RECORDS AND MORE
Saturday, March 6, 2021
Obituaries
Community
Meetings
• UNION — The Union City
Council will meet Monday,
March 8, at Union City Hall.
A work session will begin at
6 p.m. followed by a regular
meeting at 7 p.m. Water and
sewer rates will be discussed.
• LA GRANDE — Health Care
for All Oregon-Union County
invites the public to a virtual
meeting Tuesday, March 9, at
6 p.m. via Zoom. The program
will provide information for
voicing your opinion on cur-
rent state and federal legis-
lation for single-payer health
care. For more information
email unioncounty@hcao.org.
• LA GRANDE — The La
Grande Planning Commission
will meet Tuesday, March 9, at
6 p.m by electronic commu-
nication and may be viewed
on Facebook (www.facebook.
com/LaGrandeCityManager).
The meeting will include a
public hearing on conditional
use permit application for
Airbnb rentals on H Avenue.
Community members may
submit comments or ques-
tions in writing in advance
of the meeting. Written com-
ments may be emailed to
mboquist@cityoflagrande.
org and must be received by
5 p.m. the day of the meeting.
Briefs
Parents of LHS seniors
invited to meeting
LA GRANDE — A meeting
for the parents of La Grande
High School students will
begin at 6 p.m. Thursday,
March 11, in the LHS Audi-
torium. This meeting is for
parents only (no students).
The purpose of the meeting
is to update families about
upcoming senior activities
and events and parent volun-
teer opportunities.
Lottery
Megabucks: $2.6 million
6-9-30-36-45-47
Powerball: $123 million
21-40-44-50-55 — PB 16 x3
Mega Millions: $43 million
4-8-13-34-64 — MB 18 x2
Win for Life: March 3
46-53-60-72
Pick 4: March 4
• 1 p.m.: 8-9-3-6
• 4 p.m.: 3-3-9-2
• 7 p.m.: 3-2—0-3
• 10 p.m.: 4-5-1-0
Pick 4: March 3
• 1 p.m.: 4-8-9-9
• 4 p.m.: 6-9-5-8
• 7 p.m.: 0-7-6-8
• 10 p.m.: 2-1-1-1
DELIVERY ISSUES?
If you have any problems
receiving your Observer, call
541-963-3161.
thE OBSErVEr — 3A
Pat Lynn
1947-2021 • Enterprise
Pat Lynn, 73, of Enter-
prise, died Feb. 21.
Pat was born April 3,
1947, in Texarkana, Texas,
to Benjamin James and
Beatrice Merle
(Ward) Lynn.
He attended
Compton High
School in Cal-
ifornia until
he enlisted in
the U.S. Air Force at the
age of 17. He attended boot
camp in Chicago and was
then stationed at March Air
Force Base in California.
Pat was involved in a
tragic car accident in 1966
when he was only 19 in
Riverside, California, suf-
fering serious burns on
more than half of his body.
Over the next few years he
was hospitalized in Fort
Sam Houston and Lack-
land, Texas, and then to
California.
Pat later moved to Par-
amount, California, where
he then married a former
classmate from Compton,
Peggy Shingleton. Their
daughter, Tracy Lynn,
was born Oct. 7, 1968. Pat
and Peggy divorced a few
years later but remained
close friends and copar-
UNION COUNTY
SENIOR CENTER
TAKEOUT LUNCH
MENU
Pick up 11:30 a.m. to
12:30 p.m. at 1504 N.
Albany St., La Grande. For
delivery, call 541-963-7532
before 10 a.m. Age 60+,
$3 suggested donation;
all others, $5. Public is
welcome. Inquire about
family meals and prepack-
aged sides.
MARCH 8-12
Monday: chef salad,
soup, bread, fruit, dessert.
Tuesday: Swedish
meatballs over egg noo-
dles, salad greens, fruit,
dessert.
Wednesday: fried chick-
en, mashed potatoes and
gravy, steamed vegeta-
bles, salad greens, cake.
Thursday: BLT sand-
wich, steak fries, fruit,
brownie.
Friday: beef wrap, steak
fries, fruit.
ents until Peggy’s death in
2014.
In 1979 Pat married Lori
Nickell. They lived in Sac-
ramento, California, with
their daughters, Tracy and
Mandy, and sons, Sean,
Michael and Patrick, until
the family relocated to
Wallowa County in 1985.
Pat and Lori were married
for 16 years.
Pat enjoyed golfing, sto-
rytelling, 1950s music and
watching his grandchil-
dren play sports, perform
in plays and music pro-
grams. He loved his family
dearly and especially loved
attending birthday parties,
holiday parties and family
barbecues.
Pat volunteered for
Meals on Wheels and
coached boys Little League
for several years. He was
known to many people as
the “sweetest man in the
world.”
He was kind and offered
his wisdom to anyone
who asked for it. He will
be missed by all who love
him, but he has left behind
precious memories, funny
antics and a knowledge that
if he liked you, he loved
you.
He was preceded in
death by his mother,
Beatrice Merle Ward;
father, Benjamin James
Lynn; stepfather, Lino
Montoya; daughter, Tracy
Lynn; brother, Denver
Arnold; and sisters, Car-
olynn Trujillo and Joanne
Gallegly.
Lori Greenway
Joseph
Lori Greenway, 61, of
Joseph, died Jan. 10 at her
home. A memorial ser-
vice will be held March
13 at 3 p.m. at the Enter-
prise First Baptist Church.
Arrangements are by
Bollman Funeral Home,
Enterprise.
Raymond M. Johnson
La Grande
Raymond M. Johnson,
89, of La Grande, died
March 1 at a local care
facility. A graveside service
will be held March 19 at
11 a.m. at the Summerville
Cemetery. Arrangements
are by Loveland Funeral
Chapel & Crematory,
La Grande.
Agnes (Wilson) Sudway
1933-2021 • Elgin
Agnes Sudway, 87, of
Elgin, died Feb. 26 at a
local care facility.
At her request, there
Upcoming local services
Please follow guide-
lines regarding face cov-
erings and social dis-
tancing at all services.
March 13 — LORI
GREENWAY: 3 p.m.
memorial service, Enter-
prise First Baptist Church.
March 19 — RAY-
will not be a service.
Agnes was born Aug.
26, 1933, in Death Valley,
California, to Tom and
Susie (Bilson) Wilson. She
resided in Death Valley
for 32 years, then lived in
Gemmel, Minnesota, for
nine years until moving to
Elgin, where she lived for
46 years.
Agnes attended schools
in Death Valley and grad-
uated from Death Valley
High School. On Sept. 30,
1964, she married Edward
Sudway in Goldsfield,
Nevada.
Agnes was a devoted
mother and loving wife.
She enjoyed oil painting
CHILDREN’S FREE TAKEOUT BREAKFAST AND LUNCH MENU
Free breakfast and lunch for anyone
age 18 and younger. Pick up 11:30 a.m. to
1 p.m. at Central, Greenwood or Island
City elementary schools, La Grande.
Fresh vegetables, seasonal fruit and
1% milk are offered daily in addition to
the menu items. Served at La Grande
schools for on-campus students.
MARCH 8-12
Central and Island City Elementary
schools
Monday: BREAKFAST: strawberry
toaster pastry, cheese stick, canned fruit;
LUNCH: turkey deli sandwich, potato
chips, baby carrots.
Tuesday: BREAKFAST: mini wafles,
orange juice; LUNCH: crispy chicken sub,
French fries.
Wednesday: BREAKFAST: apple frudel,
fresh fruit; LUNCH: yogurt pak with
bagel, red peppers.
Thursday: BREAKFAST: strawberry yo-
gurt with graham crackers, orange juice;
LUNCH: chicken Caesar wrap, corn.
Friday: BREAKFAST: cinnamon-cream-
cheese-filled bagel, fresh fruit; LUNCH:
walking taco, baby carrots.
Greenwood Elementary School
Monday: BREAKFAST: oatmeal-choc-
olate chip bar, cheese stick, fruit or juice;
LUNCH: crispy chicken sub, baby carrots.
Tuesday: BREAKFAST: breakfast
burrito, fruit or juice; LUNCH: ham deli
sandwich, broccoli florets.
Wednesday: BREAKFAST: strawber-
ry toaster pastry, cheese stick, fruit or
juice; LUNCH: Italian meatball sub, red
peppers.
Thursday: BREAKFAST: mini pancakes,
fruit or juice; LUNCH: soft beef taco, corn.
Friday: BREAKFAST: long john, fruit or
juice; LUNCH: hot dog, tator tots.
La Grande middle and high schools
Monday: BREAKFAST: oatmeal-choco-
late chip bar, canned fruit; LUNCH: BBQ
chicken sandwich, potato chips, baby
carrots.
Tuesday: BREAKFAST: yogurt pak
with bagel, orange juice; LUNCH:
ham deli sandwich, goldfish crackers,
radishes.
Wednesday: BREAKFAST: waffles,
fresh fruit; LUNCH: chicken taco, red
peppers.
Thursday: BREAKFAST: bacon, egg
and cheese on a biscuit, orange juice;
LUNCH: walking taco, corn.
Friday: BREAKFAST: cinnamon roll,
fresh fruit; LUNCH: BBQ meatball sub,
green peppers.
MOND JOHNSON:
11 a.m. graveside service,
Summerville Cemetery.
March 20 —
CHARITY HENRY:
11 a.m. memorial service,
La Grande Church of Christ.
April 24 — BECKY
ROBERSON: 2 p.m.
celebration of life, Elgin
Community Center.
— calendar cour-
tesy of Loveland Funeral
Chapel, La Grande
and received many awards
and ribbons. She also was
an avid reader.
Surviving relatives
include her husband,
Edward; son, Charles
Sudway of Pahrump,
Nevada; two grandchil-
dren; three great-grand-
children; and one niece and
one nephew.
She was preceded in
death by her parents, Tom
and Susie; brother, Clyde
Wilson; son, Tom Sudway;
and nephew, Walkeen
Wilson.
Online condolences
may be made to the family
at www.lovelandfuneral-
chapel.com.
Diaper drive benefits CASA
The Observer
LA GRANDE — The local chapter of
Court Appointed Special Advocates is part-
nering with Icon Credit Union in a diaper
drive to benefit local families. Collection
efforts include five diaper drop-off locations
and two “Fill the Car” events.
The goal is to collect 50,000 diapers,
but CASA also will accept cash donations
at Icon Credit Union, 209 Depot St., La
Grande. According to a press release, a $5
donation can provide 23 diapers for local
children in need.
The diaper drop-off locations are: Icon/
Horizon Credit Union, 209 Depot St.,
Brother Bear Cafe, 1009 Adams Ave., Union
County Chamber of Commerce, 207 Depot
St., Elkhorn Media Group in La Grande
and Main Street Motors, 311 W. Main St.,
Enterprise.
The “Fill the Car” events are March
25-26, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Main Street
Motors, Enterprise, and March 29-21, 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m., at Icon/Horizon Credit Union,
La Grande.
C. Gene Hand III
James Elbert Thompson
April 13, 1940 - February 19, 2021
March 8, 1941 - October 23, 2020
C. Gene Hand III, of Eugene, OR,
passed away at age 80 on February 19, at
his home surrounded by family.
Gene was born on April 13, 1940 in
Walla Walla, WA, to Claude Eugene Hand
II and Erildean Hand. He was raised and
educated in Walla Walla and La Grande,
OR, graduating from Eastern Oregon
University in 1962 where he won racing
awards on the competitive ski team and
served as a ski instructor.
After spending six months traveling in
Europe, he later married Patsy Hutchin-
son in La Grande.
Gene served as a sergeant/specialist
5 in the U.S. National Guard and active
army reserves for several years and he
shared fond, yet scary memories of train-
ing at Fort Ord in California and standing
guard all night during the Cuban Missile
Crisis.
After working as a top sales agent and
staff manager at American National In-
surance Company in Eugene, he founded
C. Gene Hand & Company in 1971, a solo
and joint investment venture focusing on
nursing homes, skilled nursing and resi-
dential care facilities in the Northwest.
With an Oregon principal broker real
estate license, Gene also arranged multi-
state financing for commercial real estate
with an emphasis on the senior housing
market.
A dedicated member for more than 30
years of the Eugene Executives Association
(EEA), Gene also served on many boards
of directors over the years, including for
the Eugene Hotel Retirement Center,
Payless Longterm Care Pharmacy and The
Salvation Army.
A true renaissance man, he couldn’t
imagine ever being bored. He was an avid
reader with a curious mind, with many
skills and passions including playing classi-
cal and jazz piano, archeology and geology.
He was involved in a family gold mining
project with a hard rock claim near Half-
way, Oregon, producing a grapefruit-size
sample of white quartz and gold currently
at the Smithsonian Museum.
Gene had a lifetime fascination with
cars and engines since growing up working
at his father’s Ford dealership. That’s where
he learned to build cars, including a cherry
red and chrome 1927 Model T Roadster
which was shown on the national hot rod
circuit and featured in the February 1966
issue of Hot Rod magazine.
He earned his pilot’s license, enjoyed
hiking and backpacking on Steens Moun-
tain and sold his metal sculptures in Ore-
gon and California in his 20s. He amassed
an impressive Lionel train collection that
he kept in mint condition until selling it a
few years ago.
Gene’s daughters have fond memories
of him coaching their t-ball and softball
teams. He was also a great dancer, especial-
ly of the tango, much to his wife’s amaze-
ment.
His family was particularly proud
when he decided in his 60s to completely
rebuild and restore two Gar Wood antique
mahogany speedboats including creating
custom engine parts and doing the same
for a Chris-Craft antique speedboat while
a member of the Antique & Classic Boat
Society. His artistry and attention to detail
created beautiful, one-of-a-kind master-
pieces.
Around this same time, Gene also
restored and rebuilt a 1948 Hudson with a
flathead V-8 engine which he raced at the
Bonneville Salt Flats, winning two land
speed racing world records, one which still
stands today.
His warmth, steadfast support and
hilarious sense of humor will be greatly
missed by his family and friends.
Survivors include his wife, Patsy of
Eugene; daughter Andrea Hand of Port-
land; daughter Stephanie Hand & son-in-
law Scott Goldstein of Eugene; daughter
Erica Hand & son-in-law Shem Malone
of Portland; four grandchildren: Zachary
and Riley Goldstein, Navarre and India
Malone; sister and brother-in-law, Cheryl
and John Howton of La Grande.
In lieu of funeral services due to the
COVID-19 pandemic, the family will hold
a private memorial later in the year.
Jim Thompson, of Cove,
passed away October 23, 2020
at his home with his family near
his favorite elk-viewing spot.
Jim was 79. A family graveside
service was held at the Cove
Cemetery on October 30, 2020.
James Elbert (Jim) Thomp-
son was the youngest of three
children born to John Elbert
Thompson and Mary Dickerson Thompson
on March 8, 1941 in Butler, Missouri, on
the family dairy farm. Jim moved westward
with his family to the Parma, Idaho, area in
1945 and eventually, in 1950, to the Thomp-
son farm near the Big Bend of the Snake
River area not far from Adrian, Oregon.
Growing up on the farm, Jim learned the
value of hard work from his parents.
While attending high school, Jim was a
member of student government, the Adrian
Antelope Letterman’s Club and the school’s
FFA program. It was in high school that
Jim’s love of athletics grew. Jim excelled
in football, basketball and baseball for the
Antelopes earning many district, regional
and state honors. Highlights included the
Antelopes 1958 and 1959 Oregon high
school baseball titles. Jim graduated with
the Adrian class of 1959. After high school,
football led Jim to Boise Junior College
(now Boise State University) before even-
tually continuing his education at Eastern
Oregon College (now EOU) graduating in
1963 with a degree in education.
That same year, Jim married Barbara
(Bobbi) Johnson on June 16, 1963 in Vale,
Oregon, beginning a 57-year marriage.
Later, in December, Jim was hired by the La
Grande School District to teach fifth and
sixth grade at the old Island City School.
In all, Jim spent 32 years working for the
school district with additional stops at
Central Elementary School, the old La
Grande Junior High School and in 1976,
Jim became the first principal of the new La
Grande Middle School. Jim’s many years in
the school district resulted in many close re-
lationships with staff members and students
and their families. After retirement, Jim
always looked forward to the next conver-
sation he’d have with someone he’d worked
with or had as a student in school. These
moments were especially treasured by Jim!
In 1990, Jim and Bobbi purchased a
small acreage in Cove, Oregon. Working
tirelessly but cherishing every moment, they
would plant a large garden each year, tend
their many fruit trees and maintain several
trout ponds. When not keeping the place
up, Jim would enjoy watching the deer,
elk and turkeys that frequented
his home. Jim was involved in
the Cove Sportsman Club and
a supporter of the Cove School
District. Jim’s love of athlet-
ics continued throughout his
lifetime as he could frequently
be spotted near a playing field or
seated courtside for ballgames
in La Grande, Cove or Imbler
where he enjoyed rooting for his grandchil-
dren at their events and games.
Through the years, Jim enjoyed coach-
ing his sons’ Little League teams, restoring
and driving classic pickups and Mustangs,
hunting and fishing with treasured friends
and family, gun collecting and enjoying the
splendor of all that nature provided. But
Jim’s greatest love was that for his family,
their accomplishments and their endeavors.
He was a trusted source of advice and a
giver of encouragement. Jim’s love for his
family was unconditional. He was loyal,
generous and caring and worked to instill
confidence into others through his words
and actions.
Jim seemingly never met a stranger and
could find something to visit about with
nearly anyone. Jim was known to never be
at a loss for words - for very long! Jim was
a keeper of treasured stories and memories
and a teller of a good hunting or fishing
tale. His kindness and generosity will be
remembered by all who had the pleasure of
knowing him.
Jim is survived by his wife, Bobbi, of
Cove, Oregon; son Todd and wife, Sophia
Thompson, La Grande, Oregon; son Troy
Thompson and wife, Jody Fife, Rose-
burg, Oregon; granddaughter Demetria
Thompson, La Grande, Oregon; grandson
Nick and wife, Holly Thompson, Imbler,
Oregon and two great-grandchildren, Ava
and Taysom Thompson; stepsister Margy
Thompson and her family; stepbrother
Win Ludy and family; sister-in-law Ginny
Johnson and family; and numerous other
extended family members. Jim also is sur-
vived by many dear, long-time friends.
Jim was preceded in death by his father
John Thompson; mother Mary Ludy;
twin sisters Arlene and Alice Thompson;
step-father Reginald Ludy; in-laws Bill and
Frances Johnson; and brother-in-law Bill
Johnson.
A celebration of Jim’s life is planned later
this year. In lieu of flowers, those wishing
to make a donation in Jim’s memory may
choose The National Multiple Sclerosis
Society, the Imbler Education Foundation,
or a charity of choice.