RECORDS
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2021
PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT
DEATH & SERVICE NOTICES
MONDAY, NOV. 29
Sharyl J. Burtch
6:52 a.m. — La Grande police conducted a welfare check on
a man on the 700 block of H Avenue and gave the subject a ride
home.
7:38 a.m. — A caller reported a suspicious vehicle on Standley
Lane, La Grande. A Union County sheriff ’s deputy responded and
found a person was taking a nap.
9:47 a.m. — A caller in the area of 75500 Robinson Road, Elgin,
reported a wolf depredation.
10:01 a.m. — La Grande police received a report of a burglary at
Eastern Oregon Net Inc., 216 Chestnut St.
2:56 p.m. — A caller on the 800 block of North 11th Avenue,
Elgin, reported an assault. Law enforcement made contact and
took information.
8:58 p.m. — La Grande police responded to the 1600 block of
Albany Street on a report of an assault. An offi cer took a report.
9:06 p.m. — La Grande police responded to the 1100 block of O
Avenue on a report of a disturbance. Police arrested a 37-year-old
man on a Union County warrant.
TUESDAY, NOV. 30
6:48 a.m. — A Union County sheriff ’s deputy responded to Blue
Springs Crossing Apartments, 10801 S. Walton Road, Island City,
on a report of a hit-and-run and arrested a 25-year-old man for
hit-and-run.
10:03 a.m. — A caller reported an aggressive dog in the area of
South Main and West Grande streets, Union. An animal enforce-
ment offi cer made contact.
10:34 a.m. — La Grande police responded to the Orchard Motel,
2206 Adams Ave., on a report of a disturbance and trespassed one
person.
1:50 p.m. — La Grande police received a complaint about bur-
glary to storage units at La Grande Mini Storage, 1907 U Ave. An
offi cer responded and took a request for an extra patrol.
4:44 p.m. — A caller reported livestock on the loose at South
Second and West Dearborn streets, Union. An animal enforcement
offi cer responded and resolved the situation.
6:48 p.m. — La Grande received a report of an assault on the
2700 block of Empire Drive. An offi cer made contact but the per-
son did not want to pursue a case.
Formerly of La Grande
Sharyl J. Burtch, 70, of Walla Walla, Washington, and
formerly of La Grande, died Nov. 29, 2021, at Providence
St. Mary Medical Center, Walla Walla. Arrangements are
by Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory, La Grande.
Union welcomes
holiday season with
Dec. 4 festival
your kids and your pets
for photos with Santa from
noon to 2 p.m.
UNION — The annual
Winter Wonderland in
Union is set for Saturday,
Dec. 4. There will be ven-
dors and holiday festivi-
ties at the Catherine Creek
Community Center, 667
N. Main St., from noon to
4:30 p.m. The downtown
lighted parade begins at
5 p.m., followed by the tree
lighting and VFW chili
feed. Buff alo Peak Golf
Course, 1224 E. Fulton
St., also is hosting an open
house from 6-8 p.m. with
holiday treats and shopping.
‘The Big’ exhibit opens
Dec. 3 with reception
Dec. 4 brings
bazaar bonanza
LA GRANDE — A
number of holiday bazaars
are set for Saturday, Dec. 4,
in La Grande, supporting
local makers, organiza-
tions and churches. Look
for homemade gift options,
vendors, sweets, meals and
online auctions.
A Christmas Bazaar
fundraiser for the La
Grande Philly Group will
be open from 9 a.m. to
2 p.m. in the gym at the
Riveria Activity Center,
2609 N Second St.
Admission to the Delta
Epsilon Holiday Market
at the Union County Fair-
grounds, 3604 N. Second
St., is canned food or a
package of diapers for the
DHS food bank. The sale
goes from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.,
and Santa will be there
between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
La Grande bazaars are
also happening at the Naz-
arene Church, 109 18th St.,
from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and
at the Market Place, 1101
Washington Ave., from
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bring
LA GRANDE — “The
Big,” Art Center East’s
annual open exhibit, begins
with a reception and the
giving of awards on Friday,
Dec. 3, from 6-8 p.m. at the
center, 2006 Penn Ave., La
Grande.
“The Big” exhibit serves
multiple purposes: it cel-
ebrates local and regional
artists, creates awareness
of the value of arts in our
communities, and raises
funds for community arts
programming at ACE. The
judge this year is multi-
media artist Robert Anders
of Baker City. The exhibit
will be up through Jan. 29,
2022.
All shooters welcome
at Dec. 5 meat shoot
UNION — The Union
Sportsman’s Club invites all
shooters to a meat shoot at
the clubhouse beginning at
9 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 5. The
range is off Highway 203
about a quarter mile east of
town. Lunch and shells will
be available to purchase.
For more details call Dave
at 541-910-5728.
— The Observer
“Real Food for
the People”
Open
Fri-Sun Take-out
Menu
5pm-8pm Updated
Weekly
www.tendepotstreet.com
541-963-8766
tendepotstreet@gmail.com
Julia Luse
Connie Driskell
La Grande
Connie Driskell, 77, of La Grande, died Nov. 29,
2021, at her home. Arrangements are by Loveland
Funeral Chapel & Crematory, La Grande.
Lee T. Insko
La Grande
Lee T. Insko, 86, of La Grande, died Nov. 16, 2021, at
Grande Ronde Hospital. A celebration of his life will be
held Dec. 4 at 10 a.m. at Quinn Coliseum on the Eastern
Oregon University campus, La Grande. Those who
attend will be required to wear masks. Arrangements are
by Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory, La Grande.
June L. Miller
La Grande
June L. Miller, 70, of La Grande, died Nov. 29, 2021,
at Grande Ronde Hospital. Arrangements are by Love-
land Funeral Chapel & Crematory, La Grande.
Marilyn L. Rachau
La Grande
Marilyn L. Rachau, 89, of La Grande, died Nov. 30,
2021, at Grande Ronde Hospital. Arrangements are by
Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory, La Grande.
Donald O. Woodward
COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
THE OBSERVER — A3
La Grande
Donald Oliver Woodward, 90, of La Grande, died Nov.
30, 2021, at Grande Ronde Hospital. Arrangements are by
Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory, La Grande.
UPCOMING LOCAL SERVICES
Please follow guidelines
regarding face coverings
and social distancing at all
gatherings.
Dec. 2 — ROBERT
GRAFFI: 11 a.m. funeral,
Bollman Funeral Home,
Enterprise; vault inter-
ment follows at Enterprise
Cemetery.
Dec. 3 — GENE McK-
INNEY: 10 a.m. funeral,
Island City Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Dec. 4 — LEE
INSKO: 10 a.m. celebra-
tion of life, Quinn Coli-
seum, Eastern Oregon Uni-
versity, La Grande.
Dec. 4 — JULIA
LUSE: 11 a.m. celebra-
tion of life, Christian Life
Center, Elgin.
Dec. 19 — MARY
REEDER: 1 p.m. celebra-
tion of life, La Grande Naz-
arene Church.
— calendar courtesy of
Loveland Funeral Chapel
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Earl Dewayne Winer
Earl Dewayne Winer, 66, of
La Grande, died at his home on
Monday, November 29, 2021.
Earl was a loving husband to
his wife Terri of 46 years. His sons
Mike and Tim were his buddies
all their lives. He always wanted
to be “one of the boys.” His
granddaughter, Stephanie meant
the world to him. He was her Papa and will be missed
very much by everyone.
Online condolences may be made to the family at
www.lovelandfuneralchapel.com.
Julia Luse, 95, of Elgin, Oregon, died on November
17, 2021 at Bullock Country Care in La Grande, Oregon. 
A celebration of Julia’s life will be held on Saturday,
December 4, 2021 – 11:00 a.m. at the Christian Life
Center in Elgin.
Julia Marie was born the 5th child of Benjamin and
Sadie (Payen) Morlock on June 28, 1926 in Orestes,
Indiana.  The family, in her youth, moved to Scappoose,
Oregon, where she went to school, graduating from
Scappoose Union High School in 1944.  
Julia and her sister took a vacation to San Diego where
she met the love of her life, Gerald “Roy” Luse, at a
skating rink and they were later married on Oct. 31, 1945. 
Julia and Roy had 2 children; Thelma Ann on Oct 3, 1946
and Benny Melroy on January 28, 1947.
Julia and Roy began their life together in the Portland
area, where Julia worked in a canary.  The family moved
to the Elgin area in 1957.   She enjoyed cooking, baking
pies for a local café and also working as a cook for the
Elgin School District.  But the most important job she felt
she held was being a devoted mother and being a prayer
warrior.  Julia had a very strong faith, was an amazing
baker, and was always giggling.  If she wasn’t giggling
then you knew there was something wrong, even up until
her last days, she would giggle at you. 
She was preceded in death by her husband Roy Luse;
daughter, Thelma Ann Luse at the age of 4 months; son
Benny Luse; 4 brothers and 2 sisters.
Julia is survived by her grandchildren; Gregg (Beth)
Luse of Elgin, OR & Jeff Luse Dickenson of North
Dakota; great-grandchildren Taylor (Jacob) Christopher,
Andrew Luse, Kyler Luse, Derek (Alyssa) Luse; 2 great-
great grandchildren. 
For those who would like to make a memorial donation
in memory of Julia, the family suggests the Christian Life
Center in Elgin, Oregon, or Veteran Charity through
Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home & Cremation Services
PO Box 543 Halfway, Oregon 97834.  Online condolences
may be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com.
Allan Douglas Hunter
August 27, 1951 - November 24, 2021
Allan “Buster” Hunter,
age 70 of La Grande, passed
away of natural causes in
his home on Wednesday,
November 24, 2021.
Buster was born on
August 27, 1951 in Eugene,
Oregon, to John “Jack”
Hunter, Jr. and Fern (Searles)
Homan. He was raised and
educated in Eastern Oregon.
 Buster traveled throughout Arizona and Oregon from
1978-2013 with Arizona Laborers Local No. 395 and Oregon
Laborers Local No. 737 Unions. He worked on roadway,
pipeline and building projects throughout his tenure with
the Union. When daughters, Dawn and Becky were born,
they or the whole family would join on the road.
 Buster was a car enthusiast, coin collector, and an
outdoorsman who enjoyed camping, hunting, and fishing.
He taught his daughters how to change their own oil, not
to trust anyone to repair their cars but themselves, him,
or a qualified mechanic - he also made a game of teaching
them where the gas caps were on vintage cars. Buster will be
remembered for his sense of humor, a gift for conversation,
generosity, but most of all for being a kid at heart. He was
known to “test run” Dawn and Becky’s Christmas toys
(before they opened them), for his love of the first snow,
(which Becky now shares with her kids), and tinkering in his
shop or yard.
 Buster is survived by his partner of 22 years, Mary
Keller. He is lovingly remembered by his children; Dawn
Geoppinger (Dan) of Portland, Oregon and Becky Arant
(Tyrel) of La Grande, Oregon; and grandchildren Trintin,
Kadance and Catlynn; Mary Keller’s children, Stephanie
Keller (Jason) and Eric Wyatt (Tabby); and grandchildren
Marissa, Michael, McKayla, Shaelyn, Jaxson, and Lexus;
sisters, Linda Weldon of Arlington, Washington, and Julie
Homan (Rick) of Baker City, Oregon; brother, John Hunter
(Janice) of Union, Oregon, and sister-in-law, Mary Hunter
of Kuna, Idaho; former spouses, Mary Kincaid and Sheral
(Morrison) Curtiss; and many nieces, nephews, and lifelong
friends. Buster was preceded in death by his parents, John
“Jack” Hunter, Jr., and Fern (Searles) Homan, and step-father,
Richard “Dick” Homan; brothers, Jim Hunter and Larry
“Buck” Hunter; sister, Karen Homan; and brother-in-law,
Steve Weldon.
 Buster requested cremation and a celebration of life.
Details will be announced at a later date.
 Memorial cards can be sent to Becky Arant, 61516
Delong Road, La Grande, Oregon, 97850. Donations in lieu
of flowers may be made to the American Heart Association
4380 SW Macadam Avenue #480, Portland, OR 97239 or the
charity of your choice.
 Online condolences may be made to the family at www.
lovelandfuneralchapel.com.