RECORDS AND MORE
Tuesday, OcTOber 13, 2020
Community Drive-thru flu shot
Briefs
Firewood available
Saturday to people who
need it
LA GRANDE — The
Neighbors Together emer-
gency woodlot will be giving
wood-burning households in
financial need up to a cord of
firewood Saturday, Oct. 17,
from 9 a.m. to noon. Dona-
tions will be accepted but not
required. The lot is at 3309 N.
Umatilla St., La Grande. For
more information visit www.
neighborstogetherofunion-
county.org or call 541-963-
9126.
All welcome at Cove
Turkey Shoot
COVE — The Cove
Sportsman Club is hosting
its annual Turkey Shoot
Sunday, Oct. 18. The event is
open to the public and both
shooters and non-shooters
are welcome. The shooting
begins at 9 a.m., and lunch
will be served starting at
11 a.m. There also will be
non-shooting games. The
Cove Sportsman Club is on
the highway on the south
edge of town. Please bring
your mask for when social
distancing is not possible.
clinics for vets
Wednesday, Oct. 14
The Observer
LA GRANDE — The
Walla Walla VA Medical
Center is holding a second
drive-thru flu shot event for
veterans at the La Grande
facility.
The drive-thru clinic
will run Wednesday, Oct.
14, from 8-11 a.m. and
1-2 p.m. in the La Grande
VA Clinic parking lot at
202 12th St.
Due to the coronavirus
pandemic, according to a
press release from the Walla
Walla VA Medical Center,
it is especially important
this year for veterans to get
a flu shot to stay healthy.
Flu vaccinations reduce the
risk of getting the flu and
spreading it to others.
Eligible veterans can
get their flu shot for free
without having to get out
of their cars. Veterans
must wear a mask (vented
masks are not allowed).
The press release encour-
aged vets who are unable
to attend the flu shot clinics
to get the shot from their
primary care team or at a
Veterans Administration
in-network pharmacy or
urgent care facility (to find
the nearest facility, go to
www.va.gov/find-locations,
enter your ZIP code and
select “community pharma-
cies” or “urgent care” under
“Facility Type”).
More information on the
Walla Walla VA’s scheduled
drive-thru flu shot clinics at
all sites is available at www.
wallawalla.va.gov/features/
Flu_Season_2020.asp as
well as the medical center’s
Facebook page under the
“Events” tab.
Chalk one up for social justice message
THe ObserVer — 3A
Public Safety Report
FRIDAY, OCT. 9
7:42 a.m. — La Grande
police received a report of
theft of a vehicle on the 1600
block of Cedar Street.
10:25 a.m. — A caller
reported a disturbance on the
800 block of North 15th Ave-
nue, Elgin. A Union County
sheriff’s deputy responded
and resolved the situation.
5:01 p.m. — La Grande
police received a report of
menacing on the 1600 block
of Sixth Street. Officers re-
sponded and determined the
report was unfounded.
9:02 p.m. — A caller
reported possible fireworks
in the area of Seventh Street
and O Avenue, La Grande. An
officer responded but did not
locate anyone.
9:52 p.m. — La Grande
police received a report of
vandalism on the 700 block
of N Avenue.
responded and took a report.
10:25 p.m. — La Grande
police received a complaint
about a loud party in the
area of Jakob Avenue and
16th Street. An officer spoke
to the people involved, who
agreed to keep the noise
down.
10:57 p.m. — The Union
County Sheriff’s Office
responded to the 600 block
of Caddie Street, Cove, on a
complaint about a loud party.
The deputy counseled the
people involved.
SUNDAY, OCT. 11
12:08 p.m. — La Grande
police received a report of
an intoxicated driver at Den-
ny’s restaurant, 2604 Island
Ave. Officers responded but
did not find the driver.
2:04 p.m. — La Grande
police responded to the
2000 block of Gekeler Lane
on a report of harassment.
Officers made contact and
referred a person to the
nonprofit Shelter From the
Storm.
6:17 p.m. — A caller re-
ported cows on the loose in
the area of Gekeler Lane and
McAlister Road, La Grande.
A Union County sheriff’s
deputy responded, and the
owner arrived to get the
cows back inside the fence.
11:46 p.m. — La Grande
police received a complaint
about someone going
through a trash can on the
2300 block of Q Avenue. An
officer responded and found
the subject was cleaning up
the mess.
William “Bill” Murrill
July 2, 1937 - October 1, 2020
SATURDAY, OCT. 10
9:40 a.m. — A caller
reported criminal mischief
on the 69400 block of Dean
Road, Cove. A Union County
sheriff’s deputy made con-
tact. The sheriff’s office will
provide extra patrols.
12:04 p.m. — La Grande
police received a report of
a traffic hazard at Jackson
Avenue and Depot Street.
Officers responded and
counseled juveniles at the
scene.
3:57 p.m. — La Grande
police received a complaint
about two intoxicated people
on the 1600 block of Albany
Street. An officer contacted
the pair and they agreed to
leave.
8:03 p.m. — An Elgin caller
reported harassment on the
69000 block of Merritt Lane.
A Union County sheriff’s
deputy made contact and
separated the parties.
9:44 p.m. — The Union
County Sheriff’s Office
received a complaint from
the area of Booth Lane and
Lower Cove Road about the
theft of pumpkins. A deputy
William “Bill” Murrill took his last breath on October
1st, in his home in Middleton, Idaho, following a long ill-
ness. Bill was born on July 2, 1937 and was raised, along
with his brother Don Murrill and sister Nola (Murrill)
Clarneau, by parents Cecil and Wilma (Austin) Murrill
on their ranch on Buford Ridge, Flora, Oregon. Bill’s
parents Cecil and Wilma preceded him in passing as did
Rhonda, who loved him as a Dad, and Tony, the son of
his best friend and younger brother, Don.
Bill left behind his cherished wife of 38 years, Wilma
“Willy” (Harrington) Murrill, Cindy, Chris and Judy,
who loved Bill as their Dad. Bill was Grandpa Bill to
10 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren. Bill left
behind his loving sister Nola, his brother Don and their
families.
Bill was a lifelong rancher, airforce veteran, mainte-
nance man and locksmith, respected Wallowa County
brand inspector, hunting and shooting partner, skilled
wood worker, ammo loader, dad, grandpa, brother, uncle,
cousin, neighbor and good friend. To say that Bill’s leav-
ing left a big hole would be an understatement. Bill, with
his shared wisdom, calm demeanor, firm handshake,
hugs and great stories told in that slow drawl brought
many a smile to many a face.
No formal services will be held. Bill’s ashes will be cast
where his parent’s ashes lie, when the weather is good,
and his family present – Bill would like that.
Mary Louise (Owen) Brown
February 12, 1928 - October 7, 2020
Kip Roberson/Cook Memorial Library
Kip Roberson snapped this photo last week of the chalk writing he found adorning the
concrete at the Cook Memorial Library, La Grande. Roberson, who is the Cook Memorial
director, said while the library does not support graffiti, it does stand for racial equity and
social justice for all people. Rain during the weekend washed away the display.
Oregon
temporarily
increases
SNAP
benefits
The Observer
SALEM — The
Oregon Department of
Human Services is tem-
porarily increasing Sup-
plemental Nutrition Assis-
tance Program benefits for
the month of October.
The department in a
press release announced
it made an additional $30
million available for eli-
gible SNAP recipients
statewide. The additional
food assistance funds will
go to households that are
not already at the max-
imum amount of their
benefit.
Households already
enrolled in the SNAP pro-
gram do not need to do
anything. The depart-
ment will allocate funds
to recipients directly into
their accounts starting
Tuesday, Oct. 13. For
those who join the benefit
program after Tuesday,
the extra benefits will be
available Oct. 30.
This allotment will
bring all Oregon house-
holds receiving Supple-
mental Nutrition Assis-
tance Program funds up
to the maximum amount
allowed.
This is a temporary
increase, according to the
press release.
Obituaries
James W. Myers
Donna C. Doud
Formerly of La Grande
La Grande
James W. Myers, 86,
of Diamond Bar, Cali-
fornia, and formerly of La
Grande, died Oct. 9 at his
residence. Arrangements
are by Loveland Funeral
Chapel & Crematory.
Donna C. Doud,
86, of La Grande, died
Oct, 12 at a local care
facility.
Arrangements are by
Loveland Funeral Chapel
& Crematory.
Pedestrian safety push
PEDESTRIANS AFOOT !
...
PLEASE
SL W
YOUR
ROLL!
Drive, Walk & Ride Safely. The Way to Go. Transportation Safety – ODOT
The Oregon
Department of
Transportation
reminds drivers
that October is
Pedestrian Safe-
ty Month. Learn
more about that
here: https://bit.
ly/36YoYdh.
ODOT/Contributed Graphic
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Mary Brown passed away peacefully on
October 7, 2020 from congestive heart failure
and related complications. She was born Feb-
ruary 12, 1928 in Jackson Hole, WY and was
the youngest of William Jesse and Evelyn Mary
Grant’s three children. Her mother passed away
when Mary was about two years old. Her father
later married Venice Richardson. Eventually
Mary had two more siblings and was no longer
the ‘baby of the family’.
Mary had a heart full of love for God and
every element of God’s creation. She grew up
in a setting of astonishing natural beauty, at
the foot of the Teton mountain range. Her
childhood best friend and next door neighbor,
Joanne Murie, was the daughter of Mardie
Murie who would later become known as ‘the
Grandmother of the Conservation Movement’.
These two factors planted a seed that grew
throughout Mary’s lifetime and filled her with
great wonder, love and respect for the natural
world.
Many years ago, Mary wrote that the Murie
family was “…very influential in my life…I
believe they had a good deal to do in showing
me how good and beautiful and fragile our
world is — how to take care of God’s land and
creatures — not in so many words, but just by
the way they lived and treated all of us.”
At the age of 17, Mary started taking flying
lessons. She described flying as “…a beautiful
and peaceful feeling to be up among the clouds
— so free and close to God.” She eventually fell
in love with and married her flight instructor
- Merritt Owen. In 1949 Mary and Merritt
moved to La Grande, OR, raised three children
and loved each other as much as any two people
can. Their marriage ended with Merritt’s death
in 1982.
In 1988 Mary and Ray “Red” Brown were
married. Sadly, on Christmas Eve of that year
she became a widow again when Red passed
away unexpectedly.
Mary was an active, dedicated and well-
loved member of St Peter’s Episcopal Church
for over 70 years. The community at St Peter’s
played a huge role in her life during that entire
time.
She thrived on helping others, had a great
imagination, wry sense of humor, a substantial
dose of grit and made the best strawberry-rhu-
barb pie imaginable. Her working career in-
cluded 17 years as receptionist at the La Grande
Clinic but her favorite working years were spent
at McGlasson’s Stationary where she loved to
put her artistic skills to work creating window
displays.
Mary is survived by brothers John and
Robert Grant; her children Peggy Dennis, Pat
Owen and John Owen; step-children Margaret
“Mib” Kelly and Rusty Brown, as well as, her
children’s spouses and several well-loved, loving
grandchildren and great-grandchildren who
have long been constant sources of joy for her.
A celebration of Mary’s life will be held at
St Peter’s Episcopal church this coming spring.
Arrangements are entrusted to Daniels-Knopp
Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center.