Thursday, March 17, 2022
COMMUNITY
BULLETIN BOARD
RECORDS
ThE OBsErVEr — A5
Purple mountain majesties
MEETINGS
• LA GRANDE — A meeting of the Union County
Fair Board begins at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 17, at the
Fair Board’s office by the Union County building at Fourth
Street and K Avenue, La Grande.
BRIEFS
All invited to come play pinochle
ISLAND CITY — Delta Epsilon is hosting a night of
pinochle on Saturday, March 19, beginning at 6 p.m. at
Urban Vine, 10107 W. First St., Island City. All are wel-
come. There is a $10 buy-in. For more information, call
Mary Ellen Taal at 541-962-5109.
CHD offers free COVID-19 test kits
LA GRANDE — Center for Human Development is
giving away at-home COVID-19 testing kits. Stop by the
center, 2301 Cove Ave., La Grande. CHD announced it is
also working with numerous local businesses and partners
to have these available throughout the community. Call
CHD at 541-962-8800 for more information.
Learn to use Word in free computer classes
LA GRANDE — Training & Employment Consortium,
1901 Adams, is offering free in-person computer classes.
Classes are entirely hands-on training. Classes run from
8:30-11:30 a.m. Pre-registration is required by calling Coral
at 541-663-2084.
Introduction to Word is a one-day class held Thursday,
April 7. The class is designed to introduce basic word pro-
cessing functions. Participants will learn how to create
documents; cut, copy and paste information; format docu-
ments; know the difference between the Save and the Save
As feature; and use the spell check and thesaurus features.
A four-day Intermediate Word course is offered on April
12, 14, 19 and 21. Students will review features taught in
the Intro to Word class plus learn how to create, format and
use the different features of tables, place information into
columns, and add graphics to a document. The instruction
is entirely hands-on with a lot of exercises.
Training & Employment Consortium is an EOE/Pro-
gram. Auxiliary aids and services available upon request to
individuals with disabilities. TTY dial 711.
Lisa Lester Kelly/Contributed Photo
A late-winter sunset in March 2022 in the Grande Ronde Valley could have been the inspiration for “purple mountain majesties” in the
poem by Katharine Lee Bates that became our unofficial national anthem, “America the Beautiful.”
PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT
MONDAY, MARCH 14
9:02 a.m. — Union County Sheriff’s Office arrested Evann
Scott Brown, 30, while he was in custody in the Union County Jail,
La Grande, on a Union County warrant charging first-degree forg-
ery, first-degree possession of a forged instrument and theft of
services.
11:42 a.m. — A caller reported a large dog on the loose on the
500 block of South Main Street, Union. An animal enforcement
officer responded and picked up a Great Dane.
1:45 p.m. — La Grande police received a report of a theft
of a vehicle from the 200 block of Chestnut Street. An officer
responded and took a report.
3:13 p.m. — A caller on Cove Street, Union, reported a dog bit
someone. An animal enforcement officer responded and found
the bite did not break the skin.
4:59 p.m. — A resident of May Park, 2608 May Lane, La Grande,
reported harassment. An officer made contact and explained
options.
5:01 p.m. — A resident at Sacajawea Mobile Home Park, 2403
Riddle Road, La Grande, reported a burglary. A Union County
sheriff’s deputy responded but no one was in the home.
6:34 p.m. — A caller reported a deer was stuck in a fence on
the 400 block of Walnut Street, La Grande. An officer responded
and freed the deer.
TUESDAY, MARCH 15
5:05 a.m. — La Grande police received a complaint about
telephonic harassment on the 1300 block of Z Avenue. An offi-
Meal prices increase at senior center
LA GRANDE — Due to rises in the price of goods and
services, the Union County Senior Center, La Grande, in
January increased the prices of its weekday meal program.
Suggested donations are now $4 for seniors age 60 and
older, and $7 for everyone younger than 60.
The meals are served in person at the center, 1504 N.
Albany St., Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to
12:30 p.m. Those who wish to eat the meal on-site are
asked to use the front entrance and observe social dis-
tancing. To-go lunches may be picked up between noon
and 1 p.m. at the kitchen’s back door.
UPCOMING
LOCAL
SERVICES
March 18 — JAMES ROE: 2 p.m. memorial ser-
vice, Presbyterian Friendship Center, La Grande
(casual dress preferred).
March 26 — PATRICIA LEWIS: 10 a.m. grave-
side service, North Powder Cemetery; followed by
11 a.m. celebration of life, North Powder Grange.
March 26 — ANNETTE LECKENBY: 1 p.m.
memorial service, Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation
& Life Celebration Center, La Grande.
March 26 — JUDY HUNT: 3 p.m. celebration of
life, La Grande Seventh-day Adventist Church; fol-
lowed by reception at La Grande Adventist Christian
School.
April 2 — DIANNA BRAY: noon memorial ser-
vice, Calvary Baptist Church; followed by reception
and meal.
April 2 — ROBERTA TRUAX: 1 p.m. celebration
of life, Island City Cemetery; followed by reception at
209 S. 18th St., La Grande.
May 19 — ORVA MURRILL: 2 p.m. graveside
service, Union Victorian Cemetery.
June 23 — DAN KRAMER: 2 p.m. memorial ser-
vice, Grandview Cemetery, La Grande.
— Calendar courtesy of Loveland Funeral Chapel,
La Grande.
Dianna L. (Kirchner) Bray
June 12, 1959 – January 29, 2022
Dianna L. Bray died at her home in Cove Saturday,
Jan. 29, 2022, following an extended illness. She was 62.
A memorial service will be at the Calvary Baptist
Church in Cove on Saturday, April 2, beginning at
noon. All are invited to come celebrate her life with her
family and friends. Lunch will be provided following the
service.
Dianna Leigh was born June 12, 1959, in Seattle to
Gerald and Shirley (Amos) Kirchner. She was raised
and educated in Western Washington, graduating from
high school in Vancouver. Dianna lived in Montana
and Wyoming before coming to Summerville and then
to Cove in 2008. She worked as a purchasing agent for
Boise Cascade for 25 years.
On Sept. 1, 1982, she married Kenneth Bray. In 1987
they began attending the Calvary Baptist Church and in
1988 Dianna was baptized in the Grande Ronde River.
She enjoyed playing cards and loved looking at different
houses. She was an outdoors person and enjoyed her
horses, fishing and snowmobiling. She also loved her
mules and their colts that she and Ken raised and cared
for on their acreage.
Dianna is survived by her husband, Kenneth Bray of
Cove; siblings, Steve Aguard of Seattle, Sheryl Smith of
Camino Island, Washington, Shawn and Nita Kirchner
of Vancouver, Washington, and Gerry and Nolan Hess of
Sun City, Arizona; and other relatives and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Gerald and
Shirley Kirchner.
Her death care and cremation were entrusted to
Daniels-Knopp Funeral & Cremation Center in La
Grande. Private interment will be at the Cove Cemetery.
DEATH NOTICES
Christina A. Shrout
La Grande
Christina A. Shrout, 64, of La Grande, died March
14, 2022, at a local care facility. Arrangements are by
Loveland Funeral Chapel & Crematory, La Grande.
Roberta L. Truax
La Grande
Roberta L. Truax, 90, of La Grande, died Dec. 21,
2021, at a local assisted living facility. A celebration
of her life will be held April 2 at 1 p.m. at the Island
City Cemetery. Following the service there will be a
gathering at 209 S. 18th St., La Grande. Services are
entrusted to Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life
Celebration Center, La Grande.
James E. Roe
La Grande
James E. Roe, 68, of La Grande, died March 13,
2022, at Grande Ronde Hospital, La Grande. A memo-
rial service will be held March 18 at 2 p.m. at the Pres-
byterian Friendship Center, La Grande. Casual dress is
preferred by the family. Arrangements are by Loveland
Funeral Chapel & Crematory, La Grande.
Sharon L. (Meyers) Mortensen
January 10, 1940 - November 25, 2021
Sharon LaVelle Mortensen,
81, died on Nov. 25, 2021,
surrounded by friends and family
who cared for her at Autumn
House in Grants Pass, Oregon.
Sharon, the mother of two and
the grandmother of one, was born
on Jan. 10, 1940, in Hermiston,
Oregon. She and her younger
brother, Lonnie, and sister, Joyce,
grew up in a logging camp in the
hills near Starkey, southwest of
La Grande. She graduated from La Grande High School
in 1958. Her goal, as she stated in her senior yearbook,
was to “see the world.”
In 1960, she got her wish. She joined the U.S. Navy,
trained in Newport, Rhode Island, and spent a good
portion of her three years in Pensacola, Florida, where she
worked as a dispersing clerk.
In 1964, while living in Portland with her aunt Nina,
Sharon met Alan Mortensen, who had moved from his
family home in Nebraska and was living with his aunt
Ruby. They married in November 1965 in La Grande.
They had two children, Brian Mortensen in 1966 and
Tara in 1969. The family moved from Washington County
to Grants Pass in 1974.
She worked mainly as a bookkeeper for her husband’s
dairy farm sales and service business, and then worked for
Bob Drake Enterprises, and then at ESAM in Grants Pass
before she retired in 2012.
Sharon was involved in church, attending Murphy
Chapel in Murphy for more than 40 years and at times
holding a position on its board.
She enjoyed reading and went to school to improve
her writing and drawing. She loved riding horses and
watching “Jeopardy” and “Dancing with the Stars.” She
mostly liked being with her family. She especially enjoyed
her only grandchild, Mikah, after she was born in 1993.
Sharon was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in
2016, and it simply wore out her body and mind.
She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Lonnie
and Jacquie Myers, Island City; her daughter and son-in-
law, Tara and Scott Fredenburg; her son, Brian Mortensen;
her granddaughter, Mikah (Fredenburg) and Jordan
Andrews; and great-granddaughter, Scotlyn Andrews.
Sharon will be buried next to her mother and father,
Orvalle and Lavelle Myers at Hillcrest Cemetery in La
Grande on Friday, May 20.
cer made contact and explained options for a restraining order.
7:19 a.m. — A caller reported a domestic disturbance on the
1900 block of H Avenue, La Grande. Officers responded and took
a report.
3:31 p.m. — A resident on the 700 block of 18th Street, La
Grande, reported a fraudulent use of a credit card. An officer
made contact and explained options.
4:55 p.m. — A resident in the area of 62000 Lower Cove Road,
Cove, reported mail theft and check fraud. A Union County sher-
iff’s deputy responded and took a report.
5:28 p.m. — La Grande police received a complaint about
telephonic harassment om the 1000 block of Lake Avenue. An
officer made contact and took a report.
6:42 p.m. — La Grande police took a report for menacing at
the La Grande skate park.
7:37 p.m. — A caller reported a deer was attacking a dog at
Alder Street and Lane Avenue La Grande. An officer checked but
did not find the animals.
11:39 p.m. — A caller on the 100 block of East Bryan Street,
Union, made a complaint about a barking dog.
Jacob D. Danforth
May 27, 1977 – February 26, 2022
Jacob Dewitt Danforth, 44,
of La Grande, passed away on
Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, at Kadlec
Regional Medical Center, Richland,
Washington. A service will be held at
a later date.
Jacob was born on May 27, 1977,
in Oregon City, Oregon, to Tedd and
Sandra (Lee) Danforth. He resided in
Oregon City, La Grande and Union,
Oregon. He graduated from Union High School. He married
Jamie Cossitt on July 4, 2021, in Lincoln City, Oregon.
Jacob worked for Nash, 3 Feathers and Outdoor
Manufacturing. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping,
boating, motorcycles and being with his family.
Jacob is survived by his wife, Jamie; children, Leena
Danforth (Josiah Richter) of La Grande and Gwyn Danforth
of La Grande; stepchildren, Skyler Dillon of Pendleton,
Oregon, and Kayla Dillon and Daymion King, both of
La Grande; parents, Tedd Danforth of Union and Sandy
Lynch of Milwaukie, Oregon; sister, Jessica Glenn (Mike)
of West Linn, Oregon; brother, Jared Danforth of Union;
one grandchild, Greyson Page; many nieces and nephews;
and aunts and uncles, Allen Danforth, Rick Danforth and
Patti Kunze. He was preceded in death by his grandparents,
Glenn and Ruby Danforth.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.
lovelandfuneralchapel.com.
Judith Ann (Beels) Hunt
February 15, 1941 - December 10, 2021
Judith Ann Beels was
born Feb. 14, 1941, in
Winner, South Dakota, to
Mahlon Bruce Beels and
Irene Viola (Skibinski)
Beels and died Dec. 10,
2021, at her home in La
Grande, Oregon, at 80 years
of age.
There will be an open celebration of her life on
March 26, 2022, at 3 p.m. in the Seventh-day Adventist
Church at 2702 Adams Ave. in La Grande, Oregon, with
a time for family and friends to share thoughts about
Judy from over the years. This will be followed by a
reception at the SDA School across the creek from the
church with light refreshments and more time for shar-
ing. Please dress comfortably (casual preferred).
Judy graduated from Elgin High School with the
class of 1959 and married Wavel Hunt in Weiser, Idaho.
This young couple started their family with three
birth children and added two overseas adopted chil-
dren 10 to 12 years later followed by five special needs
children adopted over the course of a number of years.
While Judy was homeschooling her birth children she
also took a French class at EOSC (later EOU).
Judy was a busy mother as she provided child care
and foster care to a number of children and operated a
community services program (Dorcas) for her church
that served people by supplying clothing and food items
to those needing help. She later opened her own resale
store (Tabitha’s), which sold clothing and household
items to the area at very low prices. Judy began volun-
teer work at People Helping People Thrift Store almost
20 years ago, during which time she had many oppor-
tunities to minister to people’s spiritual needs, when
someone expressed a desire for help by prayer or com-
fort. She continued this work until this past summer.
Judy is survived by her husband, Wavel Hunt of
La Grande; son, Michael Hunt of Middleton, Idaho;
daughters, Jennifer Knoll of Gresham, Oregon, Angela
Hanley, Sarah Hunt, Stella (Valen) Hunt, and Indhira
(Cozi) Hunt of La Grande; sons, Jacob Hunt of Pendle-
ton, Oregon, London (Rocky) Hunt of Rexburg, Idaho,
and Frederick (Skie) Hunt of La Grande. Survivors also
include 13 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her son, Joshua Hunt
of Pendleton, Oregon, and parents, Mahlon and Irene
Beels.
Donations may be made in honor of Judy to The
Hospice Promise Foundation (found online) to assist
patients and families with various needs that are not met
otherwise, or the charity of one’s own choice. Loveland
Funeral Chapel of La Grande is in charge of arrange-
ments.