Saturday, September 18, 2021
RECORDS
East Oregonian
A7
OBITUARIES
Charlene ‘Kayce’ Culver
Eileen Rose Sobotta
George Lieuallen
March 4, 1939 — Aug. 14, 2021
Umatilla
July 28, 1931 — Sept. 14, 2021
Hermiston
March 9, 1938 — Sept. 11, 2021
Weston Mountain
Our dear mother, Char- to instill these traits to your
lene “Kayce” entered Heav- loving granddaughter,
en’s gates on Saturday, Aug. Lucie, who affectionately
14, 2021, while holding the calls you “Grandma graham
hand of her eldest as she cracker.”
took her last breath here on
Although you left way
too early, rest assured our
Earth.
On March 4,
family will be
1939, the world
inspired by you,
was blessed
Mom, forever.
w h e n C h a r-
Wishing you a
lene Kay was
smooth, f inal
born to Ivan and
flight West, we
Charlotte Kraft
love you Mom.
— your son,
of Sand Lake,
Doug
Michigan. She
Mom, you had
spent her young
the most beau-
years in Mich-
Culver
igan until her
tiful, sparkling
blue eyes and
family moved to
San Luis Obispo,
when I looked
California. Sadly,
into them, I could
at the tender
see and ver y
young age of 12,
much feel your
Charlene’s dear
u ncond it ion al
love for me (as for
mother passed
all my siblings).
and her father,
Yo u w e r e
Ivan, moved his
my biggest
five children to
Sunnyside, Wash-
supporter, always
Culver
ington. Charlene
telling me I could
attended school in Sunny- accomplish whatever I set
side, thriving in Cheer my mind to. You always
Squad and Glee Club and believed in me. I am so
graduating from Sunnyside grateful to you for instill-
High School in 1957.
ing my faith, for sharing
A young wife and your love of nature, birds
mother, her first marriage and butterflies, beautiful
blessed her with four chil- gardens, and of course your
dren; while the marriage favorite color, cobalt blue,
ended in dissolution; which has become mine as
Kayce found and married well.
the love of her life, Delmer
You filled our home with
Culver. They had a daughter music, laughter and silli-
together, Teresa, who joined ness (and of course your
her four siblings. Del and infamous cinnamon rolls).
Kayce shared 51 wonderful You taught me by example,
years until Delmer’s passing exactly how to be the type
in November of 2017.
of Grandma to my grandba-
Charlene is survived bies as you were to my chil-
by her daughters, Pamela dren. You will be forever in
(Bill) Martin, Denise my heart, Mom; I will hold
Honeyford, Lisa (Thomas) you close and never let you
Eppel, Teresa Buchanan; go. Until we meet again,
and only son, Douglas rejoice in your heavenly
(Brooke) Honeyford; her home.
— your daughter, Lisa
sister, Joanne LaBelle of
“Dear sweet mother of
Spokane; and youngest
brother, Michael (Linda) mine,” the greeting of every
Kraft of Mexico, Missouri. card or text I would send to
In addition to her chil- you with love. If there was
dren, Kayce, a loving one word to describe you,
and doting grandma and it would be LOVE and it’s
“grandma great,” she is what you gave us uncondi-
survived by nine grandchil- tionally.
dren and six great-grand-
You taught me to always
children. She is also be honest no matter how
survived by her two little difficult it may be to tell
dogs, Heidee and Frankie, the truth as honesty creates
who have been rehomed trust and trust should never
within her family.
be broken. You taught me
She was preceded how to overcome adversity
in death by her loving with perseverance, that the
husband, Delmer; her reward of working hard is
parents; and brothers, Don a wonderful feeling. You
and Timothy.
taught me about love and
With heartfelt memo- forgiveness which leads to
ries, we share with you, our compassion. You taught me
about the power of prayer
Mother, Charlene.
Momma was selfless, which led me to an unwav-
often going without so that ering faith. Through you, I
her family’s needs would learned to be a woman of
be met. She made sure grace.
Your singing filled our
we knew about Jesus and
instilled in me a spirit of home on a daily basis —
love for others; she believed gospel, country or oldies-
in the Golden Rule. She and but-goodies. I find comfort
Daddy called a taxi to get us knowing your joyful spirit
kids to Sunday school when is already seen in your
our car was in the shop; grandchildren and great
that’s how strongly she felt grandchildren. The crazy
about us learning about the desire to dance “like no one
is looking” and the inher-
Lord, whom she loved.
Her fun-loving spirit was ited silly “cackle,” laughing
infectious! Riding bikes at silly things no one around
with us, encouraging and understands, but we do.
You took delight in find-
often instigating silliness.
She would happily join in ing little treasures in nature.
on the goofiness. Momma, You loved flowers; roses,
a self-taught seamstress, carnations and pansies. You
proudly made beautiful instilled in me an appreci-
dresses, “polyester” swim- ation for the beauty of our
suits and one Christmas, world. The smell of rain
stuffed animals for each of upon the earth, the windy
us.
days, cold and snowy days;
She was my cheerleader, you found joy in all of it and
even more so as I grew shared that joy with me.
older. I loved to hear her You were like a child expe-
voice and would call and riencing everything for the
talk for an hour or more. She first time, every time. With
was my best friend.
every sunrise and sunset, I
Momma loved Afri- will think of you. And miss
can Violets, butterflies and you. I love you momma,
the color purple. She had a thank you for the gift of life.
knack for decorating and
— your daughter, Pamela
Above all, our mother
dressing with style. I love
and miss you so much.
was a woman of faith, she
— your daughter, Denise found joy and comfort in
Saying goodbye to your her daily devotions and her
Mother is incredibly heart- daily walk with her Lord
breaking, saying goodbye to and Savior. Momma, may
her under COVID-19 proto- you forever be at peace,
col is gut wrenching.
resting in the arms of Jesus.
Thank you, Mom, for
Please note, due to the
inspiring me with the gifts pandemic and COVID-19
of laughter, love, hard restrictions, our dear moth-
work and most of all the er’s memorial service will
confidence to accomplish be scheduled for a later date;
anything in life. May you and please, above all, love
rest peacefully knowing that one another, show compas-
we have, and will continue, sion and get vaccinated.
Eileen Rose Sobotta their own decisions and
passed away peacefully on would dust them off when
Sept. 14, 2021, in Kennewick some of those decisions did
surrounded by family.
not work out so well.
Eileen was born to
Along with her faith in
Mathias and
God, her family
was the most
G e r t r u d e
important thing
(Schmidlkofer)
in her life. She
Hansen July 28,
1931, in Chewelah,
and Jack always
Washington, the
made sure the
fifth of six siblings.
family made trips
Unfortunately, her
together during
father passed away
the summer. It is
in 1933 from pneu-
amazing to think
monia, but Eileen
how many people
Sobotta
was blessed to
and luggage could
have a large and
fit in a 1972 Safari
loving family and they were station wagon. Many of these
soon moved to the dairy trips were to Chewelah or
farm of her maternal grand- Lapwai, Idaho to visit rela-
parents, Mathias and Elisa- tives. Eileen loved the
beth Schmidlkofer. She was Oregon coast and enjoyed
brought up on the farm with many vacations to Lincoln
the help of many aunts and City or Newport, often with
uncles and was especially the Neyman family joining
close to her uncle, John them. Between all the kids in
Schmidlkofer, who served both families, it didn’t take
as a father figure to her after them long to clear the pool
the loss of her own dad. area for themselves.
Even though this was during
Later as the kids moved
the heart of the depression, out, Jack and Eileen would
Eileen said they were blessed take longer trips with rela-
to have plenty to eat thanks to tives. They visited Civil
the gardens, crops and live- War battlefields, small New
stock that the farm provided. England towns in the fall,
Living on the farm meant and went to a couple of
everyone pitched in and there Notre Dame football games
was not a lot of leisure time, to mention just a few. For
but Eileen and her siblings Eileen, she loved spending
didn’t need to go far to have her precious free time going
some fun when time allowed. for long walks and work-
They enjoyed exploring the ing in her flower garden.
nearby mountain forests and She was an avid reader and
lakes in the summer and was always ready to make
sledding and ice skating were a needed repair with her
just out the back door in the sewing machine. But her
most precious time was the
winter months.
Eileen attended St time spent with her grand-
Mary’s Catholic School in children and great-grand-
Chewelah from first through children. She and Jack spent
ninth grade and Jenkins many a chilly evening cheer-
High School in Chewelah ing them on at one of their
from 10th through 12th various athletic events. Jack
grade, graduating in 1949. would pass away in 2015.
Besides her family,
In August of 1950, Eileen
married her high school Eileen had a deep love of
sweetheart, Harold Barn- her Catholic faith which
hart, in Chewelah. Within six was in evidence to her final
years they had three daugh- breaths. Eileen is survived
ters and a son. Harold would by her sisters, Margaret
die in a work accident in Owens of Chewelah, and
1956, and once again Eileen Doris Hendrix of Colo-
would turn to her family, rado Springs, Colorado;
who were always by her side brother, Ed (Kay) Hansen of
for help. Eileen and her four Chewelah; daughters, Cheryl
young children moved in (Dan) Riley of Kennewick,
with her mother, and with the Rita (Dave) Davis of Herm-
support of their loving uncles iston, Debbie (John) Tolan
and aunts nearby, the family of La Grande; sons, Rick
was able to get through this (Nancy) Barnhart of Tigard,
tragedy.
Perry Sobotta of Hermis-
Eileen married Jack ton, Sam (Elisa) Sobotta of
Sobotta in 1959 in Chewelah. Bend, Matt (Davi) Sobotta
Jack was working as a phar- of Seattle, Tom (Heather)
macist at the local drugstore Sobotta of West Linn; as well
and they would add four more as 19 grandchildren and 21
sons to their family over the great-grandchildren.
next several years. The
Eileen was preceded in
family moved to Longview, death by husband, Harold
Washington, in 1964, and Barnhart; husband, Jack
then settled in Hermiston Sobotta; parents, Mathias
for the long haul in 1966. and Gertrude Hansen;
For Eileen, Chewelah would brother, John Hansen;
always remain a special place sister, Marie Wissink; and
to her and she and her large great-grandchild, Eastin
family would visit often to Strebin.
see Grandma Hansen and
The family would like to
Grandma and Grandpa extend a special thank you to
Barnhart as well as all her Sheri, her caretaker while at
siblings, uncles, aunts and Fieldstone and to Chaplaincy
cousins. Many fond memo- Hospice Care of the Tri-Cit-
ries were made during those ies. The family would also
like to thank Nataliya and her
trips.
Jack and his brother, Jerry, staff at Desert Wind Gardens
would come to purchase the for the care of Eileen in her
Hermiston Drug in 1971, final months.
Recitation of the Rosary
while Eileen continued to
manage the home front. As and funeral Mass will be
Eileen’s children grew older held on Tuesday, Sept. 21,
she would help out with the 2021, at 12:30 p.m. at Our
bookkeeping at the drug- Lady of Guadalupe Catho-
store. Eileen was very proud lic Church, Boardman, with
of all her children and was burial to follow in the Herm-
always there to help them, iston Cemetery. Memorial
but never to smother them. contributions can be made
She would give them the to Chaplaincy Hospice Care
freedom to make many of of the Tri-Cities.
George was a handsome cabin on Weston Mountain.
George enjoyed a succes-
man, born to George Chester
Lieuallen and Jean Valentine sion of close relationships
Lieuallen (Millar) in Walla with Patricia Gregg (Walla
Walla. He died peacefully Walla, deceased), Nita Stocke
(Milton-Freewa-
and surrounded
ter), and finally
with love in Pend-
Della Mae Barr
leton on Sept. 11,
2021. He was 83.
(At he n a). T he
George was
family has good
a descendant of
memor ies of
Oregon pioneers,
those friends of
w h o t r a ve l e d
G e orge’s , a nd
know he had many
to the Weston/
happy memories
Athena area, by
wagon train, in the
with each of them
Lieuallen
very early 1860s
as well.
George volun-
from Missouri.
teered with the
All became local
Kiwanis Club,
farmers and ranch-
ers, and many of
Little League and
youth basketball.
the descendants
He also volun-
of those original
pioneers remain in the area, teered as president of the
still farming and ranching to Tri-County Community
Council, and served a term
the present day.
George was raised by as president of the United
strong parents and was the Way of the Pacific Northwest.
oldest of four. In his youth, For many years in the 1970s,
he enjoyed 4-H, Future Farm- George was a member of the
ers of America, basketball, Creative Initiative Founda-
football, and chasing the tion, an organization working
ladies. He was a member of towards nuclear disarmament
the Honor Society, graduat- and world peace.
ing from McLoughlin Union
George enjoyed coun-
try music, camping, fish-
High School in 1956.
George started farming ing, hunting, long traveling
at a very young age, help- road trips across the west-
ing his dad with the wheat ern states and nature walks.
and pea harvest. He later George also enjoyed snow
received a degree in agri- skiing and his motorcycles.
cultural engineering, with a He was a natural mechanic,
minor in accounting, from and enjoyed fixing anything
Oregon State University in from washing machines
1960. Like his mother, he to airplanes. Keeping old
enjoyed education, and went things running brought him
on to receive a master’s from pride and satisfaction. It
Cornell University, Gradu- also displayed his sense of
ate School of Business and frugality, which was an ideal
Public Administration in he valued. In his younger
1978.
years, he enjoyed horses,
George married his child- carpentry, woodworking
hood sweetheart, Nancy and tinkering with all things
(Steen) Lieuallen, in 1958, electrical. In his retirement,
while they were both in he looked forward to work-
college. After graduation, ing with his cousin, Brooks,
George managed the Steen in wheat harvest each fall,
Ranch from 1960 to 1969, in climbing back into the seat
addition to his own wheat, of a combine.
George believed in the
pea, cattle and hog opera-
tions. George enlisted in the power of time; planning
U.S. Air Force Reserves in and putting forth adequate
1963, receiving an honorable thought, and he always perse-
discharge in 1967.
vered. He believed in honesty
George began working and forgiveness. His greatest
for Portland General Electric joy was raising his children
Co. in 1969, and moved his and being a grandpa. He took
family to Tigard. George and joy in the little things, like
Nancy were married for 22 taking a drive at dusk out on
years, having three children Basket Mountain, a glass of
before divorcing in 1980. wine, a pull off his stogie, or a
They remained good friends quiet sunset. He particularly
the rest of his life. George loved family reunions and
worked in senior manage- visits with extended family,
ment in the engineering and nieces, nephews and cousins.
accounting fields at PGE
George was a Chris-
until his retirement in 1992. tian, and attended various
George remarried in churches throughout his life.
1983 to Leeanne Varney In his final years, he enjoyed
and they were married until regular Bible studies with
1992. Together they had two Al and Judy Voshell, always
children. Leeanne’s father, looking forward to those
Edmund (with whom he visits.
The family would like to
developed a close friend-
ship), introduced him to thank Jeff Sorn for his kind-
beekeeping, where he found ness, care and companion-
harmony merging his passion ship with dad in his final
for the outdoors and farming. years.
George continued beekeep-
George is survived by
ing most of his life. His son, his brothers, Doug and Neil;
Ryan, now operates one of the sister, Patricia; his children,
largest apiaries in the Pacific Katie Oser (Lee), Dennis
Northwest, just a few miles (Staci), Bret (Traci), Jessica
from where George was born (Griffin), and Ryan (Stacie);
and farmed. Leeanne and many cherished nieces and
George also continued to be nephews; and his 12 grand-
friends through the remain- children.
der of his life.
Services will take place
In the mid-1990s, George on Saturday, Sept. 25, 10 a.m.
was very pleased to return at Munselle-Rhodes Funeral
to his beloved Blue Moun- Home in Milton-Freewater,
tains and the Weston/Athena Oregon. Masks are required.
area, where he felt a strong A graveside service imme-
connection to the people and diately followed at Weston
the land. This was home, and Cemetery, Weston, Oregon.
where he lived the final quar-
Memorials may be made
ter century of his life, and in honor of George Lieual-
where he always longed to be. len to the Umatilla County
After George returned Historical Society, Heri-
home to the Weston/Athena tage Station Museum: www.
area in the 1990s, George heritagestationmuseum.org/
purchased a variety of prop- about/donations. Flowers
erties near Umapine and in may be sent to Munselle-
the local Blue Mountains, Rhodes Funeral Home, 902
and invested in a small mixed S. Main St., Milton-Free-
herd of cattle. He spent the water, OR 97862. To leave
final years of his life, very an online condolence, visit
happily, in a century old log www.munsellerhodes.com.
COURTS
Sentences
The following criminal sentences have been imposed
in Umatilla County Circuit courts:
Edwin Villarreal Juarez of Umatilla pleaded guilty to
driving under the influence of intoxicants and reckless
driving (Class A misdemeanors); sentenced to 60 days
in jail (120 days suspended), two years bench probation
and $1,500 in fees.
Johnie John Powers of Vale pleaded guilty to a 2013
charge of driving under the influence of intoxicants
(Class A misdemeanor); sentenced to two years bench
probation, $1,250 in fines.
Dean Robert Grove of Pendleton pleaded guilty to
three counts of first-degree sexual abuse (Class B fel-
ony); sentenced to 13 years, seven months to Oregon
Department of Corrections and 10 years post prison
supervision.
DEATH NOTICE
Merle Franklin Hixson
Dec. 31, 1938 — Sept. 16, 2021
Hermiston
Merle Franklin Hixson, 82, of Hermiston died Thurs-
day, Sept. 16, 2021, in Hermiston. He was born Dec. 31,
1938, in Baker City, the son of Earle and Mabel (Walling-
ford) Hixson. Arrangements are with Burns Mortuary of
Hermiston.