A6
RECORDS/COMMUNITY
East Oregonian
Saturday, December 4, 2021
OBITUARIES
Gary Warren Jones
Lois I. Myrick
Paul Bruce Hardesty
Sept. 18, 1938 — Nov. 24, 2021
Heppner
July 6, 1927 — Nov. 26, 2021
Umatilla
Dec. 22, 1938 — Nov. 24, 2021
Milton-Freewater
Gary Warren Jones, 83, a member of the Hermiston
of Heppner, Oregon, died Cool Rides Classic Car Club.
Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021, at
He was preceded in death
Pioneer Memorial Hospital in by his parents, youngest
Heppner. A private
sibling, Ray Jones;
family graveside
and a grandson,
Jake Rollins.
service will be
held.
Survivors
He was born in
include his wife,
Heppner on Sept.
Doris of 46 years;
18, 1938, the son of
daughter, Holly
Paul W. and Gladys
Stickney (Phil) of
A. Johnson Jones.
Lyle, Washington;
He was raised and
son, Guy Jones
attended school in
(Shelly) of Hood
Heppner, gradu-
Jones
R ive r ; Te r e s a
ating from Heppner
Butler (Frank) of
High School.
McMin nville, Oregon;
After high school Gary Tracey Klink (John) of
went to trade school in Port- Millis, Massachusetts; sister,
land, Oregon, for auto body Sandra Blake of Heppner;
paint and repair. He went seven grandchildren and
on to work for Jack’s body 10 great-grandchildren and
shop in The Dalles and Hood numerous nieces and neph-
River. He lived in Hood River ews.
for 30 years before returning
We would like to give a
special thank you to nephew,
to Heppner in 2003.
Gary was a member of Nick, for all his help and
the Hood River Jaycees, chauffeuring the last few
Heppner Elks and IOOF. He years. Your gentle soul and
was a founding member of the compassionate care have been
“Over the Hill Gang” 4x4 club a blessing to all of us.
in Hood River and a longtime
Memorial contributions
member of the Pacifi c North- may be made to Pioneer
west Four Wheel Drive Asso- Memorial Hospice, P.O. Box
ciation. He enjoyed hunting 9, Heppner, OR 97836.
in Eastern Oregon, 4x4
Sweeney Mortuary of
racing, riding quads at the Heppner is in care of arrange-
dunes and while wintering in ments. You may sign the
Yuma, Arizona. He loved to online condolence book at
restore classic cars and was www.sweeneymortury.com.
Lois I. Myrick was Karen Sligar, Twin Falls,
born on July 6, 1927, Idaho; brother, Aaron
in Ithaca, Nebraska, Hageman, The Dalles,
to parents, John and Oregon; seven grand-
ch ild ren; 16
Velma Board-
man Hageman.
great-grandchil-
She died on
dren; one great-
great-grandson
Nov. 26, 2021,
and numerous
at her home
nieces and neph-
in Umatilla,
ews.
Oregon, at the
age of 94 years.
Lois was
L oi s w a s
preceded in
raised
in
death by her
Nebraska,
husband of 69
Jerome and Sun
years, Fran k
Myrick
Valley, Idaho,
My r ick;
a
before living
daughter, Lori
in Portland, Oregon. She Myrick; a son, Steven
worked in support of the Myrick; her parents, and
war effort “Rosie the a sister, Eryis Dorn.
Riveter” as a welder assis-
A graveside service
tant, during World War will be held on Saturday,
II. Lois moved to Herm- Dec. 4, 2021, at 3 p.m. at
iston, Oregon, where she the Hermiston Cemetery,
married Frank Myrick Hermiston, Oregon.
Those who wish may
on Aug. 11, 1951. They
owned Myrick Chevrolet, make contributions in
Western Auto and then Lois’ memory to Vange
Myrick Chrysler Dodge John Memorial Hospice
until retiring in 1994. She Education Fund c/o Burns
and Frank were active Mortuary of Hermiston,
in the Hermiston Elks P.O. Box 289, Hermiston,
Lodge for many years. OR 97838.
Please share memories
Lois enjoyed crochet-
ing, traveling, going on of Lois with her family at
cruises, dancing and word www.bur nsmortuar y-
search puzzles.
hermiston.com. Burns
She is survived by her Mortuary of Hermis-
daughters, Susan Keesey, ton, Oregon, is in care of
Cornelius, Oregon; and arrangements.
Paul Bruce Hardesty, a side gig where he purchased
(Paulie to many) tool man, a karaoke machine and ran
karaoke singer extraordi- weekly karaoke at The Water
naire, jack-of-all-trades, Hole in Umapine. It was there
king of impropriety, wit and he met so many wonder-
sarcasm, passed
ful friends that he
considered family,
away on Wednes-
day, Nov. 24, 2021,
but his favorite
while holding the
place to sing was
hand of his true love
in his shop with his
and wife of almost
favorite karaoke
64 years, Jacque-
partner, his second
daughter, Coleen.
line Helen Lyon
Hardesty.
Pau l wa s a
Paul met Jackie
fi ghter and did not
their junior year
know the meaning
Hardesty
of the word quit,
at Plainville High
which led to his long
School, Plainville,
Kansas, in band, where they battle with Parkinson’s.
both played the trombone. Try
Paul is survived by his
as he might, he could never wife, Jacqueline Helen Lyon
bump Jackie out of fi rst chair, Hardesty; daughter, Trish
though! Paul also sang a mean Stephen (Scott) of Arvada,
tenor and won several sing- Colorado; daughter, Coleen
ing competitions while Jackie Stevens (Lee) of Richfi eld,
accompanied on the piano. Utah; son, Mark Hardesty of
Paul and Jackie moved from Milton-Freewater, Oregon;
Kansas to Colorado, Utah, grandchildren, Rey J Quin-
Montana, Idaho, and then the tana, Rhonda Quintana Burns
Tri-Cities, and found their (Joey), Anthony Hardesty; and
true home was in Umapine, great-grandchildren, Mireya,
Oregon, almost 35 years ago. Jack and Harlyn.
Paul held many diff erent
A memorial service will
jobs over the course of his life be held at a later date. Memo-
but loved owning a Matco Tool rials may be sent in care of
franchise the most. He always Munselle-Rhodes Funeral
said he could sell anything to Home, 902 S. Main St.,
anyone so his business thrived Milton-Freewater, OR 97862.
until he retired due the insid- To leave an online condolence,
visit www.munsellerhodes.
ious disease of Parkinson’s.
Paul’s love of singing led to com.
Holiday season shines at EOTEC
DEATH NOTICES
Revived Festival of
Lights back for 2021
Sept. 23, 1937 — Dec. 1, 2021
Milton-Freewater
Vivian Arline Croft, 84, of Milton-Freewater, died Dec. 1,
2021, at Cascade Valley Memory Care in Milton-Freewater. She
was born Sept. 23, 1937. Arrangements are with Munselle-Rhodes
Funeral Home of Milton-Freewater.
By TAMMY MALGESINI
East Oregonian
HERMISTON — Thousands of
twinkling lights await visitors as the
Festival of Lights returns for a second
year at the Eastern Oregon Trade and
Event Center, Hermiston. The festi-
val features 17 large displays, more
than a dozen individual displays, 23
Christmas trees and “a bunch of small
lighted items.”
“Lots, I couldn’t even begin to tell
you,” EOTEC General Manager Al
Davis said about how many lights are
in the displays.
When he took the job nearly four
years ago, Davis said he was asked
time and time again if the Festival of
Lights would be revived. The popular
holiday event, which had been held
for many years at the old Umatilla
County Fairgrounds, went dark in
2013 because of a lack of volunteers.
The drive-thru Festival of Lights
runs Thursday through Sundays,
6-10 p.m., until Jan. 2 at EOTEC, 1705
E. Airport Road, Hermiston. It will be
closed Dec. 24-25. Admission is by
donation, which goes to the Hermis-
ton Rotary Club because its members
help attend the gates.
The event also features a couple
of walk-thru nights — on Friday and
Saturday, Dec. 10-11, the Hermis-
ton Chamber of Commerce will host
Peppermint Lane.
Chamber Executive Director Val
Hoxie said people can cozy up to fi re
pits while enjoying hot chocolate —
adults will have the option of adding
peppermint schnapps to their drinks.
Also, hay bales inside Christmas
Cabanas, which off er prime viewing
of the lighted displays, will help shel-
ter people from chilly weather.
Hoxie, who said she sprung the
idea on the chamber board at “the last
minute,” is thrilled with how things
are coming together. She said Ami
Little, who recently started as the
chamber’s public relations director,
even designed special campfi re mugs
for the event.
“We’re dipping our toe in the water
with this event,” Hoxie said. “And if
it’s successful, we want to do even
more. The chamber wants to give
back to the community — this is
something nice for the holidays.”
Vivian Arline Croft
Virginia Lee Klopfenstein
Jan. 4, 1928 — Dec. 1, 2021
Milton-Freewater
Virginia Lee Klopfenstein, 93, of Milton-Freewater, died Dec.
1, 2021, in College Place. She was born Jan. 4, 1928. Arrangements
are with Munselle-Rhodes Funeral Home of Milton-Freewater.
Donald R. Orton
Ben Lonergan/East Oregonian
Holiday lights adorn “Santa’s workshop” Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, during Festi-
val of Lights at the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center in Hermiston.
Sept. 10, 1928 — Dec. 1, 2021
Pendleton
Donald R. Orton, 93, of Pendleton, died Dec. 1, 2021, at St.
Anthony Hospital, Pendleton. He was born Sept. 10, 1928, in
Pendleton. A graveside service will be Dec. 10, 2 p.m. at Olney
Cemetery, Pendleton. Arrangements are with Burns Mortuary
of Pendleton. Sign the online guestbook at www.burnsmortu-
ary.com.
Nora M. Zummach
Aug. 29, 1932 — Oct. 29, 2021
Nehalem
Ben Lonergan/East Oregonian
Thousands of lights cover the grounds of the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event
Center on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, during the Festival of Lights in Hermiston.
In addition, Davis said the Herm-
iston High School choir and jazz band
will perform Dec. 11, 6-8 p.m. Also,
he said an elf assistant just confi rmed
that Santa Claus will make an appear-
ance that same evening, as well as
Dec. 18.
Reviving a holiday tradition
Bringing the event back last holi-
day season, Davis said, was import-
ant. With all the pandemic-related
closures and restrictions, he called
last year “a punch in the gut,” which
resulted in many people not looking
forward to Christmas.
“It was a recipe for a miserable
holiday,” he said. “We had an oppor-
tunity to try and do something.”
And a little inconvenience isn’t
going to disrupt Davis’ vision —
several days after the crew started
setting up the displays, a blustery
wind tore them down. In addition,
despite placing orders early, some
items just arrived.
“We’re going to get some new
displays up,” he said.
Davis views the Festival of Lights
as an additional attraction to Herm-
iston during the holiday season. He
encourages people to shop in Herm-
iston and view the city Christmas tree
and light display downtown.
“We’re trying to build this as a
destination this time of year,” Davis
said. “We’re just trying to do our part
so that people come.”
Another special evening is in the
planning stages for Dec. 18, Davis said.
In addition, he’s involved in conversa-
tions about a New Year’s Eve activity.
Davis encourages people to search the
EOTEC Facebook page for updates.
———
Contact community writer Tammy
Malgesini at tmalgesini@eastorego-
nian.com or 541-564-4532.
Former Umatilla County resident Nora M. Toner Hayes
Zummach, 89, of Nehalem, died Oct. 29, 2021, at OHSU Hills-
boro Medical Center. She was born Aug. 29, 1932, in Port Angeles,
Washington, the daughter of the late Joseph E. Toner and Frances
M. (Piper) Toner. Private cremation rites were held at Hoyt Crema-
tory, Forest Grove. A celebration of life and potluck will be Jan.
22, 2022, 1 p.m. at Bayway Tavern, 35895 Seventh St., Nehalem.
Arrangements are with Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral Home in
Vernonia. Sign the online guestbook at www.fuitenrosehoyt.com.
UPCOMING SERVICES
Saturday, Dec. 4
Barton, George — Graveside celebration of life service,
1 p.m. at the Hermiston Cemetery.
Dunlap, Jackie — Memorial service, 1 p.m. at Burns Mortu-
ary Chapel, 685 W. Hermiston Ave., Hermiston.
Myrick, Lois — Graveside service, 3 p.m. at the Hermis-
ton Cemetery.
Sunday, Dec. 5
Hoover, Patsy — Graveside service, 3 p.m. at the I.O.O.F.
Cemetery in Fossil. A soup supper will follow in the gymna-
sium at Wheeler High School, 600 E. B St., Fossil.
Monday, Dec. 6
Choin, Geneva — Graveside service, 1 p.m. at the Herm-
iston Cemetery.
Handley, Janis — Memorial service, 11 a.m. at Munselle-
Rhodes Funeral home, 902 S. Main St., Milton-Freewater.
Taylor, Luella — Graveside service, 11 a.m. at the Mayville
Cemetery.
Tuesday, Dec. 7
Cabral, Don — Funeral services, 3 p.m. at Pendleton Pioneer
Chapel, Folsom-Bishop, 131 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton.
Within 30 miles
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Tobias Unruh, owner
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