A6
RECORDS
East Oregonian
Saturday, October 2, 2021
OBITUARIES
Thomas
Monte ‘Terrill’ Thomas
Oct. 8, 1971 — Sept. 18, 2021
Milton-Freewater
Monte “Terrill” Thomas,
49, of Milton-Freewater,
passed away Saturday, Sept.
18, 2021, in Walla Walla. A
celebration in honor of his
50th birthday will be held
Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, at
1 p.m. at the Pioneer Posse
Grounds, Milton-Freewater.
Te r r i l l, a cowboy
through and through, was
born Oct. 8, 1971, in Walla
Walla, to Monte and Dawn
(Kayser) Thomas. He
was raised on the family
ranch in Milton-Freewater
with his younger brother,
Mitch. He attended school
in Milton-Freewater and
graduated from McLough-
lin High School in 1990.
Following high school,
he attended Walla Walla
Community College and
then Washington State
University, graduating in
1994 with an animal science
degree and a minor in agri-
cultural business.
On Oct. 18, 1997, he
fi nally married Heidi Jones.
They lived in Milton-Free-
water, where together they
made the decision to pursue
Terrill’s dream of running
cattle. Their motto was “do
what you love and you’ll fi nd
a way to make a living,” and
they did just that with their
daughter, Macy, born in Jan.
2003. It was never an easy
endeavor and wasn’t with-
out struggle, but they never
went hungry, always had a
roof over their heads, and
built a wonderful family and
strong network of friends
who have supported them
steadily and generously
throughout their entire lives.
Terrill was involved in
many organizations, includ-
ing 4-H, FFA, the Cayuse
Junior Rodeo Association,
NHSRA, NIRA, NPRA,
PRCA, and both the Wash-
ington and Oregon Cattle-
men’s associations. He
graciously gave much of his
time volunteering when he
could, as well as providing
resources to anyone in need.
He enjoyed competing in
rodeos as a calf roper, team
roper, steer roper, and steer
wrestler, and could be found
on horseback any time he
had the opportunity.
Through the good, as
well as the bad, Terrill’s
love was cattle. He had
tremendous knowledge of
his herd, as well as everyone
else’s, and his photographic
memory was a huge asset in
all his endeavors. He built
strong relationships with
those around him, and had
immense appreciation for
the good crew of people he
amassed along the way. We
will greatly miss the gentle
and sincere way he lived
his life, how he so willingly
helped others and his exper-
tise in ranching.
Survivors include his
wife, Heidi; daughter,
Macy; and mother, Dawn
Thomas of Milton-Freewa-
ter; his brother, Mitch and
his wife, Katy and their
children, Neah and Payson
Thomas of Baker City; his
horse, Elvis; his faithful
dog, Bud; and numerous
relatives found across the
northwest. He is preceded in
death by his father, Monte
Thomas, of Milton-Free-
water.
In lieu of fl owers, memo-
rial donations may be made
to either the Milton-Free-
water Junior Show, P.O.
Box 379, Milton-Freewater,
OR 97862, or Pioneer Posse,
P.O. Box 478, Milton-Free-
water, OR 97862.
To leave a condolence
online visit munsellerhodes.
com.
Merledene Harrison
Molly Keudell
Sept. 23, 1928 — Sept. 26, 2021
Pendleton
Feb. 5, 1936 — Sept. 17, 2021
Pendleton
Merledene passed away
Merledene enjoyed many
Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, at a hobbies including cooking,
local care facility in Pend- sewing, quilting, painting
leton, from complications and reading. It was always
important to her to
due to Alzhei-
mer’s. She had just
continue learning!
turned 93.
She enjoyed trav-
She was born
eling. Her fi rst trip
was to Tahiti. She
Sept. 23, 1928,
in Spring Green
had a “Tahiti fund”
Precinct, Wilson-
and worked hard to
ville, Nebraska
save for this fi rst
to Merl and
trip. She also trav-
Ada Rennecker.
eled to Australia,
Germany, Thai-
Merledene had an
land and many
older sister by two
Harrison
years, Darlene
other places of
“ D o l l y,” a n d
interest. Finally
Bonnalyn “Bonnie,” two her husband, Harvey got
years younger.
on board and they traveled
Merledene began school together.
at the age of 4 in a one-room
One of her most enjoy-
country schoolhouse near able things to do was make
Beaver City, Nebraska. costumes for the BMCC
Herself and her older sister, Community Theatre and she
Dolly, rode a Shetland also volunteered at schools
pony, named Kewpie, three and organizations that
miles to school. When she helped people. After Holly
turned 6, her family moved was born, Merledene stayed
to Pondosa. She continued home to raise her, but always
grade school at a school with continued to volunteer and
three rooms and an audito- do what she could.
rium. She finished eighth
I n 19 93, she wa s
grade in Baker City, ninth surprised and honored to
grade in John Day and grad- be recognized as “Woman
uated from Hermiston High of the Year.” She lived such
School in 1945. She contin- an enriched life surrounded
ued her education at BMCC by her family and many,
in Pendleton taking classes many friends. Manners,
of interest — legal terminol- good grammar and meet-
ogy, cross-country skiing, ing new acquaintances were
accounting, basket making important to her. She could
and astronomy.
type with fi re in her fi ngers,
Merledene took on many cook a meal from scratch
jobs throughout high school like nobody’s business and
including the Umatilla took pride in hand-writ-
Army Depot, and Moore ing letters and thank you
Theater in Hermiston. After notes. Her smile was conta-
graduation, she spent time gious and she never knew a
at Piersol Dry Cleaners. stranger. Before you knew
She was off ered this job by it, you were sitting at their
the owner at her graduation dinner table being served a
ceremonies. At the age of home-cooked meal!
17, she moved to Seattle and
Merledene is survived by
started work at Pacifi c Tele- her daughter, Holly Harri-
phone and Telegraph Co., son of Pendleton; two grand-
in the long distance unit. daughters, Kendall (Ryan)
After transferring to Pend- Hulce, Mallor y Davis;
leton with the telephone and one grandson, Mason
company, she worked as an Davis, all of Pendleton; two
operator and in the business great-grandchildren, Peyton
offi ce until resigning after 16 and Phoenix Hulce, and one
years. She spoke fondly of on the way.
her time in Seattle. Working
She is preceded in death
later for Joe Green CPA and by her parents; her sisters;
doing temporary work was and her beloved husband,
very satisfying for her. She Harvey, of nearly 63 years.
loved learning new skills!
Today, they are together
She married Harvey Lee again! Mom and Dad, I
Harrison Dec. 17, 1955, in LOVE and MISS you dearly!
Pendleton, and they had one
Arrangements are with
daughter, Holly Lee Harri- Burns Mortuary of Pendle-
son. They made their home ton. Sign the online guest-
in Pendleton.
book at burnsmortuary.com.
Molly Keudell, 85, was
Molly is survived by
born and raised in Pendle- her husband, Ken Keudell;
ton and passed away in Port- her sons, Barry and Devin,
land.
and their spouses, Colleen
She attended
and Matt; three
Oregon St ate
grandchildren,
University from
Alex (Allyson),
1954 to 1956, was
Jake (Lauren),
a proud Kappa
Maddie (Matt);
and great-grand-
Kappa Gamma
and active in PEO.
child, Simone.
Her family takes
Molly had a knack
for making every-
comfort know-
one in her orbit feel
ing that she has
special and loved.
reunited with her
She was a great
large circle of
Keudell
friends and long
wife, mother and
homemaker. Noth-
departed mother
ing made Molly happier and father.
A celebration of life will
than going for a drive,
exploring the beauty of be arranged at a later date.
Oregon and having a good Donations may be sent to St.
meal followed by dessert.
Jude Children’s Hospital.
James Donald ‘Jim’ James
Ruth Ann Kelly
Nov. 24, 1933 — Sept. 10, 2021
Pendleton
May 24, 1938 — Sept. 28, 2021
Lancaster, California
James Donald “Jim” Pendleton Round-Up direc-
James, formerly of Pendle- tors, PGG, Elks and the Eagle
ton, was born Nov. 24, 1933, lodges. He was pleased when
in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, to he had a charter back east
Gladys Margue-
for the Centennial
r it e ( L a rge nt)
Celebration.
James and Harry
Ji m enjoyed
William. James,
going elk hunt-
passed away on
ing in Easter n
Sept. 10, 2021, in
Oregon and some-
Sun City West,
times had success;
Arizona, with his
however, enjoyed
loved ones by his
the company of
the same friends
side, from compli-
cation of Parkin-
he went with every
year.
son’s disease.
James
In October
In 2003, after
Jim and Marge
1965, Jim married
both retired they
the love of his
life, Ma rga ret
moved to Sun City
Simpson, and he
West, Arizona. Jim
acquired two sons, Kevin & took up golf and went every
Terry. In March 1966, they chance he had until health
moved to Concord, Califor- issues took over.
nia, and in 1969 their daugh-
Jim’s friendship was
ter, Kellie Marie James, was easily given and his humor
born. The family lived in and love will be missed by
California until 1972 when all that had known him.
he transferred to Pendleton.
He is preceded in death by
Jim was raised in north- his parents and sister, Margie
ern Idaho and graduated Kay Dunkle. He is survived
from Priest River High by his wife, Marge; sons,
School in 1952. After high Kevin James of Sun City
school he worked in logging West, Arizona and Terry
until he joined the Army and James of Burien, Washing-
was stationed in Japan and ton; daughter, Kellie King
Korea. Upon his discharge, (Chris); grandson, James
he moved to Seattle, attended Donald Petaia of El Mirage,
Bremer ton Community Arizona; brother, Jerry L.
College and went to work for James of Sun City West,
Boeing.
Arizona; and several nieces
In 1960, he started his and nephews who were very
employment with Grey- special to him.
hound Bus Lines and drove
Jim requested his body
approximately 30 years until be donated to Parkinson’s
his retirement. While living Research at Barrow Insti-
in Pendleton, Jim had many tute, Sun City, Arizona. Jim
requested Greyhound char- will be entrusted at the Willa-
ters that he enjoyed; the Pend- mette National Cemetery in
leton High School Orchestra, Portland at a later date.
Ruth Ann Kelly of with her husband. She was an
Lancaster, Califor nia, excellent cook, made friends
formerly of Eastern Oregon, wherever she went and
was born May 24, 1938, enjoyed volunteering and
in Nyssa, the daughter of serving the communities she
William and Ethel
resided in. Her
(Willis) Parker.
family was her
She passed away in
fi rst priority and
Richland, Wash-
she loved spend-
ing time with
ington, Tuesday,
family whenever
Sept. 28, 2021, at
the age of 83.
the opportunity
As a child, Ruth
arose.
lived in Kennewick
She
is
for several years
s u r v i ve d b y
before moving to
her husband,
Irrigon. She grad-
William; chil-
Kelly
uated from Irrigon
dren, Kevin and
High School in the
wife, Robbin
class of 1956. She lived in the Coleman, Stacy and wife,
Eastern Oregon communi- Lorie Coleman, Michelle
ties of Irrigon, Umatilla and and husband, Darrell Gale,
Hermiston until moving to and Jon and wife, Dawn
Lancaster, California, in Coleman; stepsons, Bradley
2009. She worked in area and wife, Xochilt Kelly, and
grocery stores, drove busses Brian and wife, Karen Kelly;
for Morrow County schools brother, Harold and wife,
and worked for Carlson Drug Dolly Parker; sister, Janice
Store in Umatilla for several and husband, Terry Wither-
spoon; 13 grandchildren; and
years
Ruth married Ronald 17 great-grandchildren.
Coleman in 1957 and from
She was preceded in
this union three children death by her parents and six
were born: Kevin, Stacy and siblings.
Michelle. Ronald preceded
A memorial service will
her in death in 1965. In 1967, be held at 2 p.m. on Thurs-
she married Joseph C. Cole- day, Oct. 7, 2021, at the
man and the couple had one Burns Mortuary Chapel, 685
son, Jon. The couple later W. Hermiston Ave., Hermis-
divorced.
ton. Arrangements are with
In 2009, she reconnected Burns Mortuary of Herm-
with her high school sweet- iston.
heart, William Kelly, and
To leave an online condo-
moved to Lancaster, Cali- lence for the family, please
fornia. She married William go to burnsmortuaryherm-
iston.com. In lieu of fl owers,
Kelly on April 15, 2010.
Ruth enjoyed garden- family request memorial
ing, tending to her flower donations be made to a char-
gardens and going dancing ity of one’s choice.
DEATH NOTICES
Lenora ‘Susie’ Esther
May 10, 1963 — Sept. 29, 2021
Hermiston
Lenora “Susie” Esther, 58, of Hermiston, died Wednes-
day, Sept. 29, 2021. She was born May 10, 1963, in Hermis-
ton, the daughter of Max and Beverly (Bradfi eld) Dobbins.
Arrangements are with Burns Mortuary of Hermiston.
Patricia Turk
April 4, 1945 — Sept. 30, 2021
Reith
Patricia Turk, 76, of Reith, died Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021,
at St. Anthony Hospital. She was born April 4, 1945, in
Sweet Home. Arrangements are with Pendleton Pioneer
Chapel, Folsom-Bishop. Online condolences may be sent
to pioneerchapel.com.
Dorothy I. ‘Dot’ Hensley
May 31, 1943 — Sept. 26, 2021
Hermiston
Dorothy I. “Dot” Hensley, 78, of Hermiston, died Sunday,
Sept. 26, 2021, at her home in Hermiston. She was born May
31, 1943, in Pendleton. A celebration of life following state
guidelines will be held Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021, at 11 a.m.,
Faith Presbyterian Church, 1005 S.E. Ninth St., Hermis-
ton. Arrangements are with Burns Mortuary of Hermiston.
Please share memories of Dot with her family at burnsmor-
tuaryhermiston.com.
Gerald Leach
March 19, 1962 — Sept. 30, 2021
Pendleton
Gerald Leach, 59, of Pendleton, died Thursday, Sept. 30,
2021, at his home. He was born March 19, 1962, in Bick-
burg, Germany. Arrangements are with Pendleton Pioneer
Chapel, Folsom-Bishop. Online condolences may be sent
to pioneerchapel.com.
Vernon L. Russell
Nov. 27, 1925 — Sept. 28, 2021
Boardman
Vernon L. Russell, 95, of Boardman, died Tuesday, Sept.
28, 2021, at his home in Boardman. He was born Nov. 27,
1925, in Prineville. A graveside service with military honors
will be held Saturday, Oct. 9 at 1 p.m., Riverview Ceme-
tery, Boardman. Arrangements are with Burns Mortuary of
Hermiston. Please share memories of Vern with his family
at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Victor Antonio Santana-Torres
Jan. 26, 1998 — Sept. 30, 2021
Walla Walla
Victor Antonio Santana-Torres, 23, of Walla Walla,
died Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021, near Milton-Freewater. He
was born Jan. 26, 1998. Arrangements are with Munselle-
Rhodes Funeral Home of Milton-Freewater.
UPCOMING SERVICES
Saturday, Oct. 2
Bennett, John — Celebration of life at 11 a.m., Gray’s
West & Company Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker
City. Reception following at Coles Tribute Center, 1950
Place St., Baker City.
Bishop-Banks, Jill — Celebration of life at 2 p.m.,
Shockman Field, 210 Catherine Ave., followed by a gather-
ing at Yantis Park, 210 DeHaven St., both in Milton-Freewa-
ter. A private interment will be held at the Milton-Freewater
Cemetery.
Christman, Larry — Celebration of life at 2 p.m.,
Cloverleaf Hall, 600 N.W. First St., Enterprise.
Colcord, Gene — Celebration of life at 2 p.m., meet at
the Ukiah Thicket Cafe, 108 Main St., Ukiah.
Correa, Becky — Funeral service at 11 a.m., Herm-
iston Assembly of God Church, 730 E. Hurlburt Ave. A
livestream also will be available. Burial will follow at the
Hermiston Cemetery.
Gaines, Delbert — Celebration of life at 2 p.m., Life
Church, 222 S.W. Third St., Pilot Rock.
Pace, Kayonna — Celebration of life at 2 p.m., Owens 5
Ranch, 84372 Meharry Road, Milton-Freewater.
Rhoads, Doris — Memorial service at 11 a.m., Summer-
ville Cemetery Chapel, 67463 Summerville Road.
Sunday, Oct. 3
Davis, Bob — Celebration of life at 2 p.m., Elkins
Resort, 404 Elkins Road, Nordman, Idaho.
Weathermon, Joyce — Celebration of life at 11 a.m.,
Island City City Hall, 10605 Island Ave.
OBITUARY POLICY
The East Oregonian publishes paid obituaries; death
notices and information about services are published
at no charge. Obituaries can include small photos and,
for veterans, a fl ag symbol at no charge. Obituaries can
be submitted via the funeral home, by email to obits@
eastoregonian.com or in person at the East Oregonian
offi ce. For more information, call 541-966-0818.