A5
THE ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021
OBITUARIES
SPORTS
Astoria football seeks a return to winning
Alan Karl Gatchell
Salem
March 29, 1947 — Feb. 23, 2021
By GARY HENLEY
The Astorian
Alan Gatchell, of Salem, died Feb. 23, 2021, years until he was reacquainted with Lou Ann
after an 18-month battle with acute myeloid Thorsness in 1999. They had worked together
leukemia.
at the Salem h ospital in the late 1980s. They
Born Alan Karl Gatchell on
dated for several years, while she
March 29, 1947, in Corvallis, he
raised her daughters. They decided to
was the only child of Karl Les-
get married in 2010. He freely admit-
ter Gatchell and Nolia Catherine
ted she was the best thing to ever hap-
Walker Gatchell.
pen to him.
He was raised in Corvallis and
Alan became involved with the
graduated from Corvallis High
Sons of Norway in Gearhart and the
School in 1965. Growing up, he
Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer
enjoyed L ittle L eague B aseball,
Festival with Lou Ann and her fam-
building and fl ying model air-
ily. He became a key member of the
planes with his father and visits to
lodge’s annual lefse-making and booth
Alan Gatchell
his grandparents’ grass seed farm
at the festival. He enjoyed becoming
near Tangent.
part of the Astoria community, and
He was drafted into the U.S. Army in Sep- treasured the many friendships he made.
tember 1967 and sent to Vietnam as a medic.
His hobbies included hiking in the Cascade
He served one tour, from March 1968 to March and Coast Range mountains in his younger
1969. He spent most of the year attached to the years. Camping, bicycling, driving back roads,
1st Cavalry in the central highlands around An yard work, building and fl ying radio-controlled
Khe. He made it home and never talked much model aircraft, photography, reading and
about his experiences there.
woodworking.
After the Army, he worked for the Northside
Survivors include his wife, Lou Ann; one
Lumber m ill in Philomath. He eventually went daughter, Traci Burton (Mike), of Canby; and
to college on the GI Bill, and worked part-time granddaughters, Brianna Nofziger and Haley
at the lumber mill. He graduated from Oregon Nofziger (Jeremy Erickson), both of Oregon
State University with a degree in pharmacy in City.
1975.
He is also survived by his stepdaughters,
He worked for Salem Memorial Hospital Kelly Huckestein (Sam and Oliver Seulean),
for 17 years as a hospital pharmacist. He went of Knappa, and Erika Huckestein (Jordan
to work for the Salem Costco Wholesale store Smith), of Philadelphia; and brothers-in-law,
in 1992, and worked as the pharmacy manager Chuck (Carol) Thorsness and Andy (Cathy)
for 15 years, then continued with Costco as a Thorsness.
part-time relief pharmacist for several years,
Memorial contributions may be made
until full retirement.
to your local animal shelter, Oregon Public
Alan married his high school sweetheart, Broadcasting or the charity of your choice.
Lynda McFarland, in 1968. They had one
At Alan’s request, no services are planned.
daughter, Traci. They divorced in 1983.
Assisting the family is Virgil T. Golden
He was a confi rmed bachelor for many Funeral Services.
Longest stretch without a victory since
2003. Not exactly the kind of streak you
want your sports program known for, but
that’s where the Astoria Fishermen football
team stands.
No other team is looking forward to
erasing the memory of the previous season
more than the Fish, who open the season
Friday at Banks.
Astoria’s last year of play was not a
memorable one, record-wise. The Fisher-
men had their moments, but the scoreboard
was not kind in return, as Astoria fi nished
the 2019 season with an 0-8 record.
The last win for the program came on
Oct. 19, 2018, when the Fishermen defeated
Valley Catholic 21-13 in the regular sea-
son fi nale. Astoria lost a fi rst round state
playoff game against Baker the following
week, the fi rst of nine straight losses.
Astoria has fi ve games on its upcoming
spring schedule — fi ve chances to stop the
streak and hopefully turn things around.
At fi rst glance, that could be tough in the
always-competitive Cowapa League.
But the Fishermen are a lot bigger,
stronger and more experienced at the key
positions.
On offense, Astoria has capable athletes
at every skill position, starting at quarter-
back with senior Bo Williams — the Fish-
ermen starter since his sophomore year.
Williams “has really grown in under-
standing the concepts of our system,
whether in the passing tree or in our run-
OREGON CAPITAL
INSIDER
pass option scheme,” said Astoria coach
Howard Rub. “We think he has a chance to
have a great senior season.”
All-leaguer Ryan Stutznegger has grad-
uated, but senior Michael Moore returns
at running back, and could also line up at
receiver, as the Fishermen like to show dif-
ferent looks on offense.
Senior T.J. Colvin’s speed could make
him the key receiver and deep threat, but
don’t be surprised if Colton “Gronk”
McMaster leads the team in receptions, as
the big-handed junior tight end will likely
be a frequent target for Williams.
“His athleticism as an all-league basket-
ball player is going to translate really well
as a tight end and defensive end,” Rub said
of McMaster.
Junior Xander Marincovich will anchor
the offensive and defensive lines, while
the same players — Williams and Colvin
at defensive back, and Moore at linebacker
— will be key defenders.
Add it all up, and there’s no reason the
Fishermen couldn’t move up several spots
from last year’s last place fi nish in the
Cowapa.
“If we can be better at those things we
can be better at, we’ll have a chance to
turn some competitive losses into compet-
itive wins,” Rub said. “Any opportunity to
put on the pads and play is going to be a
healthy thing for our kids.”
Rub is entering his 21st year as the
Astoria coach, and enters 2021 with 105
career wins — far more than the next near-
est coach in school history (Robin Andrea,
with 55).
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SEVENDAY FORECAST FOR ASTORIA
TODAY
WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
REGIONAL FORECAST
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
Seattle
47 34
Mostly cloudy;
chilly
49 36
55 46
51 40
50 40
49 39
47 37
Becoming
cloudy
Breezy in the
p.m.
Cloudy with
showers
Showers
possible
Showers
possible
Showers
possible
Aberdeen
Olympia
45/33
49/35
Wenatchee
Tacoma
Moses
Lake
50/32
ALMANAC
UNDER THE SKY
TODAY'S TIDES
Astoria through Sunday
Tonight’s Sky: For the month of
March, “In like a Lion (Leo); out
like a Lamb (Aries).”
Astoria / Port Docks
Temperatures
High/low ................................ 51/43
Normal high/low .................. 53/38
Record high .................. 72 in 1968
Record low .................... 22 in 1960
Precipitation
Sunday ..................................... 0.01”
Month to date ...................... 12.00”
Normal month to date ......... 7.19”
Year to date .......................... 27.95”
Normal year to date ........... 17.39”
Forecasts and graphics provided by
AccuWeather, Inc. ©2021
Time
3:10 a.m.
3:29 p.m.
8.7 9:35 a.m.
7.9 9:40 p.m.
Cape Disappointment
2:47 a.m.
3:02 p.m.
Source: Jim Todd, OMSI
Hammond
SUN AND MOON
Sunrise today .................. 6:53 a.m.
Sunset tonight ............... 6:03 p.m.
Moonrise today ........... 10:36 p.m.
Moonset today ............... 8:50 a.m.
Last
New
First
Full
2:58 a.m.
3:14 p.m.
Warrenton
3:05 a.m.
3:24 p.m.
Knappa
3:47 a.m.
4:06 p.m.
Depoe Bay
Mar 5 Mar 13 Mar 21 Mar 28
2:00 a.m.
2:15 p.m.
0.5
0.6
8.7 8:42 a.m.
7.8 8:49 p.m.
0.6
0.7
9.0 9:01 a.m.
8.2 9:09 p.m.
0.5
0.5
9.1 9:19 a.m.
8.3 9:24 p.m.
0.6
0.7
8.9 10:36 a.m. 0.4
8.1 10:41 p.m. 0.5
8.9 8:12 a.m.
8.1 8:18 p.m.
0.6
0.7
City
Atlanta
Boston
Chicago
Dallas
Denver
Honolulu
Houston
Los Angeles
Miami
New York City
Phoenix
San Francisco
Wash., DC
Today
Hi/Lo/W
Wed.
Hi/Lo/W
50/41/r
30/26/s
46/34/s
56/36/pc
58/27/s
80/68/pc
60/42/pc
78/53/s
85/73/pc
36/30/s
78/51/s
65/46/pc
46/35/s
59/43/r
46/32/s
48/31/s
67/43/pc
57/28/s
79/66/sh
66/44/s
67/50/sh
87/67/pc
50/36/s
82/57/c
65/47/pc
58/38/pc
Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy,
c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms,
r-rain, sf-snow fl urries, sn-snow, i-ice.
54/34
Hermiston
The Dalles 62/32
Enterprise
Pendleton 44/25
60/32
57/33
La Grande
45/30
54/33
NATIONAL CITIES
High (ft.) Time Low (ft.)
47/32
Kennewick Walla Walla
55/35 Lewiston
62/30
50/31
Salem
Pullman
56/29
Longview
47/34 Portland
54/35
48/30
Yakima 56/31
49/32
Astoria
Spokane
49/30
Corvallis
54/32
Albany
53/32
John Day
Eugene
Bend
56/34
58/30
52/27
Ontario
49/27
Caldwell
Burns
51/22
55/27
Medford
65/33
Klamath Falls
57/22
City
Baker City
Brookings
Ilwaco
Newberg
Newport
Today
Hi/Lo/W
43/24/pc
55/38/pc
46/36/c
52/32/c
48/34/c
Wed.
Hi/Lo/W
45/24/pc
52/40/pc
46/37/pc
57/34/pc
48/38/pc
City
North Bend
Roseburg
Seaside
Springfi eld
Vancouver
Today
Hi/Lo/W
52/37/c
59/36/c
47/34/c
57/33/c
52/33/c
Wed.
Hi/Lo/W
51/39/pc
63/37/pc
50/35/pc
60/34/pc
58/36/pc