories and visit
(weather permitting).
Find more news online at lagrandeobserver.com
Kenneth Gray Pratt
May 21, 1938 - August 28, 2020
He was always up for having fun,
had a great sense of humor and was
never unkind unless you were a go-
pher tearing through the backyard.
Kenneth “Kenny” Gray Pratt, 82,
of North Bend, Oregon, died August
28, 2020, in the Bay Area Hospital in
Coos Bay. Though Kenny’s death came
suddenly, his wife, children and most
of his grandchildren were able to say
goodbye in person.
Kenny was born on May 21, 1938,
to Sena May Trosper and Keith Ezra
Pratt in Union, Oregon.
He was the fourth of five children
raised in La Grande, Oregon, among
lots of family. He graduated from La
Grande High School in 1956.
A piece of Kenny will always re-
main in La Grande, especially since he
lost a finger tip to the elevator in the
old Sacajawea Hotel while delivering
newspapers as a child.
Kenny joined the Navy following
high school, with hopes of being a
pilot. He spent four years in the Navy
as a mine-man diver.
He grew up with a very musical
family that played spoons, wash-
boards, glass bottles and all the
‘normal’ ones. He loved music and
played many instruments. We loved to
hear him sing; ‘Your Cheating Heart’,
‘Pickles’ and so many more. We had
such fun!
Kenny married his first wife, Janice
Shenfield, in 1959, and they had four
children — Kim, Shari, Jana and
Michael. Following the death of Janice
from colon cancer, Kenny met and
married his second wife Betty Haven,
with whom he would spend the next
39 years of his life.
While employed by Union Pacific
in Hinkle in the 1970s, Kenny wanted
to use his GI Bill which helped pay
for college. He enrolled in Eastern
Oregon State College, taking classes
while working. After changing ma-
jors several times, he finally had the
required credits for a bachelors degree.
He did not apply until 1984 when he
was invited to apply for Governor
Vic Atiyeh’s Labor Advisory Board
knowing that would look better on his
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resume. After traveling from Salem
to La Grande for a writing test, he
secured the degree and was accepted
on the advisory board.
Kenny was the last telegraph
operator in Grass Valley, Oregon; a
brakeman for Union Pacific Railroad;
and then a conductor. He was elect-
ed legislative director of the railroad
union. He and Betty moved to Salem
in 1984 where they lived for 20 years
before retiring to North Bend, Oregon,
in 2004. They loved visiting Garibaldi,
Oregon, on the coast and ocean fishing
on their boat.
While in North Bend, Kenny was
active in Shriners and was president
for three years. He and Betty bought
a hillside property they spent years
fixing up and working in the garden.
Kenny loved to tell stories about
his childhood with his brothers and
sisters (his poor mom). His Navy sto-
ries including exchanging a uniform
for a serape in Mexico and railroad
stories from back when he worked as
a trainman, (a fun time for him when
friendships were formed forever.) As
the state director of the UTU (Unit-
ed Transportation Union), when the
railroad lobbyists wrote a letter to the
legislators accusing Kenny of being
misleading, his return letter asserted
his accusers were the “Kings of Mis-
leadingdom.”
Kenny was preceded in death by his
parents Sena May and Keith; his first
wife Janice; and his sister Leila Marie
Fernandez.
Kenny is survived by his wife Betty;
children Kim Pratt-Ankrum (Steve),
Shari Pratt-Campbell (Herb), Jana
Pratt-Warren and Michael Pratt (Re-
bekah); step-children Dorrie Kaetzel
(Jim) and L.P. McClennan (Verna); 12
grandchildren, one great-grandchild,
siblings Helen Trotter, Keith Pratt and
Gary Pratt.
Some of his ashes will be in Island
City cemetery, in “Pratt Row”, on Sun-
day, October 11. Weather permitting,
family and friends are invited to Riv-
erside park at 4 p.m. to share stories
and visit. You are missed, Beautiful,
beautiful, Papa, Papa!
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