RECORDS
Tuesday, October 6, 2020
East Oregonian
A5
OBITUARIES
Martha Lourine (Munck) Munkers
Callie Niven Mikesell
Lexington
March 18, 1953 — September 22, 2020
Pendleton
January 12, 1979 — September 29, 2020
Martha Lourine (Munck) Munkers, 67,
of Lexington, Oregon, passed away on
September 22 at her home, surrounded by
her family. Martha was born in Lewiston,
Idaho, to Thomas and Doreen Bates Munck
on March 18, 1953, the second of four chil-
dren. The family lived in Culdasac, Idaho,
for a few years before moving to Athena,
Oregon, in 1956, where Martha and her sib-
lings attended school.
Martha was active in volleyball, tennis,
Girls League, pep band and was a mem-
ber of the Highland Six at McEwen High
School. She was selected to go to Girls
State by the local American Legion Auxil-
iary. Her senior year of high school she was
voted Ms. Courtesy and Girl of the Year.
On June 19, 1971, Martha married the
love of her life, Gary, in Athena. For the
next 49 years, Martha and Gary made their
home in Lexington, raising three sons:
Dean, Shane and Ryan.
Martha worked at Heppner Furniture,
becoming a full-time homemaker in 1974.
She then worked for over 30 years at Hep-
pner elementary and high schools, impact-
ing the lives of so many students and build-
ing lifelong friendships with her coworkers.
Her faith was very important to her,
attending St. Patrick’s Catholic Church
in Heppner. She served on the Altar Soci-
ety and assisted with the St. Patrick’s Day
Ham Dinner for over 20 years. Additionally,
she made costumes for the annual St. Pat-
rick’s Day plays at the St. Patrick’s Catho-
lic Church.
For many years Martha could be found
alongside her mother-in-law, Bebe Munkers,
as superintendents of the canning division
at the Morrow County Fair. She also volun-
teered as a ticket-taker for Mustang football,
volleyball and basketball. As a lifelong sup-
porter of Heppner Football, Martha spent
many seasons assuring the football uni-
forms were ready for practice or competi-
tion by mending them.
Martha enjoyed playing cards, camping,
fishing, baking, reading, and spending time
with her family. Her devotion to family kept
her busy attending sporting events, music
and theatre productions, not only for her
boys and her grandchildren, but for so many
more Mustangs she loved.
Martha is survived by her husband,
Gary; sons Dean (Angela) Munkers of
Dallas, Oregon, Shane (Andrea) Munkers
of Pilot Rock, Oregon, and Ryan (Joli)
Munkers of Mikkalo, Oregon; grand-
sons Cade Munkers, Garrett Munkers and
Trevor Riedmann; granddaughters Ash-
ton Munkers, Locy Munkers and Cora
Munkers; mother Doreen Munck; brothers
Gordon (Miriam) Munck and Gary (Debi)
Munck; sister Gayle (Cliff) Hoeft; and
numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, great-
nieces and -nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father,
Tom Munck; in-laws Riley and Bebe
Munkers; and nephew Christopher Munck.
Martha’s wish was to have a private fam-
ily service, and a celebration of life to be
held at a later date when friends and family
can celebrate her life together.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made
to Morrow County Health District Home
Health & Hospice, P.O. Box 9, Heppner, OR
978836; The ALS Association of Oregon
and SW Washington, 700 N.E. Multnomah
St., Portland, OR 97232; or a non-profit of
your choice.
Sweeney Mortuary of Heppner is in care
of arrangements. You may sign the online
condolence book at www.sweeneymortu-
ary.com.
James Leland Barnett
Stanfield
November 7, 1979 — March 13, 2020
James Leland Barnett was born Novem- pushed through and worked at Lamb Weston
ber 7, 1979, to parents Tamarra Eileen and for eight years. His disabilities becoming
Jon Rene Barnett in Tacoma, Washington. progressively worse, he left lamb Weston to
They lived there for a short period and then live with his mother Tammy and littlest sis-
moved back to the Hermiston area when ter Hayle for the remainder of his life. He
still took pleasure in being with
James was still a baby. In 1981
family and old friends. He liked
while in Hermiston, his little sis-
ter Elisa Autumn was born. They
to spend his time listening to his
were very close in age and in
favorite music, watching movies
friendship growing up. Later in
and submersing himself in litera-
ture. Near the end he was writing
1992 his littlest sister Hayle was
his own book titled “The Woods-
born.
He attended school in Herm-
man” and had been reading the
iston and had many interests
Bible. James passed away March
growing up. One of them as a
13 of 2020 at 40 years old of heart
child and on was a strong inter-
failure.
est in electronics, later taking the
Barnett
He is preceded in death by his
ASVAB test that would allow him
maternal grandparents Delbert
a career in the Air Force. While in school and Irlene Powell; a great aunt very close
he played percussion instruments in band to him and us all, Alberta (Berty) Bowling,
and was becoming more artistic, spend- Irlene’s sister; his father Jon Barnett; aunt
ing time drawing and painting. He was Linda Parish; uncle Ben Barnett; and his
also frequently noted for his singing tal- paternal grandparents Kenneth Barnett and
ents and creative writing in school, home Anita Barnett-Coen (Howard). He is sur-
and among friends. Athletically he enjoyed vived by his mother Tammy Barnett; sisters
lifting weights and played as a fullback in Elisa Sayles and Hayle Barnett; his nephews
the Hermiston High School Bulldogs foot- and niece Hayden Sayles, Svetlana Barnett
ball team. James played football from fourth and Magnus Long; and several aunts, uncles
grade through senior year. He loved it and and many cousins. He is sorely missed by
really enjoyed his time playing, over the family and friends alike.
years making many close friends in school,
His upcoming celebration of life will
some lifelong.
take place on Saturday, November 7, at the
Near the end of high school he started his Stanfield Community Center from 1-4 p.m.
first job at Pizza Hut. He graduated Herm- Please join us in remembering his life on the
iston High School in 1998. Soon after grad- day of his birth and recounting the time that
uating high school James became ill. He we had with him.
Callie was born on January 12, 1979, in
Pendleton, Oregon. Callie passed away on
September 29, 2020, at her home.
Callie spent her life in Pendleton, graduat-
ing from Pendleton High in 1997.
She loved to crochet, play on her tablet, do
crosswords, Sudoko, reading, spelling, bowl-
ing, and watch a little TV with family and
friends. She also was a volunteer at the Pend-
leton Library for over 10 years and enjoyed
walking in the park every morning.
Callie’s best friend for 17 years was her
dog Arnie, but she lost him a few years ago.
She enjoyed the dogs she met in the park and
always carried a doggy treat with her. Her
face just lit up when the dogs would come
running to her for their treat. They helped
make up for her loss of Arnie. Our thanks go
to those folks who allowed their dogs to have
the treats.
To some, Callie was a disabled girl but
she was one of the strongest persons we have
ever known. She ran in a 50-yard dash in the
Special Olympics with braces on her legs
and, even though she was left far behind, she
finished the race with a smile and won a tro-
phy for most inspirational athlete, which she
was really proud of.
Although she had many surgeries for dif-
ferent things, she never complained about
what she had to go through. Callie was an
inspiration to all who knew her. There must
be a lesson in there for the rest of us. She just
couldn’t beat the cancer that took over her
body.
Callie was preceded in death by her
grandfather Art Robinson, grandfather Bob
Mikesell and grandmother Donna Pattison.
Callie attended church at the Calvery
Chapel in Pendleton for many years with her
father and step-mother. Callie’s easy smile
and delightful sense of humor were always
on display. Her laughter was infectious and
her smile reflected the inner beauty that was
evident to all who knew her.
Callie is survived by her mother and step-
Mikesell
dad Tom and Caren Reed; father and step-
mother Robert (Chris) Mikesell; brother
Dustin, who she adored and looked up
to; nephews Shyler and Trevyn, who she
thought were the greatest ever; niece Olivia;
grandmother Evelyn Robinson; uncles Curt
and Craig (Karla) Robinson; her aunt Linda
Morgan; and close cousins Ryan (Tanya) and
Shad Robinson, and Shelly (Jon) Peterson.
Also a great big thank you to Dr. Harrison
— Hospice — and Richard and Angela for
making her last days a little better.
There will be no funeral per Oregon
guidelines and small gathering at a later date.
Please do not send flowers, but if you
would like to donate to the Umatilla County
Relay for Life that would be great! Send
to: Relay for Life, 1410 N.W. Despain Ave.,
Pendleton, OR 97801 in care of Carol Preston
(541-379-6294).
Burns Mortuary of Pendleton is in charge
of arrangements. Sign the online guestbook
at www.burnsmortuary.com.
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services.
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