RECORDS
TUESDAY, JULY 6, 2021
THE OBSERVER — A3
OBITUARIES
DEATH NOTICES
Annette M. (Pearce) Cheatham
Rusty L. Mink
1942-2021
Union
1950-2021
Elgin
Annette Marion
Annette was born Oct.
Cheatham, 78, of Union
3, 1942, in Baker City,
and formerly of Elgin,
to Clarence Marion and
died June 21,
Blanche Ada
2021, at St.
(Spivey) Pearce.
Alphonsus
She mar-
Medical Center
ried Arthur D.
in Boise, Idaho.
Cheatham, who
A celebration
preceded her in
of her life will
death on Jan. 2,
be held July
2016.
10 at 1 p.m. at
Surviving
the La Grande
relatives include
First Chris-
her daugh-
Cheatham
tian Church.
ters Julia Musk
A family gath-
of Muskegon,
ering will follow the ser-
Michigan, and Cindi
vice at Golden Crown,
Stawicki of Goldendale,
1116 Adams Ave., La
Washington, both for-
Grande.
merly of Elgin.
Vera K. (Mason) Harmon
1923-2021
La Grande
Vera Katherine
fruits and vegetables,
Harmon, 98, of La
baked goods, candies
Grande, died June 29,
and fl owers. Over the
2021, at her home. A
years she earned a huge
funeral will be held July
box of blue ribbons from
10 at 10 a.m. at
her eff orts.
Daniels-Knopp
Her children
Funeral, Cre-
recall it was
mation & Life
always a fun
Celebration
time loading
Center, La
the car with her
Grande.
entries after the
Vera Kath-
fair and taking
erine Harmon
them home, for
was born June
the reward was
16, 1923, in
delicious.
Harmon
Boise, Idaho,
Vera’s was
to Oliver and
a life of song.
Annie Mason. She was
She knew hundreds of
one of six children.
songs by heart, from
After graduating
hymns to ballads to chil-
high school in Council,
dren’s songs, forever
Idaho, she took secre-
enriching others with her
tarial training in Weiser, beautiful happy voice.
Idaho, and landed a
Vera and Derald
job as secretary for
appreciated the gospel
the project manager of
and fellowship meetings
Anderson Ranch Dam in that were held in their
Idaho.
home for many years.
Vera married Derald
They spent a large por-
Harmon after he
tion of their lives in the
returned from World
service of the Lord and
War II and they even-
in helping to lead others
tually moved to La
to his love.
Grande.
They also often
Most of her adult life
opened their home to
was spent in La Grande,
young and old alike.
where she earned the
Derald preceded Vera in
nickname of “The Rose
death 27 years ago.
Lady” in reference to
Vera led a rich life
her rose garden that
raising her fi ve chil-
she spent so much time
dren. Her legacy is enor-
tending.
mous. She gave freely of
Vera always had a
her own love and it was
huge garden and knew
returned many fold.
well how to use her dou-
Surviving relatives
ble-oven range.
include her children,
In years past, she
Dan, Lynette, Aleta, Lee
was a major contrib-
and Betty; 14 grandchil-
utor to the Union County dren; 11 great-grandchil-
Fair, submitting 50 or
dren and one great-great
more entries each year
grandchild; one brother
of her garden-grown
and one sister.
Edith ‘Marie’ (Rogers) Hewitt
1941-2021
La Grande
Edith “Marie” Hewitt,
80, of La Grande, died
June 29, 2021, at her
home. At this time a
public service is not
planned. She will be
interred next to her
daughter at Valley Memo-
rial Park in Hillsboro.
Arrangements are by
Daniels-Knopp Funeral,
Cremation & Life Cel-
ebration Center, La
Grande.
Known as Marie, she
was born June 19, 1941, in
Portland, to James Ham-
ilton and Edith Evelyn
(Siefert) Rogers. She was
raised by an aunt with her
cousins in Cedar Mills
and graduated from Bea-
verton High School in
1959.
Marie was a wife,
mother and homemaker
but also worked for a time
for Trust Joist Northwest
in Hillsboro. On Aug. 15,
1960, she married Howard
Lee Hewitt in Escondido,
California. They moved to
La Grande from Hillsboro
in 1997.
Marie loved cooking,
baking, tending her
fl owers and fi shing. She
also enjoyed crocheting
and working crossword
puzzles. She had a great
love of animals, especially
dogs and had many as pets
over the years.
Surviving relatives
include her husband,
Howard Lee Hewitt, of La
Grande; daughters, Peggy
Hewitt of Portland, Darla
Hewitt of Saint Helens,
and Rhonda Hewitt of La
Grande; fi ve grandchil-
dren and four great-grand-
children; sisters, Nancy
Wong of Dallas and
Sharon Reed of Portland;
and brother, Larry Rogers
of Deer Island.
She was preceded
in death by her grand-
daughter, Holly Rashel
Schulz, and daughter,
Pamela Nell Hewitt.
Rusty Lee Mink, 70, of
Elgin, died June 18, 2021,
at Grande Ronde Hospital.
At this time a public service
is not planned. Arrange-
ments are by
Daniels-Knopp
Funeral, Crema-
tion & Life Cel-
ebration Center,
La Grande.
Rusty was
born Aug. 14,
1950, in La
Grande, to
Robert Ray and
Mink
Chere Merle
(Bailey) Mink.
He was raised in La Grande
and lived in other parts
of Oregon briefl y before
returning to the La Grande
and Elgin area. He was
retired, having worked as
an engineer for the Oregon
Department of Transporta-
tion for many years.
When Rusty was young
he enjoyed hunting with his
family, and throughout his
life he had a great appreci-
ation for fi reams. He was
an active member of the La
Grande Rifl e/Pistol Club
with his brother Rocky.
Together they instructed
community members on
proper gun safety and
handling, and facilitated
instruction at a tactical
range.
Rusty’s hobbies included
riding and working on
his motorcycles, being in
nature and spending time
with his family, practicing
Audrey Dixon
Baker City
at the gun range, fi xing
up his vehicles and four-
wheeling on Mt. Emily.
To celebrate his 50th
birthday, Rusty completed
a 700-plus-mile
motorcycle trip
called the “Back-
country Discovery
Route.” With sup-
port by his brother
Rocky, he traveled
a route of intercon-
nected backcountry
roads from the Cal-
ifornia to Wash-
ington border.
Here are some
of his own words on the
adventure:
“Luckily, I only crashed
three times and the only
serious injuries were to
my pride and my backpack
(thank you God, for duct
tape) ... 850 miles, in seven
days. If it hadn’t been for
my friends, my family, and
my Honda, I don’t think I
would have ever enjoyed
such a memorable adven-
ture and one of the best
times of my life. Not bad
for an ‘old fart.’”
Surviving relatives
include his daughters,
Dusty Mink and Bran-
deen Mink; brother, Rocky
Mink of La Grande;
niece, Karlee; and two
grandchildren.
He was preceded in
death by his parents, Bob
and Cherie Mink, and uncle
and aunt, Frederick “Jim”
and Midge Mink.
COMMUNITY
BULLETIN BOARD
Audrey Dixon, 29, of Baker City, died June 28, 2021,
at a hospital in Boise, Idaho. Arrangements are by the
Haren-Wood Funeral Chapel, Ontario.
Timothy L. Doss
Enterprise
Timothy L. Doss, 72, of Enterprise, died July 2,
2021, at Wallowa Memorial Hospital. Arrangements
are by Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory,
La Grande.
UPCOMING LOCAL SERVICES
Please follow guide-
lines regarding face cov-
erings and social dis-
tancing at all services.
July 6 — KIM-
BERLY ‘TODD’
WILSON: 10 a.m.
graveside service, Cove
Cemetery.
July 10 — VERA
HARMON: 10 a.m.
funeral, Daniels-Knopp
Funeral, Cremation &
Life Celebration Center,
La Grande
July 10 — CAROLE
HALVORSON: 1 p.m.
celebration of life,
Carole and Bob’s Starkey
ranch (RSVP to 58310
Grande Ronde River
Road, La Grande 97850;
icyriverranch@gmail.
com; or 541-428-2139).
July 10 — GRANT
TSIATSOS: 1 p.m.
memorial service, Tsi-
atsos family ceme-
tery on Baseline Lane
in Starkey; followed by
celebration of life pot-
luck and barbecue at the
family home, also on
Baseline Lane.
July 18 — RAY
STINNETT: 10 a.m. cel-
ebration of life, Ray and
Patti’s ranch on Morgan
Lake Road, La Grande.
July 23 — GLENNIS
PHILLIPS: noon to
5 p.m. memorial gath-
ering, Catherine Creek
Community Center
(the former Methodist
Church) in Union; food
will be provided.
— calendar cour-
tesy of Loveland Funeral
Chapel, La Grande
MILESTONE
View the stars in Wallowa County
JOSEPH — Friday, July 9, the Wallowology Natural
History Discover Center in Joseph is hosting a free “Star
Party” from 9:30-11 p.m. for ages 8 and older (parental
supervision required), and from 10 p.m. to midnight
for ages 16 and older. Telescopes will be provided and
beginners are welcome. To sign up and receive more
details and directions, email info@wallowology.org.
Grange hosts Saturday breakfast
JOSEPH — The Hurricane Creek Grange is hosting
an all-you-an-eat breakfast fro 7-11 a.m. Saturday, July
10. On the menu are pancakes, breakfast meat, eggs,
biscuits and gravy, juice and coff ee. There is an $8
requested donation. Hurricane Creek Grange is at the
intersection of Hurricane Creek Road and Airport Lane,
Joseph.
Pat Young to celebrate
90th birthday on July 9
Pat Young will celebrate
her 90th birthday July 9.
She will be joined on the
weekend by her seven chil-
dren, numerous grand-
children and great-grand-
children and other family
members, coming from as
far away as Alaska.
Friends are invited to
stop by Pat’s home on
Friday, July 9, between
11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to have
cake and visit.
PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT
FRIDAY, JULY 2
SATURDAY, JULY 3
8:39 a.m. — A caller on the
62500 block of Finley Creek
Lane, Summerville, reported
a dog bite. An animal enforce-
ment offi cer took a report.
11:18 a.m. — La Grande
police responded to the 3100
block of Island Avenue on a
report of a homeless encamp-
ment. An offi cer asked one per-
son to move along.
1:43 p.m. — La Grande
police responded to a resi-
dence on the 1800 block of G
Avenue for a juvenile distur-
bance. Offi cers separated the
parties.
3:27 p.m. — A caller on the
600 block of Crook Avenue, La
Grande, reported a dog bite.
An animal enforcement offi cer
responded and took a report.
4:11 p.m. — Another caller
reported a dog bite, on the
2600 block of Bearco Loop, La
Grande. An animal enforce-
ment offi cer took a report.
7:07 p.m. — A caller
reported animal cruelty at Car-
olyn Terrace and North 15th
Avenue, La Grande. An animal
enforcement offi cer made con-
tact and explained options.
7:15 p.m. — A Union County
sheriff ’s deputy responded to
the 11300 block of Island Ave-
nue, Island City, on a report of a
road rage incident. The deputy
counseled the parties involved.
7:29 p.m. — A caller
reported a juvenile caused a
disturbance at Riverside Park,
La Grande. Offi cers and medics
responded and took one sub-
ject to Grande Ronde Hospital.
3:43 a.m. — La Grande
police responded to a resi-
dence on the 1500 block of
Adams Avenue for a distur-
bance and warned the parties
for disorderly conduct.
10:27 a.m. — A caller
reported a domestic distur-
bance at a residence on the
1900 block of H Avenue, La
Grande. An offi cer responded.
12:57 p.m. — La Grande
police received another report
of a domestic disturbance, this
time on the 2300 block of Q
Avenue. Offi cers responded
and counseled the parties.
4:44 p.m. — A caller
reported animal cruelty on the
500 block of Adams Avenue, La
Grande. An offi cer determined
everything was fi ne.
9:26 p.m. — Reports of fi re-
works — legal and illegal —
began rolling into local law
enforcement. The fi rst com-
plaint came from the area of
10800 South Walton Road,
Island City. From then until
after 11 p.m., the Union County
La GRANDE
AUTO REPAIR
975-2000
www.lagrandeautorepair.com
MOST
ADVANCED
TECHNOLOGY
AVAILABLE
Joe Horst
ACDelcoTSS
Sheriff ’s Offi ce and La Grande
police responded to nine calls
about fi reworks. In nearly every
case, law enforcement was not
able to fi nd who set off the
fi reworks.
La Grande police, how-
ever, responded to the 2600
block of Cove Avenue on a fi re-
works complaint that came in
at 11:13 p.m. and in this case
an offi cer explained to people
there was a city ban in place.
SUNDAY, JULY 4
12:15 a.m. — A caller
reported fi reworks in the area
of Union Avenue and Polk
Street, La Grande. Police did
not fi nd anyone setting off
fi reworks.
1:13 a.m. — La Grande
police responded to a resi-
dence on the 1600 block of M
Avenue on a complaint about
a loud party. An offi cer coun-
seled the residents. At 2:08 a.m.
La Grande police returned to
the site of the party and this
time shut it down.
5:32 p.m. — A caller
reported possible illegal fi re-
works on the 400 block of Fir
Street, La Grande. An offi cer
counseled the subject.
8:33 p.m. — La Grande
police responded to Birch
Street and Y Avenue on a report
of juveniles driving carelessly.
Offi cers counseled the subject.
8:52 p.m. — Reports of fi re-
works began pouring into La
Grande police. The depart-
ment received approximately
40 complaints about fi re-
works. The Union County Sher-
iff ’s Offi ce received several fi re-
works complaints on top of
that. Many reports were for ille-
gal fi reworks.
The family of
Jerry Rickman
will be hosting a
Celebration of Life at the home of
Corey & Rhondie Johansen in Union. (Miller Lane)
The ceremony will be held on
July 17th beginning at 1:00pm.
We hope that you will join us to celebrate this amazing
man’s life by sharing stories and memories of him
with all of us.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can
be made to the Bobcat Foundation
Scholarship Program P.O. Box 91, Union 97883.
Jerry’s love of children and his family will
live on through this yearly scholarship
given to a Union High School graduating senior.